Turtles of the Midnight Moon

January 1, 2023
An eco-mystery brings two girls together in Honduras. Imbued with hints of magical realism, this novel follows Barana and Abby's unfolding friendship and places an environmental mystery at the forefront. Both girls are 12, but they come from different worlds. Barana resides in Pataya, a small Honduran beach town where she knows everyone. Her priority is the leatherback turtles, especially Luna, a turtle she has a special connection to and looks for every year during nesting season. In New Jersey, Abby is mostly trying to work out how to survive the loneliness of sixth grade since her best friend moved away. When Abby's doctor father has to spend a couple of weeks in Pataya for work, Abby begs to come along, eager to finally visit his home country (her mom is a White American). The two girls meet when Abby and Papi stay in Barana's family's guesthouse. They don't get along at first, but eventually, the threat to the turtles' nests from poachers leads them to work together to identify and catch the culprits. Although the story initially moves slowly, the vividly drawn Honduran setting makes up for the dragging first half. The coastal atmosphere is magical and enchanting, and the friendship between the main characters is very sweet. A character-driven mystery in which the setting pops out. (author's note, map) (Mystery. 8-12)

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January 1, 2023
Grades 3-6 In the small Honduran village of Pataya, Barana's crescent-shaped scar begins to burn, a sure sign that her beloved leatherback sea turtle, Luna, has returned to the beach to lay eggs. Meanwhile in New Jersey, Abby is struggling through sixth grade without her best friend. The two girls' paths cross when Abby's father brings her on a work trip to Pataya--the village where he was born. Though neither girl is excited when Barana is named as Abby's guide, they bond over a shared love of wildlife and art--Barana possessing a knack for writing poetry and drawing, and Abby displaying her passion for photography at every turn. When turtle poachers are reported in the area, Luna and the local sea turtle-conservation program are thrown into danger, spurring Barana and Abby to discover who's behind this terrible enterprise. Fitzgerald sprinkles her debut novel with magic and Honduran culture but roots it in the girls' personal journeys. The environmental and economic challenges faced in Pataya also play pivotal roles in this heartwarming tale of activism, art, and identity.

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January 30, 2023
Fitzgerald’s page-turning debut, a contemporary eco-mystery with a touch of magical realism, explores timely themes of friendship and identity while tracing two girls’ heartwarming bond. Though Mamá wishes that Barana would focus more on domestic cares, the 12-year-old volunteers to help the leatherback sea turtles nesting near the family’s coastal Honduran home, Pataya—including the turtle to which Barana is connected via a tingling, crescent-shaped scar. In northern New Jersey, aspiring photographer Aberdeen “Abby” Durón is closing out a sixth grade year that turned miserable after her only friend moved away. When Abby’s always-busy doctor Papi offers to take her with him on a summer assignment to his native Honduras, she jumps at the chance. The girls initially clash when Abby and her dad stay in Barana’s family’s casita, but they grow closer in facing a poaching plot that puts the entire nesting season at risk. As the two assemble clues and pin down suspects, Honduras is rendered in stunning natural detail that reminds readers just what the friends are fighting to protect. Ages 8–12. Agent: Sara Crowe, Pippin Properties.

March 10, 2023

Gr 4-7-Abby and Barana, at first glance, have little in common. Shy Abby is from the U.S. and never without her camera, while Barana lives in a coastal village in Honduras and spends her free time checking on sea turtle nests at the nearby beach. When Abby joins her father on a trip to Honduras, she and Barana are told to stick together, and they aren't happy about it. Soon, though, their mutual interest in nature causes them to strike up a partnership. As Abby learns more about the turtles and the poachers threatening them, she becomes determined to help Barana, but doing so may put them both in grave danger. This story offers a lot to connect with its target audience. Abby and Barana are both flawed but likable characters struggling with how to come into their own. Abby's growth from being painfully shy to someone who takes risks and makes new friends will inspire readers. The turtle poaching provides an intriguing environmental mystery, especially when set against the beautiful, exquisitely described Honduran backdrop. A few areas of the story fall flat; an element of magical realism feels forced and unnecessary when the realistic setting already feels magical. The conclusion, however, is satisfying enough that readers won't mind. VERDICT This story will have wide appeal, reaching tweens interested in mysteries, the environment, and ocean life. While some elements may feel out of place, middle graders will still be charmed.-Kristin Brynsvold

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