The title of this book caught my interest and when I read the synopsis I was hooked. I visited Olduvai Gorge in Tanzania in 2022 and I learned about Mary & Louis Leaky and the Cradle of Mankind.

I LOVED this book by Penny Haw. Her writing is beautiful. Especially the way she described the rugged terrain of Tanzania. They way she writes about the Ngorongoro Crater instantly took me back there. I really enjoyed the stories she created in this historical fiction book. The duel timeline POV added to the experience. I loved seeing the confidence blossom in Mary & Grace as they each adapted to life in Africa. My favorite character was Lisa and reading her story.

Thank you to NetGalley & SOURCEBOOKS Landmark for letting me read this ARC.

"But what we must remember is that what we think we know about the past—whether because of what we learn from and about each other, from evidence about animals and man’s activities left in the earth, or any other sources—are very small clues. We can’t make assumptions. What we discover gives us a biased view of the truth because it’s such a tiny sample of what happened.”

Thank you Sourcebooks! I don't read a lot of historical fiction so this is not the kind of read I would usually select but I heard that Penny Haw is a great writer, one who brings to light women's lives and honors their leadership and intelligence... that's a big selling point for me and I was not disappointed by this read. I am highly impressed by this book and think it will be an excellent one for book clubs!

Penny Haw’s The Woman at the Edge of the World is a beautifully crafted blend of historical fiction and biographical storytelling, transporting readers to the breathtaking Serengeti plains of Tanzania. Through dual timelines, the novel intertwines the journeys of young Grace in 1983 and pioneering paleontologist Mary Leakey in the 1930s, exploring themes of resilience, passion, and breaking barriers. Haw’s evocative descriptions bring the African landscape to life, immersing readers in its sights, sounds, and rich history. The characters—both real and fictional—are deeply compelling, and the meticulous research shines through every page. A captivating tribute to an extraordinary woman, this novel is a must-read for fans of historical fiction and those who love stories of courage and discovery.

Follow Me to Africa drew me in with its watercolor-inspired cover and the promise of paleontology and female history. The dual timeline follows Grace, a grieving teenager in 1983, and Mary Leakey, reflecting on her groundbreaking career in the 1930s. Their unlikely connection unfolds against the raw beauty of Africa, rich with its ecosystems and conservation themes.

The historical sections felt well-researched, though a bit slow at times, and I wasn’t entirely sold on the underlying theme of “What would you tell your younger self?”. My favorite parts were the chapters set in the 80s. The story has a heartwarming, comfortable pace, though I longed to dive deeper into the characters’ emotions, which understandably is tricky when drawing from real-life figures. I just would have wished for it to ruffle my feathers a bit more, leaving a stronger impact, but it’s still a superb and captivating read.

This beautiful narrative follows two women's stories, separated by time but united by the unshakable pull toward Africa—the birthplace of so much life and history that it proves impossible to leave unchanged. Rooted in the true history of Mary Leakey, a real British paleoanthropologist born in the early 1900's, a powerhouse of a woman whose relentless curiosity and refusal to conform reshaped what we know about our origins. At a time when women were expected to marry and sacrifice all else for a small domestic life, Leakey chose instead to chase discovery, unearthing the past and forever altering the future of science.

The dual-timeline storytelling makes for an compelling read, illustrating how Africa has long called to those who seek something beyond themselves; adventure, knowledge, and a sense of belonging. The scenery is vivid, the history deep, and the characters real, but at its core, this book celebrates women who trust their instincts and chase their own paths.

Thank you Sourcebooks for my #gifted copy of Follow Me to Africa! #sourcebooks #bookmarked #sourcebookslandmark #FollowMeToAfrica #PennyHaw

𝐓𝐢𝐭𝐥𝐞: 𝐅𝐨𝐥𝐥𝐨𝐰 𝐌𝐞 𝐭𝐨 𝐀𝐟𝐫𝐢𝐜𝐚
𝐀𝐮𝐭𝐡𝐨𝐫: 𝐏𝐞𝐧𝐧𝐲 𝐇𝐚𝐰
𝐏𝐮𝐛 𝐃𝐚𝐭𝐞: 𝐅𝐞𝐛𝐫𝐮𝐚𝐫𝐲 𝟐𝟓, 𝟐𝟎𝟐𝟓 - 𝐎𝐮𝐭 𝐍𝐨𝐰!

𝟰.𝟱★

Follow Me to Africa is a beautifully written historical fiction novel based on the story of paleoanthropologist Mary Leakey. I will be honest, this is a book I probably would have not picked up on my own, only because the topic is not of interest to me. With that said, I am SO glad I read this book because I LOVED it! Penny Haw has written such a captivating novel the celebrates friendship and the importance’s of breaking barriers to guide the way for others. I was not familiar with Mary Leakey before reading this book, but I found her story to be fascinating. I love how this book combined both non-fiction and fiction, and married the two effortlessly. Told in a dual-timeline format, we meet seventeen-year-old Grace Clark in 1983 after she lost her mother. She has just met Mary Leakey, who is now 70 years old when she enlists Grace to help her pack fifty years of her work and memories. Mary is reminded of how in the 1930s she pursed her dreams of becoming an archeologist. In their time together, Mary and Grace learn they are more alike than they thought, and are connected by a secret. Grace and Mary also learn they both have a mutual love for animals, and work together to save a cheetah before it’s too late.

There is just so much more to this book, and no summary can do it justice. It’s one where you cannot judge a book by its cover…or in this case, topic. I really have no interest in archeology. In fact, there’s a glossary in the front of the book, and when I started to read the terms, I couldn’t even pronounce half of them, but was determined to give this book a chance. So I googled the words I didn’t know, and looked up the pronunciation so it would help me while reading the book. I’m thankful for the glossary, and while I found it intimidating at first, it proved to be helpful for me. While this book was about an amazing paleoanthropologist, it was so much more. If you love historical fiction, give this one a try. I’m really glad I stepped out of my comfort zone with this one!

Posted on Goodreads on February 25, 2025: https://www.goodreads.com/user/show/144922955?ref=nav_profile_l
**Posted on Instagram - Full Review- on or around February 25, 2025: http://www.instagram.com/nobookmark_noproblem
**Posted on Amazon on February 25, 2025
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I’ve read the other books by Penny Haw and was excited to read this book about self-taught archeologist Dr. Mary Leakey. The storytelling was so wonderful that I didn’t want to stop reading! I’ve never had a desire to go on an African safari but after reading the descriptions about the animals and landscape in Tanzania I suddenly wanted to experience the awe for myself. I loved how the story alternates between Mary and 17-year-old Grace. They have many things in common despite the age gap and learn life lessons from each other. One of the things that connects them is their love of animals which is a big component of the story. If you are a historical fiction fan, you will enjoy this book!

Thank you NetGalley and Sourcebooks Landmark for the ARC in exchange for my honest review!

Beautifully written historical fiction. Penny Haw is an author I will be following.The world of anthropology the characters drew me in.

Thank you to NetGalley, Sourcebooks Landmark and author Penny Haw for the arc!

I absolutely LOVE historical fictions that introduce us to real life people while weaving in fictional elements & intriguing tales of what could have been. The author does a fantastic job with this one, telling us the story of Mary Leaky, renown paleoanthropologist … and Grace, a 17 year old girl who has been through life’s worst & needs the time, patience & direction only Mary can give.

It’s a heartwarming & sweeping saga that took me through the beautiful landscapes of Africa, the interesting work of archeological digs & pulled on my heartstrings with the love of the animal kingdom. I also enjoyed the dual timelines & alternating pov’s which kept the pacing easy to follow & the story engaging. And just look at that cover! Gorgeous!

Penny Haw has written a wonderful piece of historical fiction inspired by the story of Mary Leakey, a woman who carved her own path to become one of the world's most distinguished paleoanthropologists. This book is a mixture of both nonfiction and fiction and I felt Penny weaved the two together seamlessly. I keen to read previous books written by Penny as she clearly understands these remarkable women who achieved great things and she wants this to be celebrated.

‘For Mary, the untamed Serengeti, with its tremendous wildlife, ancient beds of Olduvai Gorge, and warm embrace of the sun, evoked a primal connection to the world she’d never known. Even when she was alone there - perhaps mostly when she was alone - she experienced an unprecedented sense of composure and peace.’

Follow Me to Africa takes the facts and weaves the fiction into the life of Mary. For someone who had no formal education it is an incredible tale of determination and passion. Her discoveries and hard work earned her prestigious awards and honorary doctorate degrees. I knew of Richard Leakey so it was enlightening to learn more about his mother and her contributions to the origin of species. Penny made this a dual time narrative and has a much older Mary interacting with a young girl in a contemporary (1980s) timeline. The purpose of this was Penny’s desire to imagine what Mary looking back on her life might say to her seventeen-year-old self if she had the opportunity. “What would you tell your younger self?”

Penny’s book was well researched and written. I found both timelines engaging and also the cast of supporting characters. The historical note at the back of the book explains what was fact and what was fiction and Penny’s decisions on what to include. This book not only covers archaeology/palaeontology but also more personal topics such as relationships - marriage, family, friendships - and choices people make with the consequences and lessons learned from that.

‘... what struck her most was how infinite her surroundings were. The only thing grander than the boundless savannah was the inestimable sky. Their combined magnitude made her feel at once insignificant and mighty.’

I, having lived and worked in Africa, feel such an affinity for the continent and love when books really capture the majesty and awe of the place. This book is full of love for Africa as seen through the land, the animals and the people. The courage Mary faced in going against expectations of the time for women and paving a way for women to work and be acknowledged in a field such as this was enthralling.

‘There was no ultimate destination in her work, but a journey fueled by curiosity and driven by science. She owed her success to no one but herself.’





This review is based on a complimentary copy from the publisher in exchange for an honest review. Opinions expressed in this review are completely my own. The quoted material may have changed in the final release.

I felt a special connection with "Follow Me to Africa". Penny Haw rekindled my own memories. The wide open spaces, lying in camp at night listening to the noises through the canvas and the thrill that everyday will bring something different and special.
Louis and Mary Leakey are an extraordinary couple in the story of east Africa. And it was fascinating to get to know a little more about Mary. Blazing her own trail in a male world and gradually having enough confidence to know she is good at what she does....her instincts are sharp and accurate. Facts paint the picture of her younger life but fiction embellished the emotions and conversations.
Grace is fictional, and brings a wise maternal outlook for Mary who was able to offer her own perspective to a confused and disheartened teenager who had sacrificed years to care for dying mother.
Each chapter leads to the next from alternate main characters. Parallels and shared experiences. Like Mary I left school, skipped university at a young age and embarrassed the university of a world full of practical opportunities. Curiosity and hard work opens many doors. And now as I sit with my moggy Pipi purring on my lap, I fondly think of Lisa the purring cheetah and the many lessons animals can teach us too.
I highly enjoyed Mary's story in "Follow Me to Africa" .....not so much the emotional side of Grace. And will be seeking out Mary's autobiography.
Thanks to NetGalley, Sourcebooks Landmark and Penny Haw for my copy.

A first from Penny Haw for me and definitely won't be my last! This is a riveting story about two women from different generations who come together.

I found the archaelogical aspect exciting and I love how these women are independent and make their own way in the world.

Haws draws a strong portrait of archeologist Mary Leakey both as a young woman finding her passion and as an accomplished archeologist, but the real engagement for me was with the marvelously depicted African landscape. Easily traversing back and forth in time and viewpoint, Haws pairs Mary's story with that of the purely fictional character of 17 year old Grace who is similarly trying to find a purpose and a place. Enjoyable and informative. For me it brought back memories of old TV documentaries, but for younger readers it will shine light on an era of discovery that has been forgotten.

I loved the author’s previous book - Woman At The Wheel- and was so excited to see she had a new novel coming out on the life of Mary Leakey ! However, this one didn’t work as well for me . There are two POV - a young Mary Leakey in the early years of her meeting with her husband and an older Dr Leakey in Africa with a young girl named Grace and a wild cheetah named Lisa
For the most part , especially the Mary L POv,
I felt like I was being told “facts” ( albeit fictional) most of the time vs being shown these characters and their development and relationships over time .
My fav part of the story was definitely Lisa the cheetah and Grace’s growing love for the wild animal .

2.5 ⭐️ rounded up ⬆️ for 🐆
Thank you to Netgalley and the publisher for complimentary copy in exchange for an honest review

From the Author of Women at the Wheel. Follow Me to Africa by Penny Haw tells the real life story of Mary Leakey.

The story follows a dual time line set in 1913 England - when Mary Douglas Nicol was born and later marries Louis Leakey. Her Father Erskine Edward Nicol is a watercolour painter and artist. Together they travelled the world visiting the USA, Italy and Egypt working as artists and selling their artwork to make a living.

Mary begins her life also as a drawer and artist. Then at the age of 13 after the death of her father and whilst in Egypt, shows interest and a passion for archeology becoming a famous paleo anthropologist. Her mother is not happy about the life her daughter wants to live but Mary lives the life she is excited about and enjoys.

In 1983 Africa - Mary now aged 70 meets Grace Clarke a 17 year old. Grace whose mother was sick and has passed away is unhappy and believes her father George abandoned his family for work. Grace decides to travel with her estranged Father to the Serengeti Plains Tanzania working on an archaeological dig at Oiluvai Gorge along with Mary.

Mary and Grace become friends and have more in common than they realise. Mary tells Grace her life story, loss of beloved parents, passions in archaeology and discover they both share a love of animals. Along comes an injured cheetah named Lisa into the camp and together with great care they assist the cheetah fulfilling their duty of looking after the animals and wildlife surrounding them.

I rate this story 5 stars and thank NetGalley for the opportunity of reading and for writing an honest review of this beautifully written book. It teaches you a lot about how life is in a different part of the world. Africa has a great history and a tough terrain that makes you wonder how life can be lived. It has opened my eyes to the way of life and things I was not aware of. Archeologists have a fascinating career and understanding of how past events and history takes shape from deep spaces and come alive in present times that the common man can only see in museums.

Just like Penny’s other book Women at the Wheel, I love how Penny writes about true real life strong women in moments of history. I am looking forward to reading Penny’s next novel and can’t wait to see who she will write about next.

"Follow Me To Africa" by Penny Haw was a very well-written read. As a reader, I noticed and wanted to acknowledge the amount of time, research, knowledge, and effort that was put into this novel. It is both a refreshing and interesting read that is also inspirational. The author has taken great care to fictionalize Mary Leakey, a British paleoanthropologist and the main character in this novel, and has created a novel with the perfect mix of fact and fiction. I found it very enjoyable to read about her life, which this book is largely based on, as well as the fictional character that the author has created. Mary Leakey, alongside teenager Grace, is a well-rounded and developed character who forms an intergenerational friendship with Mary and represents a beautiful message that anyone could draw inspiration from. The author has written with such meticulous detail and description that the reader simply cannot help but picture themselves in the diverse yet vastly beautiful plains of Africa. The author's love and passion for Africa shine through with her immersive descriptions of both the scenery and wildlife. Readers who are fans of dual timelines will enjoy this book, as the author has beautifully written and connected two interconnected storylines from different periods of time. This novel is not only about Mary Leakey and her interests, reputation, and life as one of the world's most renowned paleoanthropologists, but it also tells a story about women's equity, what can happen when you follow your passions and relentlessly chase your dreams, as well as the connections we can make with different species as animal lovers. I really enjoyed this read and found it incredibly stimulating to learn about such an influential woman alongside some of my other passions. Thank you to NetGalley for a pre-release copy of this book in exchange for my honest review.

This was wonderfu! I knew the name of Mary Leakey, but very little about her work and nothing about her personal life. Using teenaged Grace as a counterpoint was a great way to allow Mary to explain her work and highlight all the possibilities open to the younger woman—largely a result of Mary’s having gone before. To tell the truth, it makes me a bit regretful about missed opportunities in my own life. I am going to seek out other works by Penny Haw, and highly recommend this one!

I received a complimentary copy of this book. Opinions expressed in this review are completely my own.

“What would you tell your younger self?”  --> Follow Me to Africa is inspired by the story of real-life paleo/anthropologist Mary Leakey at the start of her career in the 1930s and in a dual timeline with Grace, a fictional seventeen year old girl who travels to Mary's dig site with her father, after her mother's death in the 1980s.

Themes: loss of parent abandonmentinsecurity with career choiceconversations with your younger selfneed a man vs. career in the 1930sstrong desire to learn despite no formal education 

My thoughts:
Despite having zero archeological/paleontological knowledge myself, I found the fictionalized pages of Mary's timeline easy to follow, and induced my usual pauses for Googling (which I personally love to do during historical fiction reads). Grace's timeline and experiences mirroring Mary’s life in multiple ways, really added to the emotional journey and growth for Grace while in Tanzania. 

This book made me realize how little i NOTICE anymore...I felt like Grace having to be told to look at something that is/was so obvious to Mary but Grace completely missed.

Dual timelines & POVs always read very quickly for me, and the chapters were short enough that it kept me engaged and reading to find out what happens next in each POV. 

I can't review this book without also giving a mini spotlight to LISA THE CHEETAH...this story, by default, has a great many insights into animal instinct and nature's way of training the wildlife in Olduvai, and the Ngorongoro Conservation Area. 

TL; DR: This one is a great read for histfic lovers, (especially looking for non-war based stories),  looking for a story that includes both reflection at retirement and a younger protagonist finding herself.

Review Epilogue:
You also know I love a good "Author's Note" in my historical fiction...here are some great passages from this one:
“Mary Leakey was an exceptional, utterly original woman who disregarded what was expected of her, blazed her own trail, and carried her own dirt—literally and figuratively” - Penny Haw
"I understand the value of formal education, but I’m among those who enjoy discovering stories about people who’ve succeeded without it because of their passion, determination, curiosity, and unequivocal hard work. Take a bow, Mary Leakey, and thank you for inspiring me to create a version of your story." - Penny Haw
Thanks to Sourcebooks Landmark and NetGalley for a review copy.

Thank you to Sourcebooks/Landmark and NetGalley for an advanced readers copy of this book.

With its focus on 17-year-old Grace Clark, and clear, direct language, this is a good Young Adult novel, though its inclusion of Mary and Louis Leakey’s affair and disregard for his first wife may make the target audience on the older side, 16 years and up.

Grace comes to Africa in 1983, soon after her mother’s death and with her estranged father. There she meets 70-year-old Dr. Mary Leakey, eminent paleoanthropologist and director of research into fossils and ancient artifacts at Olduvai Gorge, in Tanzania.
Interspersed with Grace’s story is that of the young Mary, also 17-years-old, but in 1930, and her difficult path to finding her calling as an illustrator and anthropologist.

Both young women deal with loss of a parent, grief, uncertainty, hopelessness and finding their ways through these circumstances and feelings. And they both are animal lovers, so dogs and a tamed cheetah are important parts of their stories.

Addressing the question of writing biographical fiction, the author’s note does a fine job of explaining why she is drawn to this, and what she hopes to communicate through it.

Thoughtful discussion questions also make the book a good choice for Young Adults; however, its lack of sophistication may make it less appealing to more seasoned readers.

My expectations were high for Follow Me To Africa. I love Africa as a setting and was looking forward to discovering more about Mary Leakey"s life and times. There is a duo timeline in the novel. Mary's begins in the 1930"s, much of the focus is on her romance with Louis Leakey. The second character is seventeen year old Grace, the timeline is 1983.
Unfortunately Mary's character didn't really come alive for me until the last quarter of the book, the romance and disappointment with her husband Louis felt a little tired, it seemed like there was much more to know about the young woman who became a world renowned paleoanthropologist.
Grace visits Africa with her estranged father after her mothers death. The story became interesting as she interacted with Mary Leakey and a cheetah who visits the camp and is in need of help. As an animal lover, I found the story of Lisa the cheetah the best part of the book.
While I liked the story, I wasn't completely drawn in. The writing is straight forward, more journalistic than poetic. I would have enjoyed a bit more poetry.

It's 1983 and seventeen-year-old Grace Clark has just lost her mother when she begrudgingly accompanies her estranged father to an archeological dig at Olduvai Gorge on the Serengeti plains of Tanzania. Here, seventy-year-old Mary Leakey enlists Grace to sort and pack her fifty years of work and memories.

Their interaction reminds Mary how she pursued her ambitions of becoming an archeologist in the 1930s by sneaking into lectures and working on excavations. When well-known paleoanthropologist Louis Leakey commissions her to illustrate a book, she's not at all expecting to fall in love with the older married man. Mary then follows Louis to East Africa, where she falls in love for a second time, this time with the Olduvai Gorge, where her work defines her as a great scientist and allows her to step out of Louis's shadow.

In time, Mary and Grace learn they are more alike than they thought, which eventually leads them to the secret that connects them. They also discover a mutual deep love for animals, and when Lisa, an injured cheetah, appears at camp, Mary and Grace work together to save her. On the morning Grace is due to leave, the girl—and the cheetah—are nowhere to be found, and it becomes a race against time to rescue Grace before the African bush claims her.

Phenomenal traipse to another place and time through the eyes of two women of different generations. Beautiful imagery, fantastic characters. I didn't realize this was an homage to a real person until after I finished it. This is a gem! Highly recommended! 5⭐

I received an advanced complimentary digital copy of this book from Netgalley. Opinions expressed are my own.