Turtle Moon
For ages 9+
A story of hope, healing, and the beauty of our connection to the natural world.
Hannah Gold, the bestselling, multi-award-winning author of children’s middle-grade fiction has returned with her fourth novel, ‘Turtle Moon’ (HarperCollins, 2024). Her books have a unique magic, exploring the tender relationships children form with endangered animals during times of personal chaos within their family lives. From the very beginning, Hannah has brought us unforgettable stories.
Hannah’s debut novel, ‘The Last Bear’ (HarperCollins, 2021), tells the story of April whose loss of her mother and her distant relationship with her grieving father take a transformative turn when they discover a lonely polar bear on a remote Norwegian island. Together, they find hope, survival, and a new purpose together. Her second book, ‘The Lost Whale’ (HarperCollins, 2022), is one of the most stunning and deeply moving pieces of writing I’ve ever encountered. It explores the mental health struggles of a mother and the impact this has on her son, Rio, who has become numb to joy, who lives each day in anxious despair and concern for his mum. Sent to stay with a long-lost grandmother while his mum undergoes some treatment, Rio embarks on a personal journey filled with discovery, from uncovering the magic of a local pod of migrating whales to finding the courage to embrace life, even when it feels strange or overwhelming.
In ‘Finding Bear’ (HarperCollins, 2023), Hannah revisited April and her polar bear, returning to the world of The Last Bear to give readers a beautiful and heartfelt continuation of their story.
And so to ‘Turtle Moon’…
This time, Hannah takes us to Costa Rica—a vibrant, tropical paradise—and invites us on a journey that is both thrilling and deeply emotional. The story follows Silver and her family, who are struggling in the aftermath of failed IVF treatments that have left Silver’s mum heartbroken and unable to move forward. Her dad, a children’s book illustrator, jumps at the opportunity to work on a turtle rescue project in Costa Rica, hoping the change of scenery will help bring healing to their fractured family. Hannah has a gift for making every reader feel like they are right there alongside her characters, and ‘Turtle Moon’ is no exception. From Silver’s first experience in an airport to the sounds, sights, and smells of Costa Rica, Hannah’s vivid descriptions transport you completely. I often found myself wondering if the real-life conservationists Hannah has met inspired the colourful, passionate characters Silver and her family encounter.
Life at Turtle Beach is nothing short of electrifying. Silver throws herself into caring for the rescued wildlife, developing a natural affinity for the animals—unsurprising, given her mum’s a vet! Along the way, she befriends Raffi, a local boy with an adorable rescued baby sloth named Speedy forever wrapped around his neck, and the perfect sidekick. Their adventures together are full of much-needed fun and wonder, however they soon turn to more serious matters when they try to solve a mystery: turtle eggs, a black-market commodity, are stolen from the conservation centre. When Silver promises a nesting leatherback turtle that she’ll protect her eggs, she has no idea how dangerous keeping that promise will become.
Silver’s mum struggles to find her place in this new world, weighed down by exhaustion and loss. Silver tries to share her daily excitement, but her mum’s inability to engage leaves her feeling defeated. It’s heartbreaking to read, but thankfully, there’s a glimmer of hope when someone at the conservation project encourages Silver’s mum to lend her veterinary skills to the animals in need. As heavy as these themes sound, I PROMISE you this book is filled with so much humour, excitement, and joy. Tickle, the cheeky monkey, who wrecks Silver’s dad’s art studio daily, is an absolute scene-stealer, and his antics had me in giggles more than once.
This hardback edition has gorgeous orange foil artwork under the dust jacket and stunning illustrations on the cover and within by the legendary Levi Pinfold. I’m so happy I have a signed copy, one of the exclusive independent bookshop editions with orange-sprayed edges. Yay!
Finally, I urge you to read Hannah’s ‘Author’s Note’ at the end of the book. Her personal story made me shed a tear—not just from sadness but from the joy of knowing how much she pours her heart into her work. Her gratitude for her readers, especially the children she meets in schools, bookshops, festivals, and through their letters, is palpable. As she says, “my heart feels full.”
‘Turtle Moon’ is a global, touching, unputdownable book that will leave YOUR heart full too. It’s a story of hope, healing, and the beauty of our connection to the natural world. I couldn’t recommend it more. Hannah, where are you taking us on your next expedition, I wonder! I hope, one day, to host Hannah at Happy Reading - now that’d be a dream come true!
