Turtles of the Midnight Moon by Maria Jose Fitzgerald, 2023
Recommended for grades 4-8
Magical Realism, Mystery
When Abby Duron travels with her father to his small costal hometown in Honduras, neither she nor her hostess’s granddaughter Barana are very enthusiastic about their families’ expectation that Barana will be Abby’s tour guide and “babysitter”. Barana wants to focus on protecting sea turtle eggs from poachers, and Abby is an aspiring wildlife photographer who would rather explore unhindered. And after all, both girls are almost thirteen, so why should Abby need Barana’s supervision? Within a couple days, though, the girls end up liking each other more than they had expected. Abby is fascinated by the turtles that Barana loves so much, and by Barana’s special connection to Luna, a turtle with a crescent-moon-shaped scar that matches a scar on Barana’s back. Despite being warned to stay away from the beach at night, the two girls team up to catch the poachers. Their new friendship hits a snag when Abby suspects Barana’s older brother Tulu. Told through alternating perspectives, this book includes themes of friendship, family ties, and the value of various kinds of art, including Barana’s poetry and sketches and Abby’s photography. The vivid descriptions of Honduras’s beautiful scenery and wildlife render this mystery novel somewhat slow-paced for its genre, but they add emotional depth and educational value. A hint of the supernatural sets this book apart from the plethora of other middle grade novels about protecting wildlife, especially since many of the pivotal scenes occur at night and there are frequent mentions of the local cemetery. Recommended for middle grade readers who enjoy dual perspectives in literature and stories about wildlife preservation.
Librarian Magdalena 