This is the kind of middle-grade book that makes you remember why you fell in love with reading as a kid. The Time Collision concept is wildly imaginative—not just a gimmick but a fully realized world where dinosaurs and robots coexist, where your classmates might be from ancient Rome or the distant future, and where that's just Tuesday.
Armand Baltazar (a Pixar animator) brings serious visual chops with 150+ illustrations that make this feel cinematic. It's not quite a graphic novel but not a traditional chapter book either—something in between that works beautifully for kids who need visual hooks to stay engaged.
The diversity feels organic rather than performative because it's literally built into the premise. When time periods collide, of course you get every culture and era mixing together. Diego himself is a great protagonist—13, discovering hidden abilities, trying to save his dad without being insufferable about it.
The main caveat: this came out in 2017 and it's unclear if the series continued, which is always annoying when kids get invested. There's also typical middle-grade action peril and some mild language. But the 4.8 Amazon rating and kid reviews gushing about staying up late to read suggest this genuinely captures young imaginations. If your kid loves world-building and adventure, this is a solid pick.