Peter Lee's Notes from the Field Book Review

 

Peter Lee's Notes from the Field















1. BIBLIOGRAPHY

Ahn, A. (2022). PETER LEE’S NOTES FROM THE FIELD. Tundra Books.

ISBN: 978-0-73526-826-5

2.  PLOT SUMMARY

This cultural fiction novel follows Peter, a Korean-Canadian boy with a deep passion for dinosaurs and paleontology. When his family takes him on a long-anticipated paleontology dig over the summer, things don’t go as planned, leaving Peter disheartened and ready to abandon his dream. At the same time, he notices his beloved grandmother acting strangely, prompting him to shift his focus to figure out how to help her. 


3. CRITICAL ANALYSIS

Peter lives with his sister, L.B., and his parents in a home near his grandparents, Hammy and Haji. He is obsessed with dinosaurs, which will resonate with readers. His sister, L.B. seems to have sensory processing issues, which Peter helps her navigate through during school and at home. L.B. is a genius who her parents think needs extra tutoring instead of letting her just be a kid. Hammy is the doting grandmother who often takes care of Peter and L.B. after school with Haji. Haki is Peter’s grandfather who embarks on making all his paleontology dreams come true in the backyard with a dig site. There are Peter’s schoolmates who fill the common roles of best friend, bully, and acquaintances from the Korean community. 

Vancouver is where most of the story takes place through day-to-day life. Some of the book is at Peter and L.B.’s school.  They take a road trip to Drumheller, which is near the Canadian Rockies. The changing landscape is described very well, from the city life to the desert-like dig site. 

The cultural values found in the book add so much to the story Ahn is conveying. Haji and Hammy immigrated from Korea and have embraced their immigrant life. They hang up a magazine featuring a Korean on the cover from decades ago to which Peter always asks when it’s going to be taken down. Hammy cooks traditional Korean food and is enjoyed by the grandkids. Family is one of the main tones of the story and how it is instinctual to take care of each other. 

The writing of this novel is unique in that it is written through a series of field notes as a paleontologist would write. It is appealing to kids that are into adventure, family, and humor. Their Korean heritage is evident through the words used, the grandparents’ names, and the food cooked throughout the story. Readers from all cultures will enjoy this book. 



4. REVIEW EXCERPT(S)

  • Booklist, 04/15/21

  • Kirkus Reviews, 02/01/21

  • School Library Journal, 02/01/21

Full-Text Reviews
Booklist (April 15, 2021 (Vol. 117, No. 16))

Grades 4-7. He may be young, but Peter knows exactly what he’s going to be when he grows up: a world-renowned paleontologist. He’s been obsessed with dinosaurs and the science surrounding them his whole life, even convincing his accommodating grandparents to let him fashion an excavation pit in their backyard for digging practice. When he gets the chance to take part in a real dig for a day, Peter’s extended family packs up and heads off on a road trip to make his dreams come true, but both the trip and the dig uncover more than Peter had bargained for. His grandmother is behaving oddly, but no one will discuss it, and his brush with paleontology leaves Peter questioning his own worth and aspirations. The story is cleverly told via Peter’s frequently updated field notes, and what starts off as a seemingly lighthearted ode to scientific obsession transforms into a tender story about fierce familial love and friction and the process of learning to believe in yourself, sometimes with an assist from others believing in you, too. There’s a funny and familiar sibling dynamic, and the details about the Korean Canadian family’s culture and challenges are wonderfully rendered. It’s a joy to join the entire Lee family on their meaningful journey.


  • 5. CONNECTIONS

Related books:

Paulsen, G. (2010). LAWN BOY RETURNS. Wendy Lamb Books. ISBN: 978-0-553-49430-3


Bredsdorff, B. (2006). THE CROW-GIRL: THE CHILDREN OF CROW COVE. Farrar, Straus and Giroux. ISBN: 978-1-41568-990-5


Activities:

Students create a field guide journal like Peter wrote in.

Research Canadian mountain ranges and cities referenced in the book.


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