"The pleasure of Abby Hanlon’s work lies in her pitch-perfect ear for the way kids really think, talk, and act... There are cartoony drawings scattered throughout “Dory and the Real True Friend,” making it almost a Wimpy Kid-style book for the younger set. And irrepressible Dory is as likable a kid heroine as I’ve encountered in a decade." Boston Globe
"In a sequel every bit as delightful as its predecessor, Hanlon follows the wildly imaginative star of Dory Fantasmagory to school, where Dory attempts to make a “real” friend (as opposed to the monsters she plays with at home). Once again, Hanlon’s hilarious narration and cartooning reveal an uncanny talent for getting into the mile-a-minute mind of a one-of-a-kind girl." Publisher's Weekly, Starred Review
"The story is well written, humorous, and engaging. The illustrations are amazingly detailed and complement the text well.... Fans of Annie Barrows’s “Ivy and Bean” (Chronicle), Barbara Park’s “Junie B. Jones” (Random), and books with a little bit of humor and fantasy mixed into a school setting will enjoy reading this second installment in the “Dory” series. VERDICT A great addition to any library collection." School Library Journal, Starred Review
"Old friends and new will hope this highly successful sequel will not be the last starring this inventive, original child." Kirkus Review
"The mind-bendingly wacky dialogue that goes on in Dory’s class... is pitch perfect both in its representation of and its appeal to young readers. Hanlon excels at affectionately capturing that fertile space between a primary-grader’s reality and his/her imagination..." The Bulletin of the Council of Children's Books
"Hanlon knows humor for this audience. Her ability to pepper the story with off-the-wall characteristics, wonderfully absurd dialog, and general silliness is as keen as anyone....Dory and the Real True Friend is a sequel that lives up to, and wonderfully expands the world of the original. It’s genius. I (and a whole lot of kids) are excited for more. Travis Jonker, 100 Scope Notes, School Library Journal
