WOW! WOW! WOW!
That was incredible! I know that I probably sound over-excited but that climax was one of the best that I have seen in awhile.
But let's back up and start at the beginning. McBride spent the first portion of the novel setting the mood and atmosphere. As a result, I got immersed into the story and didn't put the book down all day. The beginning also showed a lot about the characters and who they were. Although this story is told from MANY perspectives, each is unique enough that I never got lost or confused--something I am prone to do. (I have to admit that Tommy and Jude are my favorite characters.)
As the story progressed, so did the mystery. I found that it was very well done and really appreciated the unique aspects of it.
I'm back to the climax, but it was the perfect combination of adventure and thriller. There were numerous times where I was shocked by the plot twists.
I highly recommend this book to older teens and up (personally I would call this NA) as well as anyone who loves a good thrill with a dash of adventure. Just be prepared for a cliffhanger though. :)

Tropes: found family, childhood friends to more

Content: lots and lots of fighting, abusive parents (multiple characters), murder, drug use (not by main characters), alcoholism (also not main characters), attempted date rape, characters shot, death of parent, kissing

5 Stars

*I received a copy of this book from the author. All thoughts are my own and a positive review was not required. ( )

Brian McBride writes a fantastic adventure story revolving around a group of friends that find family within one another. Tommy ,the natural leader of the group, is grieving over the sudden death of his paleontologist father. Jude is an outgoing young man, caring for his little brother in the mess of an alcoholic father. Maya, a caring mother-type figure keeps the boys in line while battling what her family wants her to be versus her need to break free from the routine of a wealthy and socialite life. Then, we have Mars, a smart and kind son and friend who longs to find his place in a world that is unfair and unjust. Last, newcomer Lydia joins the group after discovering her family is not all that it seems. Together, they make up the Jailbirds.

When the Jailbirds find a secret room with clues that could upend their entire lives, as well as the history of their town and the story of Tommy's father's death, they know they must find the truth. The problem is... others want to keep the truth hidden. Mammoth is a suspenseful and adventurous page turner. You can't help but root for the Jailbirds in the face of their adversities and quest for the answers they seek. They form a tight knit group that love one another despite their mistakes, status, or wealth. One critique I have is I wish I would have gotten a better look into the villain's motives and why they were the way they were. It would've added an extra layer of depth to them. Overall, this was a fun read that I enjoyed did not have any explicit content or vulgar language. I would love to see this as a TV series one
day!

CW: Mild use of crude talk and alcohol/drug use. Death scenes. Overall mild, rated PG13 ( )