"This book is true fire. It is everything I didn't even know I needed." -- Jacqueline Woodson

"This is the story that would've made me fall in love with reading when I was a kid." -- Tomi Adeyemi

It's 1863 and dinosaurs roam the streets of New York as the Civil War rages between raptor-mounted armies down South. Magdalys Roca and her friends from the Colored Orphan Asylum are on a field trip when the Draft Riots break out, and a number of their fellow orphans are kidnapped by an evil magistrate, Richard Riker.

Magdalys and her friends flee to Brooklyn and settle in the Dactyl Hill neighborhood, where black and brown New Yorkers have set up an independent community--a safe haven from the threats of Manhattan. Together with the Vigilance Committee, they train to fly on dactylback, discover new friends and amazing dinosaurs, and plot to take down Riker. Can Magdalys and the squad rescue the rest of their friends before it's too late?

Daniel José Older has always loved monsters, whether historical, prehistorical, or imaginary. His debut series for young adults, the Shadowshaper Cypher, has earned starred reviews, the International Latino Book Award, and New York Times Notable Book and NPR Best Books of the Year picks, among other accolades. He has worked as a bike messenger, a waiter, a teacher, and was a New York City paramedic for ten years. Daniel splits his time between Brooklyn and New Orleans.

Part One: The Raptor Claw1. Out the Door and Away2. City of Whispers3. Knuckleskull Checkpoint4. A Letter from the Front5. Fire at the Zanzibar6. Brachy7. Ka-Blam!8. A Refuge in Ruins9. The Records Room10. Run!11. The River CrossingPart Two: Dactyl Hill12. Midnight at the Bochinche13. A Dapper Morning14. Rooftop Dactyls15. The Silo on the Edge of Town16. Updates and Rumblings17. A Squad Is Born18. Assignments, Warnings, and a Code19. Mission to Manhattan20. Manhattan Skyline21. The Not-So-Humble Abode of Mr. Harrison Weed22. Caught!23. Hedgehog, Granted24. Trouble and More Trouble25. Silo Jones26. Plotting & Planning, Planning & PlottingPart Three: Rescue Run27. Out and Away Over the Rooftops28. Piers & Pirates29. Out into the Blue30. Battle for the Ocarrion31. Sea Flight32. Chase Back to the Harbor33. Cry Havoc34. Stakeout35. Parapet Swoop36. Attack!37. Abre Camino38. The Shake ’n’ Drop39. A Journey BeginsAuthor’s Note