Conservation, Extinction, Leatherback Turtle, Ecosystem, Family, Costa Rica, Infertility
Turtle Moon
by Hannah Gold
Key information
Author: Hannah Gold
Illustrator: Levi Pinfold
Release Date: 26th September 2024
Star rating: ★★★★★
Book type: Chapter, 336 pages
Genre: Environmental
Reader level: Growing reader
Age: Year 3+ shared read.
Overview
Turtle Moon is a powerful eco-adventure that follows Silver Trevelon - a compassionate and brave young girl who moves with her parents to Costa Rica. Her parents are dealing with fertility struggles, and the move represents a fresh start—though Silver feels isolated and uncertain in this new environment.
While exploring her new surroundings, Silver meets Rafi, a local boy with a fierce dedication to protecting wildlife. Through Rafi, Silver is introduced to a secret turtle protection club which operates from the height of a treehouse so that it remains top secret. Alongside the conservation volunteers, who are dedicated to safeguarding endangered leatherback turtle nests from extinction, Rafi and Silver risk their lives to outsmart illegal poachers and rescue the precious eggs before it's too late.
Silver is quickly drawn into the mission and becomes passionate about protecting these ancient creatures. As she works alongside Rafi —often under the cover of darkness, patrolling the beaches—she discovers not only the beauty and fragility of the natural world, but also her own strength and sense of purpose.
The story blends emotional growth with thrilling adventure, as Silver navigates both the real dangers of confronting poachers and the inner emotional turbulence of a family in transition.
Key concepts/themes
- Conservation
- Endangered species
- Biodiversity
- Environment
- Friendship
- Family
- Personal growth
Considerations
- Fertility challenges
- Mental health
Curriculum links
Science - endangered species, poachers, ecosystems, conservation, wildlife, turtles, jungle, rainforest
Geography - Costa Rica, Central America
Additional teaching opportunities
1. Writing
- Discussion text (Should the government fund conservation products? How should poachers be dealt with? Do conversationists interfere with nature?)
- Letter (To the government asking to protect the turtles)
- Diary (Silver about the move)
- Travel brochure (Costa Rica)
- Character description (Rafi)
- Setting description (Costa Rican rainforest)
- Non-chronological report (Leatherback turtles)
- Letter (write about a topic important to you)
2. Art
- Costa Rican landscape/wildlife
- Design poster for Guardians of the Turtles
- Recreate mural artwork
3. PSHE
- IVF
- Moving house
- Moving country
- Communicating with parents
- Mental health
Vocabulary
| Tier 2 (Pending) | Tier 3 |
|---|---|
| Leatherback turtle, conservation, conservationalist, surgeon, endangered, poachers, hatchling, predator, habitat, nocturnal, migration, ecosystem |
Add comment
Comments