LitPick Review
Twelve-year-old Barana lives in the village of Pataya in Honduras. She loves to spend her time drawing, writing poems, and most importantly, working to protect the leatherback turtles who lay their eggs on the beach in her village. Unfortunately, her family doesn't understand her passion, and wants her to focus more on helping around the house than running off to the beach.
Abby, also 12, lives in New Jersey. Although her dad is from Honduras, she's never had the chance to visit his hometown or travel much at all. That all changes when her dad has the opportunity to go on a last-minute business trip to Honduras, and Abby gets to accompany him. Abby is an avid photographer, and after receiving some less-than-positive feedback from her teacher, is determined to spend this trip expanding her horizons as a photographer.
Neither Abby nor Barana is in the market for a new friend, so they're both a little put out when they're thrown together for the two weeks Abby is in Honduras. Barana doesn't want yet another charge to babysit, and Abby believes she's old enough to explore on her own. Things get off to a rocky start as both girls try to assert their independence, but slowly, they start to get to know each other, and a friendship blossoms.
This friendship is helped along by a shared interest in protecting the turtles, and maybe even a little magic. So when poachers threaten the safety of the turtles and their eggs, Abby and Barana make the risky decision to go against the grown-ups' wishes and figure out what's going on. Will they be able to solve this mystery before something even more dangerous occurs?
Opinion:
Described as an eco-mystery, Turtles of the Midnight Moon deftly combines tales of a new friendship, travel diaries, and wildlife protection with a dash of mystery and a hint of magic. The author's writing, particularly when describing the setting, is lush and vivid, allowing readers to immerse themselves in the environment. Abby and Barana are both sympathetic characters with realistic flaws, and their personalities shine through their actions. I loved the author's age-appropriate inclusion of realistic gender stereotypes still present in many cultures, particularly the fact that responsibility for domestic tasks often falls to girls, while boys can pursue hobbies more freely. The girls' dogged determination to catch the poachers harming the village shows courage, but some scenes related to this do get a bit scary. Readers who love stories set in other countries, friendship stories, emotional stories, and magical realism will definitely want to read this book.
