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A review by sadiereadsagain
Diary of a Young Naturalist by Dara McAnulty
3.0
I read this book for the Booktube Prize 2022, non-fiction category, quarterfinals. I ranked it 5th in its group of 6. My fellow judges agreed, and this book has not moved forward to the semifinals.
This is a diary written by 14 year old Dara, who is passionate about the natural world around him and who is living with autism. Whilst very much a nature diary, we also get an insight into his family, their move from one part of Ireland to another, and the bullying he has experienced at school.
I listened to this as an audiobook as read by Dara himself, which I always think adds a lot to the experience. Dara is no hobbyist when it comes to his naturalism - he is a campaigner and activist, and this has opened up opportunities which he also writes about.
Dara's writing is really beautiful and shows an astounding awareness that I wish I'd had at that age. I think hearing him read it highlighted how young he was when he wrote this, as reading it on the page I think it would come across as from a much older voice.
I'm not hugely into wildlife, and although I love beautiful nature writing (which this book has), I think I found myself zoning out because my interest level doesn't really match the intended audience for this book.
This is a diary written by 14 year old Dara, who is passionate about the natural world around him and who is living with autism. Whilst very much a nature diary, we also get an insight into his family, their move from one part of Ireland to another, and the bullying he has experienced at school.
I listened to this as an audiobook as read by Dara himself, which I always think adds a lot to the experience. Dara is no hobbyist when it comes to his naturalism - he is a campaigner and activist, and this has opened up opportunities which he also writes about.
Dara's writing is really beautiful and shows an astounding awareness that I wish I'd had at that age. I think hearing him read it highlighted how young he was when he wrote this, as reading it on the page I think it would come across as from a much older voice.
I'm not hugely into wildlife, and although I love beautiful nature writing (which this book has), I think I found myself zoning out because my interest level doesn't really match the intended audience for this book.