A toothy, oversize science lab escapee takes over this action tale, the first in the Hunting series, about a Scots teenager searching for his vanished father. Adam gets unexpected and scary help in both his quest and in escaping a mysterious gang of thugs when he's seized by Z. Rex reanimated T. Rex who can talk, fly, and camouflage himself into invisibility. In a gory and spectacularly destructive escapade that runs from New Mexico to Edinburgh, Alex and his temperamental ally both take repeated severe beatings but do ultimately pull off a successful rescue while putting the kibosh on a bio-corporation's plot to create an army of Theropodan superpredators. Z. Rex turns out to be not only the muscle of the duo but the brains as well, and is the most memorable modified prehistoric monster to haunt the UK since Sam Enthoven's Tim: Defender of the Earth (2008).

Adam's father, the designer of "Ultra-Reality" video games, mysteriously disappears. This leaves Adam to find him--and to survive alongside the dinosaur-come-to-life from one of Dad's games. The story, fast-paced and suspenseful, fumbles a bit as the dinosaur struggles to talk with Adam. Gamers will enjoy the muddled but highly entertaining premise.

What little boy hasn't played with model dinosaurs and dreamt of battling them in prehistoric times? For Adam Adlar, now 13, it isn't a dream—it's a nightmare. Stuck in an industrial complex out in New Mexico instead of being home in Edinburgh, Adam spends the majority of his time playing video games and testing a new software system his dad has created called Ultra Reality. But when his dad is kidnapped, it seems that the real world is literally falling apart, especially when a humongous—talking!—T. rex starts rampaging through the countryside, with Adam as its target. It soon becomes clear that this is no ordinary dinosaur—it has been engineered to think and act the way Adam would, just like in his dad's program. This is Zed the Z. rex, and he is on a mission—and Adam has no choice but to go along for the ride. But is Zed a good guy or a bad guy, a friend or a foe? Is he here to save Adam or to eat him? This story is well told, with a fast pace, lots of action and plenty of unanswered questions at the end to justify the sequel. (Science fiction. 10-14)

Gr 6-9 Adam's dad, a single father, is always on the verge of success. He's a computer programmer who has been working on the creation of an ultra-reality video game where the actions are created by sensors that detect the players' thoughts and commands. He leaves his 13-year-old son for what he promises will only be a couple of days to meet with a company interested in backing his project. When he doesn't return after nine days, Adam begins to worry. But nothing in his imagination could prepare him for what comes knocking at his door. It's like a scenario from a movie or a video game: men with guns, dark sedans, mysterious messages, and a man-eating dinosaur that destroys everything in its path and, oh, by the way, can make itself invisible. Cole has created a likable character who manages to come out on top in an extraordinary situation. The science aspects offer an interesting perspective and dilemma for a discussion on genetic engineering. In addition, the adventure, video gaming, and the perilous, sometimes bloody scenes will capture reluctant readers who may not normally devour their reading materials. Genevieve Gallagher, Buford Middle School, Charlottesville, VA

Thirteen-year-old Adam is the son of one of the most talented Ultra-Reality (UR) video game designers in the world. Adam helps him test the games, which are played using human brainwaves; however, UR gets far too real when rogue scientists abduct his father and force him to use his skills to regenerate a super-intelligent dinosaur named Z-Rex from a fossil. Z-Rex escapes shortly after his rebirth and seeks out Adam. As a result of the hours the boy spent playing the UR game on which the animal is based, the dinosaur views Adam as his brother. After a rough introduction, together they seek to rescue AdamÆs father from the scientists who have kidnapped him. At the same time, the scientists attempt to recapture Z-Rex so they can clone him and create an army of deadly, intelligent dinosaurs under their control. In this first book in The Hunting series, the brotherly relationship between Adam and Z-Rex is not strongly developed, and their interactions seemed forced and at times not supported by the plot. It is possible that the relationship will develop more fully as the series unfolds. A healthy dose of espionage, constant action, and an interesting relationship between Adam and his father, however, makes the book fast moving and exciting. It will appeal to both reluctant readers and those who are fans of dinosaur or video game-based science fiction.ùSherrie Williams.