Written by María José Fitzgerald
I think I will be in the minority to say that I didn’t love this book. The imagery was beautiful and the idea was great, but I didn’t enjoy the vague magically connections or message that was taught in the end.
I think the author did a beautiful job creating an atmosphere. I really felt the beauty of the Honduras. When the children were tracking the poachers, she created the suspense and made you feel the moments with the characters.I loved the idea of two girls from worlds apart coming together to help each other and the community. The friendship seemed natural and real. I enjoyed the ways they worked through things to build the trust in each other.
I really couldn’t get behind the “vaguely Harry Potter” scar in the book. The fact that it ached or burned when Luna was near. Or was it when trouble was near? Or when she needed to pay closer attention to her community? It didn’t seem like the idea was completely clear throughout the book. Also, the glowing totems. Why did they glow? Where did they come from? I wasn’t sold on the slight magic of these totem turtles when the rest of the book seemed to offer real life solutions to real life problems.Lastly, the message of the book was completely off for me. *SPOILER ALERT* The poachers they have been trying to stop through the whole book end up being the Turtle Center’s owners. They stole and sold the eggs they were claiming to protect; they even shot at the girls. But once they are found out they explain it’s because they needed the money and they felt really bad. …ok…? The community accepts their CRIMES, says “Hey, don’t do that again!” and then proceeds to pile support behind them to save the Turtle Center and make the POACHERS lives better. *END SPOILER ALERT*
This seems like a terrible message for children. “As long as you felt like you really needed to commit a crime, and you say sorry after, you can do whatever you would like.” Natural consequences are real and children can, and should, understand that.
I really wanted to love this book, but I just couldn’t get over those couple of big things. I will put it on my library shelves, but I won’t take the time to highlight or recommend it to my students.Reviewed by Tiffany Brito, Librarian, Hunter Elementary
Review shared in November 2023
Rating: ★★½✩✩ (2.5 stars)
Interest Level: 3-6 Grades
Turtles of the Midnight Moon
Written by María José Fitzgerald
Alfred A. Knopf
312 pages
Release Date: March 14, 2023
ISBN: 9780593488706
A review copy was provided by the publisher.
