Dara McAnultyDiary of a Young Naturalist: WINNER OF THE WAINWRIGHT PRIZE FOR NATURE WRITING 2020

This is so beautifully written that it made me want to cry, to smile, to laugh at its perfection. But it is so much more than the beautyof words. The insights into nature and the climate crisis, the insights into Dara’s coping mechanisms, the enthusiasm, despair, emerging maturity - all these tumble together to create a unique work that at times verges on poetry, but always kept me spellbound. Congratulations, on your award, Dara - please God people will listen to your powerful voice.

I loved this. Dara has an original voice and masses of enthusiasm. This taught me a lot about both the environment and how it feels to be autistic. Dara obviously has a close and loving family and they were a joy to read about. I can understand why this book is both popular and prize-winning. I will follow Dara’s career with interest and I wish him well.

This book, written by a teenage boy, provides a lesson for all of us in keeping our eyes open for and taking delight in the wonderful delights of nature that surround all of us.A little bit repetitive, as diaries can be. But still a very good read.

Northern Irish teen Dara McAnulty gives us here a book that is certainly worth reading. In this journal not only does he take in the flora and fauna around where he lives, but also openly writes about autism and how it affects him, as well as other members of his family. Passionate about wildlife and conservation so this makes for an illuminating read and reminds us all once again of our interconnectedness with the world around us; although rather like wearing face coverings due to Covid, some people can be told the same thing numerous times but do not actually have the intelligence to comprehend what they are told and shown.Moving homes whilst writing this book along with treatment at school all comes bound up with the love of nature and the natural world around us, and how we still keep on managing to make a mess of things. We live our allotted time and then perish, but at times too many of us ignore what further generations are left with, and at best we can only change certain things, but it makes sense to leave the Earth in a good condition for our progeny to live in and enjoy. Dara has already been awarded an RSPB Medal and is the youngest winner ever of the Wainwright Prize for UK Nature Writing, and this book does show someone who is mature beyond their years and who is also quite erudite.As this book takes in more than just nature and conservation it obviously gives more to us readers to think about. As Dara is autistic so he tells us about that and the struggles he has with anxiety and depression, the latter two I myself suffer from. With discussions about nature and what we are doing to the world so mental health has been a growing topic in recent years, so this book is relevant on both fronts. Along with this there is also mention at times of some of the myths and legends of Ulster and Ireland in general which will interest a lot of people, simply because so many of us have Irish ancestry somewhere in our roots. In all then we are given a great read that has much to offer the general reader and with such good writing we will surely hear and read a lot more from this author over the following years.

A 14 year old boy's diary extracts detailing his love of nature and his commitment to ecological change for the better. It's told with a precocious use of language and thought, not to mention lyricism. Wonderful stuff.

Now and then a book comes along that just takes your breath away .... this is it! I identified with so very many feelings and frustrations. Dana is a FABULOUS writer, engaging, funny, sad and a realist. He sees so many thing that I think so many people don't - if there is any perspective to learn from, it is Dana's. If you DON'T read thisk book you are really missing out.

Blown away by this nature diary/memoir. I learnt more from this book than my teacher autism training or reading nature guide books. It has changed my perception on so many levels. Poetic. Emotionally charged. Astounding knowledge. Just…wow!

Liked the beautiful descriptions of the every day natural world and it has made me more observant of life around me. Also the insight into how difficult the world can be for children who are perceived as “different”, that made me very sad. It also gave an insight into how “autism” feels.