Riley and the Rex

By J.R. Fletcher

Some kids ride bikes. Riley rides a dinosaur.

Twelve-year-old Riley isn't looking for adventure. After the loss of her father, she wants quiet, distance, and a world that will leave her alone long enough to make sense again. Unfortunately, grief doesn't ask permission-and neither does the twelve-foot-tall green Tyrannosaurus rex that appears in her backyard one night.

The Rex is fierce, protective, and strangely gentle, and somehow familiar. As Riley's bond with him grows during their adventures, she begins to wonder if he may be more than just a dinosaur.

When sirens start to close in and secrets begin to unravel, Riley is forced into an uneasy alliance with the last person she ever expected to trust-someone carrying their own pain and guilt. Together, they navigate danger, misunderstanding, and fear, discovering that healing doesn't always come from running away, but from standing together and choosing forgiveness.

Riley and the Rex is a powerful, heartfelt upper middle-grade adventure about grief, forgiveness, and the invisible bonds that protect us when the world feels unsafe. Blending magical realism with emotional honesty, it's a story for readers who love wonder, courage, and stories that linger long after the final page.

Perfect for fans of Bridge to Terabithia, A Monster Calls, and The Iron Giant. This is a timeless tale about love that never truly leaves-and the monsters that help us survive.

• Format: Paperback
• Language: English
• ISBN: B0GPSP86MF
• ISBN13: 9798243567244
• Release Date: February 2026
• Publisher: Independently Published
• Length: 202 Pages
• Weight: 0.45 lbs.
• Dimensions: 0.5" x 5.0" x 8.0"