“McAnulty, 17, is fast becoming one of Britain and Ireland’s most acclaimed nature writers for work that is brimming with his passion as well as open about his autism . . . [Diary of a Young Naturalist is] uplifting.”

“For such a young author, McAnulty displays an astounding ability to capture and articulate his feelings and the nuances of the natural world, and his sincere compassion and lyrical prose captivate . . . A heartfelt, uplifting, hopeful memoir from a talented new voice in nature writing.”

“At once a lush and moving mediation and an electric clarion call to action, Diary of a Young Naturalist is a kaleidoscope of sensory delights. McAnulty’s year of observing barn owls, cowslips, bracket fungus, springtails, corncrakes, and the exquisite rendering of summer’s first blackberries (just to name a few)—make for a superbly rendered peek into a most extraordinary life. Each page vibrates with a hum of tenderness and bright possibilities for readers to take stock and joyful note of the world around them. This book will change your life if you let it. Go on, let it.”

“A combination of nature book and memoir, a warm portrait of a close-knit family and a coming-of-age story . . . Simple, gorgeous sentences unfurl, one after another.”

“McAnulty joins the ranks of those whose work seeks acceptance of non-neurotypical thought and demonstrates that people with autism contribute singularly authentic, and essential, human perspectives. In the case of McAnulty, it is a perspective of unfettered adoration for plants and animals that rebuts a status quo of marginalization and suppression . . . Over and over again, McAnulty reminds us that our most immediate environment lies within our own minds—and that between each one of us is the same cherished diversity we can also find by leaving a bucket of murky water in the yard and seeing what arrives.”

“Lyrical and often dazzling . . . Voices like his—and books like this one—empower us to appreciate and protect our planet.”

“Diary of a Young Naturalist brims with curiosity, heartache, and joy . . . Each entry reads like a poem. McAnulty’s gift for language and his willingness to peel away layers of self-doubt and self-consciousness through his observations of the natural world are breathtaking.”

“I am struck by the passion and unwavering focus of Dara McAnulty's vision of the natural world and our relationship to it. As we face the potential of imminent climate collapse, we need as many and diverse voices as possible to help us understand how our bond with the natural world isn't just comforting, but life-sustaining. This is a book that will change you and that could change the world if enough of us pay attention to it.”

“Wise, lyrical, and well-researched . . . McAnulty’s way of experiencing the world, his candid enthusiasm, his powers of observation, his passion for nature—all are being rediscovered by a world population forced to stop short and take stock. . . . Reading this marvellous diary leaves me with the impression that whatever the future holds, with young people like McAnulty coming to the fore it will be in safer hands.”

“Like reading William Blake, or Ted Hughes, [this] really is a strange and magical experience. . . . [Diary of a Young Naturalist] will surely be one of the most original and talked about nature books, or any books, this year.”

“This book is very pertinent. It’s a diary but essentially timeless. It’s about enduring, it’s about passion, beauty and connection. It’s really, really special.”

“A raw and beautifully written memoir, McAnulty shares his sensory encounters with nature, his enthusiasm, his struggles with school and challenges with advocacy. The reader emerges from this diary with a better understanding of autism and awe for McAnulty’s extraordinary voice”.