Paleontology enthusiast and plus-size fashion blogger Natalie Page is thrilled to land a summer internship at a dig site in Texas. It's not the best environment for her vintage heels and self-altered dresses, the armor that mostly shields her from bullying, but it's a chance to get up close and personal with the bones of woolly mammoths. One of the guys in the intern program is really cute (so is a tour guide, but he's a grump), and Natalie struggles to keep her fragile confidence from being shaken by thin, classically beautiful intern Quinn, whose paleontologist dad is Natalie's idol. Natalie has a real gift for finding fossils, but just as she starts to get comfortable, she discovers the industry's dark side. She'll have to learn to stand up for herself if she's going to have the life she wants. There is much to love here: a sweet romance, a determined portrayal of women in STEM fields, an encouraging tale of self-acceptance. Teens with ambition of their own will enjoy watching Natalie blossom.

Gr 9 Up-An engaging, complex heroine with an intriguing love of fashion and paleontology enables this story to succeed despite its less-than-credible plot. Natalie is a rising high school junior who, despite years of enduring fat jokes and cruel pranks, manages to hide her insecurities behind an easygoing, confident demeanor. She has learned to use body sculpting undergarments, flattering clothing, and makeup to redefine herself. Armed with a daily mantra of "be awesome," Natalie authors a popular blog that is part fashion and completely "paleo geek." This summer she has won an internship at the Central Texas Mammoth Site where she'll get hands-on experience working with fossils. Dressed to the nines, she heads off to follow in the footsteps of her paleontologist idol, Dr. Thomas Carver. Unfortunately, she's failed to account for the wilting Texas heat, the need for practical shoes, or the possibility of a summer romance. To her additional surprise, her fellow intern and roommate is the petite, cynical daughter of her idol. It doesn't take long to discover that there's a dark side to her desired profession that, devastating to Natalie, is personified by Dr. Carver and threatens the site where she's interning. Natalie determines to make the most of this opportunity, though, by using her considerable smarts, talent, and newfound daring. Sadly, her willingness to risk everything to unearth a rare fossil comes at an unexpected cost. In the end, she begins to recognize her intelligence and bravery as her defining qualities, and this revelation boosts her self-confidence and minimizes her preoccupation with her weight. VERDICT Science, fashion, and romance combine in this adventure with lots of appeal. A general purchase. Cary Frostick, formerly at Mary Riley Styles Public Library, Falls Church, VA