This book is such a gentle, beautiful story about big changes — moving, starting over, and figuring out where you belong. I love how Aref’s story shows what it’s like to leave home and start a new life, but also how you can carry home with you wherever you go. It’s perfect for students who are facing their own changes or moving to new places, but also for helping all kids build empathy and understand what others might be going through. Such an important book for the classroom — full of heart, family, and hope.

A heartwarming, gentle story about finding your place in the world. This standalone sequel to "The Turtle of Oman" follows Aref, a young boy moving from Oman to Michigan, as he navigates the excitement and challenges of starting over in a new country. Naomi Shihab Nye’s writing is as poetic and thoughtful as ever, painting a vivid picture of Aref’s journey with warmth and sensitivity.

What I loved most about this book is how it captures the small, everyday moments that make life special—making a friend on a plane, exploring a new neighborhood, or starting at a new school. Aref’s curiosity and kindness shine through as he builds connections with his diverse classmates and neighbors, including a blind boy named Hugh. The story doesn’t rely on big drama or conflict; instead, it’s a quiet celebration of discovery, family, and the universal experience of feeling out of place but finding your way.

The book is beautifully illustrated in black-and-white, adding to its charm. It’s a great choice for younger middle-grade readers (think 1st-4th grade) or as a read-aloud for classrooms. While it’s a sequel, you don’t need to have read "The Turtle of Oman" to enjoy this story—it stands perfectly on its own.

Thank you to the publishers and NetGalley for the opportunity to review a temporary digital ARC in exchange for an unbiased review.

A lovely story providing a sliding door to many of my students, helping them to understand the immigrant experience, told through the eyes of a peer. We need more stories like this that are accessible to younger MG readers.

I'm more familiar with the author's poetry, but this was a great story. I like the connection being from the Midwest. This shows sensitivity to culture that many students need to hear.

This is a beautiful, quiet book full of lovely images and beautiful words, Shihab-Nye’s trademark. We especially loved this one because we live very close to Ann Arbor, MI, the setting of this novel, and it was fun to read about places we’ve visited.

This standalone sequel to The Turtle of Oman is a wonderfully sweet and gentle story of a young boy and his family's move from Oman to Michigan. While Aref is sad to leave his home and his grandfather, his move to Michigan is marked by the joy of new discoveries and new friendships. There's no major drama or conflict and yet I was eager to experience happiness along with Aref as he met new kids and neighbors from around the world, tried new foods, and explored the beauty of Michigan. Given the sweetness of the storyline, it's great for younger advanced readers (1st-3rd) or for more traditional middle grade readers (4th-7th) who like gently paced stories of kindness and discovery.

With thanks to NetGalley and the publisher for an early copy in return for an honest review.

A lovely middle grade story, although I would say it's geared a bit more towards younger middle grade, There's not a lot of action, but I could see doing this as a read aloud with 3rd or 4th graders. I really enjoyed the diversity of Aref's classmates and think it would be a great conversation starter about being the new student and celebrating differences.

As a note, I do think this can be read as a stand alone, and The Turtle of Oman doesn't need to be read first.

Thank you NetGalley for an advanced copy. It's been over a year since I read the prequel Turtle of Oman, but you really don't need a refresher before jumping into this story. While the main characters are Muslim, it's not a religious story. The diversity of the neighbors and classmates adds to the heartwarming story of a family moving to America from Oman. The school's values and classroom activities are great for multicultural studies. The plot is a little slow, and there isn't too much action, but that is fine. This is an absolutely clean book, and I will likely use this in novel study in the future.

Aref is afraid about moving and making new friends. Naomi Shihab Nye has such a beautiful way with words. This is a wonderful follow up to the "Turtle of Oman".
It will make a great read-aloud in schools and help anyone who feels like they don't fit in, find their place.

Thank you NetGalley for this ARC!

When Aref and his family move from Oman to Michigan, he tells his grandfather, Sidi, that he’s scared he won’t make new friends and what if no one likes him. Once there, Aref embraces life to its fullest. He loved flying; he wants to learn about the assembly lines at car factories. He makes friends with his next door neighbor,Hugh, who’s blind. When his dad takes him to check out his new school, he signs him up for art camp where he ends up making new friends. Missing Sidi is hard, but Aref is having fun. When school starts he has his new friends from art camp. He loves his new teacher who reminds the class “doing new things is good for the brain.” At the end a wonderful surprise awaits Aref.