Although My Brother Hunts Dinosaurs has a completely different story than Miracle, both books help the reader open the door to an often unknown and ridiculed reality: diversity. Diversity that becomes an asset for all who open up to it and break down their prejudices.
We can all understand the social pressures of childhood and adolescence: the desire to fit in, be popular, and be as “normal” as possible. But Giacomo, the author of the book, has a special challenge. At first, he is very excited when he learns that his mother is pregnant with another boy, because it means gender balance in a family with two sisters. But when he discovers that little Giovanni is different, that he has an extra chromosome, the protagonist begins to face personal obstacles. He sees his younger brother as a disappointment, an embarrassment, someone who Giacomo persistently hides from his friends. He tells the story in a lived-in way: one moment the reader will be crying, the next he will be laughing out loud. But slowly and surely Giacomo begins to understand all the lessons that his special brother teaches him: lessons about love and what is truly important in life.
Giacomo Mazzariol has written a bildungsroman, a developmental novel that manages to surprise, move, and entertain, even though the subject matter is very sensitive. The book, in a clear and fluent style, addresses the complex issue of Down syndrome in a light, thought-provoking way.
The young author presents us with a real family, a strong bond that does not stop in the face of difficulties, for which a smile is the best weapon and is not afraid to be different. With his simple and direct style, Giacomo introduces us to the fantastic world of Giovanni and reveals a part of himself that is not so easy to share with others. (summarized from the general page of Založba Vida)