The pacing of the book is very sluggish and the genre is a little unclear - there is a touch of fantasy but not much, and ultimately I think this narrative would have fit better into the parameters of realistic fiction. Character development is strong but otherwise the story falls flat, which is disappointing given that it had so much potential as a quasi-bilingual story taking place in Latin America.

In Turtles of the Midnight Moon, two seemingly different 12-year-old girls unite to promote lasting change. Barana lives in the small Honduran beach village of Pataya, where she goes to school via boat and helps with household chores. However, Barana’s true passion is sea turtle conservation, and she aches to spend her time relocating nests and looking for her favorite leatherback Luna. But her plans are shattered when a decompression sickness specialist from the United States visits to train the locals, and Barana is tasked with being his daughter’s tour guide. Abby, while unamused about having a babysitter, cannot wait to see her dad’s childhood village, use her Spanish, and take wildlife pictures. With both girls vowing to ditch each other, can a threat to the sea turtles bring them together?

Get ready to be transported to Honduras! María José Fitzgerald does an incredible job of immersing readers in the rich culture through vibrant descriptions. Community is a significant aspect of Pataya, and the girls question loyalty in their search for truth. I feel the novel could have been more effective if told in first person to gain an inside look at Barana and Abby’s thoughts, but the dual perspectives still offer distinct voices. While I enjoyed the Spanish dialogue, I am unsure how difficult it would be to understand for readers without experience with the language. Even after four years of Spanish courses, I sometimes struggled to understand what was said when translations were not provided. However, the use of Spanish might appeal to Spanish-speaking readers, especially Honduran readers, who are excited to find Spanish interwoven in an English book. One element of the story that did not work for me was Barana’s matching crescent-shaped scar with Luna the leatherback and the identical sea turtle carvings the girls find under their pillows. Barana’s scar burns and tingles every chapter to alert her to new information or danger. Similarly, the girls’ sea turtle carvings randomly glow and feel warm. The power behind these supernatural instances is never revealed, and I feel they take away from the realistic portrayal in all other aspects of the book.

Turtles of the Midnight Moon is for anyone who wants to be transported to the beaches of Pataya to learn about Honduran culture. I especially recommend this book to anyone with an interest in the Spanish language or sea turtles. Fitzgerald shows readers how to search for the truth and not give up in the face of adversity to help create a better tomorrow.

This is a wonderful middle grade coming-of-age friendship story with themes of wildlife conservation, bravery, and standing up for what's right. Barana is a girl who is devoted to the protection of sea turtles and their eggs in her beach-side home in Pataya, Honduras. Abby is a budding nature photographer who visits Pataya with her father, a native of Pataya, who is training local divers in diving safety and new equipment. The two girls develop a bond over their shared interest in the sea turtles and protecting their eggs from poachers. Abby helps Barana discover the identities of the poachers, and Barana helps Abby get over her fear of taking risks.

There's danger, there's thrill, there's heart, and there's a touch of magic. Readers will fall in love with the beautiful Honduras setting, the rich cast of characters, and the friendship that forms between the two girls.

This was a cute middle grade about Abby, who visits her father’s birthplace of Honduras for the first time, and Barana, a Honduran girl passionate about saving sea turtle eggs from poachers. Abby and Barana quickly become friends and join forces to find the poachers and save the turtles. The coastal Honduras setting was well described, and the town almost felt like another character alongside the colorful cast of locals. I loved the friendship between Abby and Barana, the mystery of the poachers, and the message of conservation. I’d recommend this one to children and adults. Thank you to NetGalley and Knopf Books for Young Readers for the eARC!

An interesting book about two girls living very different lives who come together when one visits Honduras with her doctor father. Told in dual narratives, Abby and Barana work to solve a mystery in Barana's village. Who is poaching the turtles' eggs?

I absolutely loved this middle school story about two girls, each with passions that their family members don't necessarily understand. Told from a dual point of view, I found both sides unique and equally absorbing. This is a wonderful debut novel that was emotionally compelling, educational, and entertaining.

After 12 years, Abby finally has the chance to visit her father's home country Honduras. She is a budding photographer, but she has felt unmoored ever since her best friend moved away from her Jersey town. Barana has a special connection with a leatherback turtle named Luna, and she has a passion for keeping leatherback turtles (and other animals) safe on their island. Together, they get drawn into the mystery of who is poaching the turtle eggs before they have a chance to hatch. While there was a touch of danger and suspense, I think this story is still appropriate for middle school and I would recommend this to my students.

I read most of this in one sitting because I wanted to know what would happen. Both girls were amazing in their own unique ways, and I loved the friendship that developed between them. I loved the touch of magic the author included with the totems and Barana's scar, and I loved how the people in the community pulled together to support each other. This book made me want to visit this island and visit the people. I would love it if the author ever decides to write a sequel. This was an amazing debut and I can't wait to read what she writes next!

I received an advance review copy for free from NetGalley and the publisher, and I am leaving this review voluntarily.

“Turtles of the Midnight Moon” by Maria José Fitzgerald is an enchanting middle grade eco-mystery about two 12-year-old girls who form a friendship despite being from different countries and cultures. Sea turtle lovers will rejoice to see their beloved animals take center stage. Those who know nothing about sea turtles will come away with a boatload of information about the largest of the 7 species of sea turtles, the leatherback sea turtle.

Abby, from the U.S., and her doctor father go visit his homeland in Honduras. Abby is still grieving after her best friend moved away, and she doesn’t fit in at school. But she loves taking pictures and that keeps her involved in school.

Her counterpart in Honduras, Barana, has a moon-shaped scar that perfectly matches the scar on the shell of Luna, a leatherback sea turtle. She shares a special bond with this turtle, and her scar hurts when Luna is nearby (i.e. laying eggs on the beach near where she lives).

Barana loves the sea turtles and helps an adult in charge of them, Maria, patrol the nesting beach and guard nests. Both girls are wary of each other at first-Barana just wants to protect the sea turtles and get out of her chores, and Abby want to explore on her own with her camera. But they bond over their shared creativity-Barana draws and writes poetry while Abby is a photographer.

. Abby and Barana also bond over concern for the sea turtles. One of Luna’s nests survives a storm, but her other nests are no match for poachers. The girls need solve the mystery of who the poachers are and bring them to justice if they’re going to save any of Luna’s eggs.

“Turtles of the Midnight Moon” is written from a dual point-of-view. It is engaging and kept my interest. I’m a marine biologist and I found it to be scientifically accurate. I’m glad I’m studying Spanish but there were phrases here and there that weren’t translated fully in the context of the story. The gist of the Spanish is there, but footnotes or a glossary would be nice. But there’s always google translate (though that takes away from the flow of the story).

Otherwise, it’s well-paced with the right amount of mystery and magic to keep you reading. Besides being an eco-mystery, it’s also a book about friendship and family as well as the complications that those relationships bring.

Budding conservationists will love this book, and those who aren’t (yet!) will come away with an appreciation of our ancient sea turtles.

Abby gets the opportunity to travel with her father to the small village in Honduras where he spent his early years. He is a doctor and is going to help the villagers by creating safer dive conditions for them. While he’s working, Abby gets to spend time with a local girl, who is also 12, named Barana. They become fast friends and Abby joins Barana in trying to solve the mystery of who is poaching turtle eggs from the village beach.

This was a sweet story of friendship and family, yet was also suspenseful as the girls worked to try to save the turtle eggs from dangerous poachers. There are beautiful descriptions of the Honduran village, the homes, schools, food, and customs. Spanish words and phrases are mixed into the text, with definitions, so that the reader is more immersed into the culture. There is also an element of magic woven throughout the story, but you will need to read the novel to discover it for yourself.

This novel is perfect for upper elementary and middle school age children and would make a good read-aloud if the teacher is able to correctly pronounce the Spanish phrases.

Thank you to #NetGalley and #RandomHouseChildren’sBooks for an eARC of #TurtlesoftheMidnightMoon by #MariaJoseFitzgerald

It was a beautiful story! 5 stars

Thank you to NetGalley for providing an eARC of this book! Barana lives in a small town in Honduras called Pataya. Though her parents saddle her with responsibilities (most of which consist of caring for her baby sister), Bataan’s true passion is the conservation & rehabilitation of the baulas—the leatherback sea turtles who use Pataya’s beaches for nesting.

Abby is American and though her father is from Pataya, this is the first summer where he has asked her to visit to see his first home. She is beyond excited, and has an extra mission: as a photographer, Abby hopes to capture the perfect picture to enter into a summer competition.

Barana and Abby at first do not want to be saddled with each other, but over the summer they find that their fates are intertwined. After a severe storm causes damage to the town, the sea turtle nests are threatened by poachers. Can Barana and Abby solve the mystery behind this threat?

I loved the second half of this book. I think that the relationship between Barana and Abby is so special (and I love the dusting of magical realism that is brought into their friendship). I also think that this books gives a window into true challenges that some may face—conservation of natural resources, lack of safe job support (particularly with physically demanding jobs like the lobster divers), & how much a community can come together in times of distress. The pacing of this book felt a little long-winded—especially for a middle grade story, the first half was very slow and it felt like some of the sections could have been edited down to get to the heart of the story between Barana and Abby. Overall, I could see some of my middle schoolers—particularly ones who like a splash of fantasy and magic in their stories—who would really enjoy this book.

Fascinating read that enthralled me from the very beginning. It is a beautiful coming of age story of a girl who finds herself through photography and a trip to her father's homeland. I loved the mystery parts the revolved around loggerhead sea turtles and poachers.

I absolutely loved this book and cannot say enough good about it. Fitzgerald is a lovely, lyrical writer, and her characters, Barana and Abby, are wonderfully relatable. The themes of environmental preservation and friendship and self-expression through art are woven through a fast-paced, exciting mystery with just the perfect touch of magic. As the girls teamed up to solve the mystery, I found myself holding my breath more than once and also wiping away tears more than once, which is definitely a sign of a gripping, well-told story. This is truly a perfect debut--recommend highly.

Turtles of the Midnight Moon is a middle-grade mystery set in parts in New Jersey but mostly Honduras. There are two girls about 12-years of age. Abby lives in New Jersey with her Michigan-born mom and Honduran-born father. He’s a doctor and is planning a trip to Honduras to help out the fishermen transition to lobster-catching, using techniques that will avoid the men from getting the bends. Abby loves photographing nature and her father thinks it was time she visited his homeland, and reluctantly, her mom agrees.

Barana is a Honduran girl whose jam is the leatherback turtles that come ashore on the beach near her house every year and lay their eggs. They’re endangered, because poachers often steal the eggs to sell as delicacies on the black market. Barana wants to do all she can to protect the turtles, but no one in her family seems to share the same enthusiasm with her. There’s an effort from a local ecologist, but they lack the funding and the willingness of the police to help guard the beaches.

I really enjoyed the immersion into Honduran life and how Abby doesn’t think she’ll fit in right away. She knows Spanish from her father, and finds that she can speak fluently with her hosts and their friends. It helps to know a little Spanish to read this book, or at least get it on Kindle and use the translate option, as quite a bit of the early dialogue and descriptions use Spanish words. Even though I was horrible at Spanish in high school, I was able to make out what Abby and Barana were talking about with the translate button on my tablet.

I liked the fact that the girls found a common element to bring them together, the sea turtles. Abby is lucky enough to capture images of the turtles with her camera, as well as all the other unusual wildlife in Honduras. Her teacher had urged her to take chances with her photography and step outside her comfort zone, and she finds herself doing just that, taking portraits of Barana and her family and friends, with permission, of course.

Barana is happy to have someone who wants to help the turtles as much as her. Her family thinks she spends too much time focusing on them. More often than not, she is saddled with looking after her baby sister while her older brother plays soccer or hangs out with friends. Yet her brother is also a champ environmentalist in cleaning up the beaches of garbage and recycling and making art.

This is an excellent story about friendship and growth as a human being, ecology and standing up for what you believe in.

I received an ARC from NetGalley and the publisher in exchange for an honest review. All opinions expressed are my own.

This is a wonderful book! It's well written and hooks you on the first page. It has just enough mystery and drama to keep you turning the pages to see what happens next. This book should be in every school library.
I received a complimentary copy and was not required to write a review. All opinions expressed are my own.

What a beautiful cover! To be totally honest the cover of the book was what made me want to read it.
I'm glad I picked up this book even though I didn't know what to expect when I opened this book.
I was pleasantly surprised and happy to see it was about friendship, turtles and many other things.
The turtles were my favorite thing. I learned much about them.
I enjoyed this sweet read very much!
I can relate to Abby in more ways than one (except having a sibling to help watch).
It's hard to make friends and when you do it's even harder to keep them.
Life's journey is like that.
Some are here for a season like Fiana and some are here to stay like Barana.
Yes, it's a hard thing to understand, especially if it's yourself on the end of that season.
I finished this book in one afternoon because it was so very good!
5 stars for a job well done! I I highly recommend!
My thanks for a copy of this book. I was NOT required to write a positive review. All opinions expressed are my own.

This was an enjoyable read full of heart, culture and love for nature. It was nice experiencing the family relationships, friendships and culture of Honduras alongside the two main characters. I liked the two different perspectives, especially that Barana was born and has grown up in Honduras, while Abby was born in the U.S. and is getting to visit Honduras for the first time with her father. I think that both girls were very relatable, as was their friendship with each other. There was the smallest bit of magic in this otherwise very realistic tale. This would be an excellent choice for readers that enjoy mysteries and books about protecting the environment.

Growing up in a small town in New Jersey, twelve-year-old Abby has had very little experience in the wider world. Though her father is from Honduras, Abby has never seen his home, and after her best friend moved to London, Abby feels set adrift in her life and the limited travel she has done. So, when her papi gets invited to his hometown to help educate fishermen about safe diving, Abby is offered the rare and exciting opportunity to join him. While in Honduras, Abby meets a girl called Barana, and the girls’ complementary interests guide them on an important journey of friendship, conservation, and growth.

This sweet middle grade novel has all the hallmarks of quality stories in this genre: unlikely friends, discovering one’s inner strength, and thinking outside the norm to resolve a seemingly insurmountable obstacle. The narrative is told through the alternating perspectives of Barana and Abby, whose upbringing could not have been more different. While Barana loves poetry and sea turtles, Abby is more focused on her practice of wildlife photography. Together, the two girls have strengths that lead them to better outcomes than either could achieve on their own, and despite their initial reservations, the girls’ shared beliefs draw them ever closer together.

An author’s note at the beginning of the book explains some of the impetus for the story, especially with the author’s own experience in Honduras. The culture, food, landscapes, and beliefs of Honduras are beautifully depicted throughout the book, and readers will be frequently craving the many delectable foods Abby enjoys. Spanish language is embedded throughout the narrative, and it varies in length from a single word to an entire sentence. Usually, these insertions are defined naturally within follow-up commentary, which helps non-Spanish speakers feel more comfortable with the narrative. Beautiful and heartfelt, this book is at once a love letter to Honduras, an uplifting tale of friendship and belonging, and a reminder of the importance of nature conservation. It is a lovely addition to library collections for middle grade readers.

Such a charming book with wonderful themes of friendship and teamwork. The prose easily pulls the reader in and makes them feel a part of the story--right there in Honduras with Barana and Abby. Characters are well-drawn and realistic. I enjoyed the multiple POV's. As a turtle lover, I absolutely loved that angle!

So much to love about this beautiful book! The pacing, setting, and characters are so well calibrated that it's easy to not notice how much is being learned. Spanish words and phrases are integrated seamlessly in a way that teaches. Environmental lessons are woven into the plot, as well as conservation/preservation themes. Told in two alternating and equally likeable voices, this is a friendship story with a touch of magic, but so much more. Will make a wonderful classroom book.

An eco-mystery told between two girls set in Honduras and starring turtles? I was in from the cover and title but reading the blurb sold me. I had to read this. I don't care that I'm an adult and this is set for middle grade. And I'm so glad I read it.

It's such a beautiful story about growing up, friends and family. I loved how the passion of the two characters, Abby and Barana, were on different things but brought them together. They were able to put their passions to good use and do a wonderful thing for this small coastal town and for sea turtles.

I had thought I knew who gave the girls their individual totems which were a magical delight, but we never get an answer. And I think it made the tale more magical. Perhaps some ancient turtle God or Goddess sent it to them to set them forth on this path.

I'd really like to see this book in as many hands as possible. I think it's such an important story for our younger generations to read. Or anyone really.

It's such a beautiful story. And the ending? No lie, it gave me goosebumps.

Barana has always had a special bond with a particular leatherback sea turtle: she and Luna share the same moon-shaped scar. B will stop at nothing to ensure Luna's eggs are safe to hatch, but turtle eggs are a hot commodity, and standing up to poachers is risky even for adults. Barana's plan to patrol the beach to help hide turtle eggs is thwarted by the gringa daughter of an American docctor who Barana has to entertain during her vacation. Abby, on the other hand, is stressed because she wants to be a wildlife photographer, but her art teacher is disappointed that she never takes risks with her camera. Abby is about to take the biggest risk ever when she agrees to team up with Barana to protect the sea turtles.

This story has a lot of beautiful elements. The beaches and town of Pataya are vividly described, and the situation is laid out clearly in a way that reminds us that if no one takes the time to care, it's not just turtles who are at risk of extinction. I was frustrated by the pacing of this story, however. While the characters have clear goals, in Barana's case, her quest seems impossible. In Abby's, it's all too easy. I found it hard to read long stretches of this book in one sitting because the writing didn't inspire me to care about the characters and their mundane daily wandering. The fact that the two point of view characters don't even meet until halfway through the book made it even harder to get on board with the whole "I expect to hate this kid" business that the beginning is trying to establish--yet another "conflict" that goes nowhere. While I can appreciate the research and the heartbreak that went into this book, I didn't find the characters compelling or the plot interesting enough.