Silver's parents have been trying unsuccessfully to have another baby for years and it's making them miserable. Although they try to hide it from Silver, she is aware so when her dad (an artist) gets the chance to take them all to Costa Rica for four months where he has been commissioned to paint at a turtle rescue centre, he jumps at the chance, hoping the change will help them. Although a very different way of life, Silver settles into routines but when some rare turtle eggs are stolen, things get very dangerous.
Hannah has the most wonderful way of writing that lulls the reader in with her gentle style, whilst also highlighting important environmental issues and tugging on readers' heart strings. And Turtle Moon is no different.
Silver is aware that her parents long for another baby and she quietly worries that she's not enough for them. It's a situation that I can imagine many parents find themselves in and my heart broke for them. Whilst Silver's dad hopes that the four month change will help them all, it seems to have the opposite effect on her mum who becomes more withdrawn. Whilst Silver worries for her mum, she heads out to explore and meets Rafi whose family live at the centre. When he's not at school, Rafi loves nothing more than caring for the turtles and their eggs, and this is how Silver discovers so much about the creatures. Silver is a strong character whose love of nature shines through in the book. But when danger lurks, can she and Rafi save the day?
I also liked the fact that there was strong involvement from adults throughout the book and I need to give a particular shout out to Ana, whose outlook on life was rather wonderful.
The descriptions of Costa Rica and Turtle Beach in the book are rich and wrap the reader in a warm hug. As I read, I could almost hear the thrum of nature from the jungle and feel the warmth of the sun on my skin (just what I needed as the weather turns chilly!).
Turtle Moon is a wonderfully written book that highlights the plight of turtles and the threat to their eggs from poachers (the author's note at the end is a very interesting read). It sensitively deals with families going through IVF in a way that children will be able to understand.
Publishing 26th September, Hannah most definitely has another huge hit of a book on her hands with Turtle Moon.
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