Dactyl Hill Squad
Dinosaurs of all shapes and sizes fly the skies and wander the streets of New York City in 1863. The Civil War rages off stage, but the kids of the Colored Orphan Asylum have enough trouble of their own when the Draft Riots put their lives in danger. The squad, including our protagonist, Magdalys, finds haven in the Brooklyn neighborhood called Dactyl Hill. From there they zoom around on the backs of dinos and gather allies in order to take down the menacing founder of the Kidnapping Club, which chases down people of color and sells them into slavery. Magdalys also investigates her past and the fate of her parents when she isn’t dashing about escaping danger and causing mayhem.
Written in a crisp, vivid style, author Older has crafted a fast-paced, action-packed tale that is both inventive and imbued with plenty of mystery. The historical setting is there as a framing device, but the characters’ actions and attitudes are modern. The dialogue completely yanked me out of the historical setting with frequent uses of words like duh, bro, okay, and guys. A sample sentence is: “Wow,” Magdalys said. “You guys had a real-deal slumber party.” I found dinosaurs easier to accept than such anachronisms, but your mileage may vary.
The frenetic pace of the action was balanced nicely with the well-developed cast of characters. This story is bound to satisfy young readers yearning for adventure and provides fact-based notes at the back of the book covering the historical inspiration for characters, places, and events. Also clarified are the different types of dinosaurs featured as well as the capabilities on the era’s weapons. After such a rousing tale, these notes may serve to interest reluctant students of history in learning more about real history—and real dinosaurs, too.
