It was inevitable. The dinosaur gene skips a generation. Sawyer’s grandfather had transformed into a stegosaurus, and Sawyer would be next. It was just a matter of time before Sawyer would sprout plates down his back and drag a heavy tail tipped with dangerous sharp bones behind him. And that moment eventually arrived during the summer before fifth grade – a school year like no other.

Dinosaur Boy (Sourcebooks, 2015) is a funny and fantastical tale, complete with a Martian principal with a vendetta against bullying (or so it seems). In it, Cory Putman Oakes explores the need to fit in, true friendship, and self-acceptance in a lively, entertaining way. In the end, Sawyer’s trials demonstrate how perceived weaknesses can become personal strengths – an important life lesson for every kid, be they a dinosaur or not.