Turtles of the Midnight Moon is a middle-grade novel that everyone of all ages should read. Both lead characters are written with heart and their stories are compelling.

I liked the different viewpoints of the two characters in the book, both of them having obviously different cultures and backgrounds. There is a sort of magical realism in the book that felt out of place to me and the writing was difficult to get through for me.

A super slow introduction for me. Maybe it's just it being middle grade but there was a disconnect for me. I loved the dual point of view. It really helped tell the story and bring the magic alive. I felt that the setting was so visceral and it was beautiful and immersive. I know younger me would have loved reading this for the first time.

I loved the setting of this book. I could picture the beaches in Honduras and the moonlight on the ocean. What a nice setting. The story centers around Barana and her new friend, Abby, who is visiting her father's homeland for the first time. Barana and other residents have been trying to protect the sea turtles from poachers. Barana witnesses her favorite turtle lay some eggs and vows to protect them. There are elements of mystery and suspense. The conservation message is one that I think we need to hear, since many species are losing habitat, or are subject to poaching or overhunting by humans. So, this book has an exciting story with a great message. It's good for the young adult age group. The characters are well-rounded and the story moves along quickly. There is a hopeful message for the future of wildlife too. I highly recommend it.

Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher for the ARC.

Turtles of the Midnight Moon seamlessly incorporates mystery, conservation efforts and friendship. Barana's connection to a sea turtle named Luna adds a hint of magic to an already engaging story. The message about caring for our wildlife is interwoven throughout providing a overarching message of hope and possibility.

Oh, how I love an eco-mystery that leaves you feeling more connected to the world - even better when there is a little magic! This book is a wonderful middle grade read that will appeal to animal loving students who want to make the world a better place!

I loved this sweet story about two girls from different worlds who become friends and work together to save the sea turtles that nest on an Honduran beach near Barana's home. While there were some magical elements to the story, it was a great testament to the power of friendship and desiring to do the right thing.

I loved the worldbuilding in this novel, and I loved the use of Spanish in the book. I also really fell in love with both main characters and enjoyed getting to know them from their different viewpoints. A wonderful title!

Thank you to NetGalley for the eARC in exchange for a fair and unbiased review.

Abby, a sixth grader, takes a trip to her family's homeland of Honduras. Excited to see where her Papi is from, she is upset when she is handed off to Barana, a neighbor girl of the same age. But then the adventure begins. Barana is involved in a group trying to protect the sea turtle. It's a race between our friends and poachers to try to protect the turtle eggs and see them through to hatching.

A new location, a new adventure! And so much great information! There is a lot to be learned in this novel and one does it quite easily as they travel the coastal areas with Abby and Barana.

A fairly standard "culture clash" type story with a few unique elements. We have the privileged American and the more resentful islander. Their shared quest helps them to understand each other and themselves, as we would expect. I don't love the mystical elements. That works well for some readers but isn't really my thing. The identity of the poachers was perhaps a bit too obscured. The latter half of the plot is a bit scattered but the resolution is intriguing.

Great midgrade story with two cultures represented and an ongoing, subtle conservation theme. Told through the point of view of two young people who come together to support each other and a common goal - the turtles.

Enjoyable, great pacing, exciting settings kept me hooked. Fun novel that will be the perfect beach read. Thank you Net Galley for ARC in exchange for my honest opinion

I loved this beautiful debut novel. The friendship between Barana and Abby was beautiful and I loved all the characters. I looked forward to reading this book when I put it down. I can't wait for the author's next book!

This story is a lovely dual POV of two middle schoolers exploring family relationships, friendships, identity and environmental protection in Honduras. The setting is so alive in this book! This island community is grappling with turtle egg poachers, natural disasters, and "the bends," a debilitating condition that affects lobster divers. But the richness of the culture, the beauty of the land and the close-knit community are all portrayed with depth and skill. There is even a touch of magic that helps to bring these two girls together and gives them the courage to find a solution and protect the leatherback turtles they both love.

Turtles of the Midnight Moon

Turtles of the Midnight Moon by Maria Jose Fitzgerald was a five star read according to my 9 year old. They were excited to learn about Honduran culture from Abby and Barana’s perspectives and we spent quite a bit of time stopping to research the cultures, places, buildings and animals mentioned. My children especially loved learning about all of the food described in the story.

While my children enjoyed the eco-mystery and the adventures, I appreciated how important community, communication and supporting those around you were to the story. Turtles of the Midnight Moon also did a great job of acknowledging that you can’t always get it right but you can always try to do better.

Thank you NetGalley and Random House Children’s Books for the opportunity to read and review Turtles of the Midnight Moon.

Taking place primarily within Honduras, Turtles of the Midnight Moon is told from the POV of both Barana and Abby. Barana has a special bond with a leatherback sea turtle she’s named Luna. When it’s discovered that illegal poachers are targeting turtle nests, Barana and Abby team up to find out who is behind it - a villager or an outsider. Turtles of the Midnight moon is a wonderful middle grade debut novel filled with new friendships, community and a bit of mystery/whodunnit.

This book was such a beautiful middle grade novel. I enjoyed the friendship that grew between the two main characters- they started out unsure of each other, and became friends as they got to know each other. The relationship between Abby and her father was also heartwarming. They were able to connect more and bond over her father sharing his culture with her. I also loved that two young girls were working together to save both the turtles, and their community. It is a great message to send to young readers- they can truly make a difference in their own communities. There were times where the book got a bit slow, but when the action started happening, it made up for it. Many of my middle school readers would definitely enjoy this book!

A heartwarming and entertaining read perfect for middle graders or the young at heart with an interest in sea turtles in particular or conservation in general.

The author does a wonderful job at evocative setting details. She puts the reader right into the story world, which readers young and old are sure to appreciate. She provides just enough description that you can picture what's going on without getting bogged down.

I loved the themes of friendship interwoven with the natural world and conservation. The characters are definitely relatable, and their motivations are understandable. There's also a great message about learning to respect other cultures.

Received complimentary e-galley from the publisher; all opinions are my own.

I think this could be a really cute book for elementary kids, it just wasn't for me unfortunately. It was giving Moana vibes from what I did read before DNFing within the second chapter. I think this could be a really great way for young people to learn about an animal that interests so many of them -- sea turtles -- without having to read nonfiction.

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

This is definitely a book I will be adding to my classroom library! A touch of magic, a mystery to solve, and one of my favorite things in a book...when the setting is like an additional character in the book. I really liked the dual POV and although it wasn't the main storyline, I appreciated the conversations that will come from Abby's dad's desire to better understand where he fits in and how he can continue to give back to the country where he was born.

4.5 Stars - Turtles of the Midnight Moon is the debut novel by Maria Jose Fitzgerald. Although this is not my typical genre of books, when I saw the title and the description I knew I had to read it. This book is recommended for middle school age, but I encourage anyone who has a love for sea turtles, conservation, and following a passion to read Turtles of the Midnight Moon.

The book is well written with detailed descriptions that put you right where the main characters are and I had a hard time putting it down. A story of family, culture, friendship, and protecting what you love. Abby is in the 6th grade and lives in New Jersey; she has the opportunity to travel to Honduras with her father over the summer and experiences life through the lens of a camera. The blending of cultures is beautifully written and I love the addition of some Spanish phrases. If abuela (Bela) only spoke English in a remote village of Honduras, it wouldn't be believable! Abby and Barana form a friendship that neither of them thought they needed, but I believe deep down wanted. There is magic, mystery, sorrow, and love. A twist that I didn't see coming until just before it happened and one mystery left unsolved ... leaving it up to the reader to decide who left the magical gifts.

A favorite quote from the book when poachers were discovered stealing eggs from the nests: "Conservationists have been hurt before. Barana knows that about our country. We're blessed with nature and wildlife that others only dream of, but we're also cursed because of it."

I received a complimentary copy of this book. Thank you to NetGalley and Random House Children's, Knopf Books for Young Readers for sending this ARC for my review. All thoughts and opinions are my own.

Turtles of the Midnight Moon is now available for purchase. Both book and audio book.