We the Sea Turtles

Thank You to NetGalley and Pajama Press for this arc. This is my honest review:

The stories in this book are put together beautifully. They’re great life lessons and make you think.
I found the stories very unique which can be hard to find!

Blurb below:

Nine beautifully evocative short stories from the pen of Governor General’s Award finalist Michelle Kadarusman

On islands around the world—from Manhattan to Phillip Island, Australia, to Komodo Island and beyond—nine children face life-changing moments: escaping a flood; embracing their identity; discovering that the adults in their lives can ease the burden of their eco-anxiety. And although each child couldn’t be more different, one thing connects them all: a turtle swam into each of their lives at a critical moment, and left them changed.

Author Michelle Kadarusman has lived and travelled all around the world, and her elegant writing captures the spirit of the places that have left their mark on her. In We the Sea Turtles, she explores relevant themes like eco-anxiety, natural disaster, and how people ground themselves when they’ve been uprooted. One way, as this collection shows, is to tell ourselves stories: stories that make sense of life.

Thank you for providing me the opportunity to review "We the Sea Turtles”. I am appreciative and leave my sincerity review voluntarily

4.5
A very interesting collection of short stories from all over the world showing that we have so much in common even when our cultures are so different. The stories focus on family, social problems (some characterize each location in a very specific way) environmental problems, and the human condition. These little slices of life are filled with realizations, understandings, and emotions, and many of these characters express their frustration towards our environmental crises. After reading these we get the prologue explanation about the turtle's journey. We are not just from one city, we should all be working together to save our planet.

Thank you NetGalley and Publisher for this e-ARC.

This was an informational book. Based on the cover, I thought this would have more illustrations in it than it does. Personally, it was too advanced for my child to keep attention focused with the lack of illustrations, but for other kids, I'n sure it would be a hit.

This was the first time I've really read a book of short stories, and it's quite possible they just aren't my thing. I also went into this book expecting something very different - which might have been my bad. I was expecting short stories about pacific islanders, etc. Rather, this is a book of short stories about the environment. I also found it interesting that each of the kids had specific internal and/or personal struggles.

The kids are on islands - many of them visiting islands on which they don't live. I think some of the stories were really good and I would have liked to have seen fuller stories of them. As is, they feel a bit like moral tales with somewhat abrupt endings. I didn't hate it, but I also didn't love it. The stories weren't bad, but they weren't great.

I feel like I would have loved any of theses story lines as full novels or novels, but found them a little challenging as short stories.

This is a fantastic collection of short stories, sure to keep any reader engaged. Thank you for putting together such a beautiful book full of intrigue and excitement. I couldn’t put it down! This is a great summer read.

We the Sea Turtles consists of nine beautiful short stories. I love sea turtles so this was an exciting read for me. The stories are the perfect length to keep the kid's attention and there was a ton of information. This wasn't a good story for my youngest, as without illustrations they couldn't keep up, but all around a great collection of stories.

My students love sea turtles and one is showcased in each short story. They will love the length of stories and how in each child’s story, a turtle plays a role in it. It would make a good read aloud as well.

I received an arc of this title from NetGalley for an honest review. Much longer book than I anticipated and geared more towards adults and older kids. Stories from nine girls and and their stories about turtles.

Thank you netgalley for providing the e-ARC of this book. I liked the representation as well as the notes on environmentalism. I think it's a great book for kids to read in the short-story format.