"She’d come to Africa because she was curious, ambitious, and adventurous."

Animals or Fossils?  This is the question Dr Mary Leakey, famed archeologist, asks Grace to consider as the 17 year old struggles with her future.

Like Grace, I chose 'Animals' when it comes to the alternating POVs of Grace (1983) and Mary (beginning in 1930 through 1983).

In 1983, Grace travels with her estranged father - who she calls George - to an archeological dig in Tanzania following her mother's death. Dr Mary (Nicol) Leakey, famed archeologist, forms an unexpected bond with Grace as they care for a hand reared cheetah, Lisa.

In 1930, Mary Nicol, interested in attending scientific lectures and expanding her knowledge outside the bounds of standard education, is mentored by two female scientists. Mary is independent, has a strong work ethic, and a passion for Africa.

I enjoyed this story, especially the alternating timelines.  The author never spending too long in either one, which left me looking forward to returning to each part of the story.  I returned again and again to the importance of strong, independent, and educated women mentoring women in the scientific community.

The setting was full of sensory imagery. I could see the changing colors of the savannah, touch the dirt, taste the dust, and feel/hear the cheetah's purr.

The stories I've enjoyed most this year are works of biographical fiction, introducing me to woman I had not known. Who will be next?

I highly recommend this book.

This is such an interesting book about anthropology and how humankind started. It was informative, made me think, and kept me intrigued. I was a fan of the dual timeline, it worked really well for this type of book.
Thank you to NetGalley, the publishers, and especially the author for this ARC in exchange for my honest review of the book!!

What an interesting novel about Mary Leakey a British paleoanthropologist and a troubled young teenaged girl who comes to Africa with her estranged father. after her mother dies Grace Clark comes to Africa with no expectations, she only came along because her father wanted her to. While there, however, Mary Leakey enlists Grace to sort and pack her fifty years of work and memories. It is while she is working with Ms. Leakey that Grace discovers her love for animals. When an injured cheetah arrives at the camp it is both Mary and Grace that work together to save it. However, Grace taking things too far, disappears with the animal on the morning she is to leave the camp. There is scarcity of time before the bush claims both Grace and the animal. I was so absorbed reading this story, as Africa is a place I've always wanted to explore. Unfortunately, that never happened, yet reading this book gave me the opportunity to at least see it in my mind. I love historical fiction, especially those that are biographical. My thanks to NetGalley for this ARC in exchange for an honest review.

If you have a fascination about the origins of humankind and the people who helped uncover many of those mysteries, then you’ll love this work of fiction based on the life of famed anthropologist, Mary Leakey

I was intrigued both by the description and the absolutely gorgeous cover, but I was a bit let down by the writing style. I didn’t feel like it flowed very well and it felt a bit “heavy” with telling instead of showing. Also the dialogue felt a bit awkward at times.

However, it was very interesting to read about Mary and her work since I was not very familiar with her prior to reading this book. As a fan of historical fiction I love it when the characters actually have excited in real life and you get to know them a bit more through a book, even if it’s fiction.

I love paleo-anthropology and was excited to read a fictional book about a real life person. It had that element that I was looking for and thought the feel really worked well together with what I wanted. I had enjoyed other works from Penny Haw and this had that writing style that I was expecting and thought the characters were wonderfully done. It uses the dual timeline perfect and thought the concept worked overall. It had that realism that I was looking for and glad I got to read this.