Awards and Praise for Dactyl Hill Squad
A New York Times Notable Book
An NPR Best Book of the Year
A School Library Journal Best Book of the Year
A New York Public Library Best Book of the Year
A Washington Post Best Book of the Year
A Publishers Weekly Best Book of the Year
Older fascinatingly blends thunder-lizard thrills with lesser-known but important aspects of American history... Readers will adore Magdalys Roca... Far from a natural hero, Magdalys displays a realistic mix of terror and gumption in the face of the monsters around her, reptilian and human. Where else will her adventures carry her? There's another installment of this mind-bendingly original series coming, sure to be eagerly awaited. -- New York Times Book Review
* Epic....This high-energy title is perfect for middle graders, with its strong female protagonist, a fresh perspective on history, helpful notes and resources, and an honest portrayal of the complex topics of race and gender. -- School Library Journal, starred review
* Delightful historical fantasy... Rooted in real events and attitudes, and appended with facts about the time, this fast-paced adventure makes for a memorable tale in which numerous characters of color take the lead. -- Publishers Weekly, starred review
Dactyl Hill Squad has everything a reader could possibly want in a middle-grade book: action, adventure, magic, humor and dinosaurs. Magdalys is the same kind of young, engaging and flawed protagonist as Philip Pullman's Lyra -- a character readers can't help but love even when (especially because) she's frustrating. An entertaining and wholly fulfilling series opener. -- Shelf Awareness
Daniel has imagined the unimaginable and in doing so sends readers on a dino thrill ride. I have been talking about this book nonstop! The kids, the dinosaurs, the Civil War, this book is true fire. It is everything I didn't even know I needed. -- Jacqueline Woodson, National Ambassador for Young People's Literature and New York Times bestselling author of Brown Girl Dreaming and Another Brooklyn
An extraordinary adventure full of heart and imagination that adults will enjoy reading just as much as kids! This is the story that would've made me fall in love with reading when I was a kid. -- Tomi Adeyemi, #1 New York Times bestselling author of Children of Blood and Bone
In this Tyrexcellent historical realignment -- fast paced, but deceptively packed with amazing detail -- Older's uprising of sheroes and heroes grips, stomps, and soars from start to finish. -- Rita Williams-Garcia, three-time Coretta Scott King Award winner and New York Times bestselling author of One Crazy Summer
Dactyl Hill Squad is an engaging, lively adventure with a heroine I wish I were, in a world I didn't want to leave. -- Jesmyn Ward, two-time National Book Award-winning author of Sing, Unburied, Sing
This incredible story brings history to life with power, honesty, and fun. -- Laurie Halse Anderson, New York Times bestselling author of Chains
A crackling fantasy adventure full of thrilling scenes. -- James McPherson, author of Pulitzer Prize winner Battle Cry of Freedom
Kids, the Civil War, and dinosaurs -- action doesn't get any better than this! -- Tamora Pierce, New York Times bestselling author of The Song of the Lioness
As an historian of New York City, I'm thrilled with Daniel Jose Older's melding of the best of history and fantasy in Dactyl Hill Squad. I couldn't put it down! -- Leslie Harris, author of In the Shadow of Slavery
This action-packed historical fantasy adventure should have wide appeal, leaving fans eager for the next installment. Dino-fueled fun with depth. -- Kirkus Reviews
Older's rousing mix of actual history and dinosaurs will be irresistible to the upper-elementary and middle-school crowds. -- Booklist
Awards and Praise for Freedom Fire
A Publishers Weekly Best of Summer Reading
An unforgettable historical, high-octane adventure. -- Dav Pilkey, author-illustrator of the Dog Man series
* Blisteringly paced, thought-provoking adventure. -- Kirkus Reviews, starred review
* Intelligent, rousing, and abundantly diverse, this is every bit as satisfying as the first installment. -- Publishers Weekly, starred review
Older has middle-graders' number with this dino-charged series. Stampedes are likely! -- Booklist
Praise for Thunder Run
Older infuses what could have been a basic romp with depth, using a critical social justice lens to examine the past while alsoembedding in it representation that we can aspire to inthe future. --Kirkus Reviews
