Dinosaur Boy (Dinosaur Boy #1) by Cory Putman Oakes
Story starts with a boy who during the summer near Portland, OR he starts growing bumps on his neck.
They then turn into triangular plates and he gets more bumps. His mother says he's got the dinosaur gene.
He has to be very strong as he goes back to school and others see his plates.
Lot of strange things happen with aliens even. such an imagivite story! ( )

It all started with a bump. A little one. Right on the back of my neck.

- First Sentence


And so begins Sawyer's big summer change. Last summer, Sawyer's friend, Elliot grew 5 whole inches. Sawyer's change is a bit different, he has the dinosaur gene and is growing plates, a tail and spikes (he is part Stegosaurus). This is unusual, but not unheard of. Scientists at Amalgam Labs experimented with DNA hybridization and created human/dinosaur hybrids, so now some children exhibit dinosaur characteristics.

When Sawyer returns to school (5th grade), he is the target of bullies, with the intensity increasing as the days go by. The new principal claims to be there to protect Sawyer and she begins expelling anyone caught bullying him. But, her intentions may not be completely altruistic.

As the book proceeds, Sawyer, Elliot and the strange new girl become fast friends and try to fight the bullies. But, they also discover that the principal may not be what she seems. And as bullies continue to disappear, Sawyer and his friends start to wonder where they are going exactly.

This is a cute book that kids will enjoy. I knew something was going on, but the twist took me by surprise. I think the kids will be surprised too.

I thought this book had no real substance, just a fun story - nothing wrong with that. However, when I got to the end of the book, I found a surprise. The Author's Note explains different ways that dinosaurs and people who study them are part of the book. It is a great explanation and gives kids a lot of information about the study of dinosaurs. An unexpected bit of learning that will please dinosaur fans. It is like finding Easter Eggs in a game or DVD = FUN.

Recommended to:
Readers in grades 3-5 who like their fiction with a dash of science mixed with dinosaurs. ( )

A fun book for kids 4-6th grade. One day Sawyer's back starts to itch, and before he knows it, he becomes part dinosaur. Not the scary T-Rex kind, but the calm, quiet, steady, herbivorous kind. Suddenly field greens and veggies make his mouth water - especially when drizzled with mole. Sawyer is taunted by two school bullies, and soon the new Principal, Mrs. Mathis, is defending his honor and strictly enforcing the school No Bully policy.

Sawyer and his loyal group of (two) outcast friends decide to find out what is happening in their school, even though it would be easier to not help those who taunted them.

A great lesson in friendship, being different, science experimentation, and Sci-Fi all wrapped in one fun, easy to read package. ( )

Really enjoyed this...in this case, the interactions between the kids and their characters were very believable, even though the plot was pretty fantastical. I'm looking forward to the sequel and will be recommending this to my kid friends! ( )

DINOSAUR BOY by Cory Putman Oakes is a goofy new science fiction series. Featuring human-dinosaur hybrids and aliens, it’s the perfect combination for middle-grade readers.

During summer vacation, Sawyer is growing spikes and a tail. His school has a zero tolerance policy for bullying human-dinosaur hybrids. However when the bullies begin disappearing, Sawyer and his friends find themselves in an “out of this world” cover-up involving aliens and an interplanetary pet market.

Although the premise is silly and the situations predictable, important themes including bullying, racial identity, and friendship are skillfully woven through the narrative. Even reluctant readers will enjoy the fast-paced, action-packed story.

Fans of books like Boy or Beast and Aliens on Vacation will dive into this science fiction adventure.

Dinosaur fans will be intrigued by the idea of Dino DNA and the author’s note will encourage them to re-read the story again for hidden details. Librarians will enjoy building dinosaur displays to highlight this popular new series.

Available February 3, 2015 and published by Sourcebooks Jabberwocky, a NetGalley ARC was used for the review. ( )