Diary of a Young Naturalist by Dara McAnulty

Diary of a Young Naturalist, by Dara McAnulty

Diary of a Young Naturalist chronicles the turning of Dara McAnulty's world, from spring to summer, autumn to winter, on his home patch, at school, in the wild and in his head. Evocative, raw and beautifully written, this very special book vividly explores the natural world from the perspective of an autistic teenager juggling homework, exams and friendships alongside his life as a conservationist and environmental activist.

With a sense of awe and wonder, Dara describes in meticulous detail encounters in his garden and the wild, with blackbirds, whooper swans, red kites, hen harriers, frogs, dandelions, skylarks, bats, cuckoo flowers, Irish hares and many more species. The power and warmth of his words also draw an affectionate and moving portrait of a close-knit family making their way in the world.

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Our review

Diary of a Young Naturalist won the Wainwright Prize in 2020 and it's thoroughly deserved. It chronicles a year in the life of Dara McAnulty as he shifts from fourteen to fifteen, the experience of the seasons in Northern Ireland and his struggles and triumphs as an autistic teenager finding security in nature, a nature he works hard to defend.

His affection for everything from the boisterous morning blackbird to the ancient oaks falling to human expansion is evident in every page; his prose is brilliant and immersive, especially considering that a teacher once told his parents “Your son will never be able to complete a comprehension, never mind string a paragraph together”.

In a swarm of biographies, this book truly stands out and draws you in, well worth a thorough read – and then maybe a few more.

Wild Reads Book Choice

Diary of a Young Naturalist is part of our Wild Reads project in partnership with Suffolk Wildlife Trust, celebrating the connection between the natural world and the written word.

Enjoyed this title? Let us know what you think on Twitter by tagging @SuffolkLibrary and @SuffolkWildlife and using the hashtag #WildReads.

Supporting booklist

Inspired by Dara McAnulty's Diary of a Young Naturalist, this month's Wild Reads theme is coming of age and meeting nature.

Explore our supporting titles on how we all connect differently with nature.