Literary Scene

Ryan reviews three books for young (or young-at-heart) readers

By Ryan G. Van Cleave

Dactyl Hill Squad
by Daniel José Older

What type of reader ISN’T cracking open a book with this line as its hook? “It’s 1863 and dinosaurs roam the streets of New York as the Civil War rages between raptor-mounted armies down South.” If you’re going to do historical fantasy, do it big, and what’s bigger than dinosaurs, right?

But Daniel José Older’s new series is more than just a kid-cool premise—it tackles social issues that will speak to readers of all ages. It also features many characters of color in strong memorable roles.

The story revolves around Magdalys Roca (a.k.a. “Maggie, Mags, or Mag-D, depending on the day”) and her friends at the Colored Orphan Asylum. While watching a play, the orphanage burns down and many of the other orphans are kidnapped by the evil Magistrate Richard Riker. Magdalys and her pals manage to escape to Brooklyn, where they partner with the Vigilance Committee they learn to ride pterodactyls in order to rescue their lost orphan friends and keep them from being sold in the South as slaves. Magdalys’ newly-discovered Dr. Dolittle-like ability to communicate telepathically with dinosaurs helps make her the unofficial leader of the team and an interesting character, as well.

What gives this book even more value is how it includes useful back matter that connects the story to real events and ideas about that time period. In sum, Dactyl Hill Squad is a fast-paced, action-packed tale bundled with historical information, such as how Magistrate Riker was a real person who actually engaged in kidnapping, and how David Ballantine, though fictional, was “inspired by the real-life organizer and abolitionist David Ruggles . . . [who] led the Vigilance Committee, which functioned essentially like the version in this book (minus the dinosaurs).” young

For kids who are tired of zombies and vampires, this new series might be the dino-charged romp they’re looking for. Highly recommended. young

Rating: 4.5 out of 5 
www.danieljoseolder.net

Ogre Enchanted: A Companion Novel to Ella Enchanted
by Gail Carson Levine

Let me first admit—the Van Cleave household digs the Newbery Honor-winning book, Ella Enchanted (and the movie too, for that matter). So the prequel—Ogre Enchanted—was a must-review for sure.

In this new novel, the young healer Evie is magically changed into an ogre by Lucinda, a meddlesome fairy. How can poor Evie break free of this spell? The answer is simple: find someone to propose to her, and then accept that proposal. To make matters worse, Evie only has sixty-two days to locate someone willing to propose to her or she’ll be stuck as an ogre forever. young

To be fair, Lucinda isn’t the MOST horrible fairy godmother ever, though she might be in the running. The reason she transforms Evie is because Evie turned down the proposal of her devoted friend—and medicine test subject—Wormy. Sure, she wasn’t in love with him, and yes, she rejects him rather kindly, but Lucinda didn’t approve of the rejection. Thus the ogre spell. Well okay!

This book is fun and engaging, but it meanders a bit more than Ella Enchanted. And while the opportunity to do more with other story elements—like a potential ogre/dragon rivalry—is there, the story seems mostly content to revolve around the ideas of love and romance. young

Recommended for tween readers and die-hard fans of Ella Enchanted (because we do see how Ella’s parents live and why they ended up like they did). young

Rating: 4 out of 5 
www.gailcarsonlevine.com

Día de los Muertos
Written by Hannah Eliot,
Illustrated by Jorge Gutierrez
Board books are a great way to get the youngest readers involved in the world of stories, and considering that this review is appearing in the October issue of Sarasota Scene, why not show them how others around the world celebrate? That’s the premise behind Eliot’s Día de los Muertos. With striking images by Golden Globe-winning Mexican illustrator Jorge Gutierrez, Eliot’s book reveals how the Día de los Muertos celebration honors ancestors and loved ones who have passed. young

If the children in your life enjoyed the award-winning animated movie Coco, then they’ll likely enjoy the sugar skulls and papel picado of this fun book, too. Spanish words are integrated into the text in such a way that readers will find easy to manage. Recommended for the 3+ reading crowd.

Rating: 4 out of 5 

Ryan G. Van Cleave is the author of 20 books, and he runs the creative writing program at the Ringling College of Art and Design in Sarasota, Florida. Web: ryangvancleave.com