Reviews tagging 'Injury/Injury detail'

Turtles of the Midnight Moon by María José Fitzgerald

3 reviews

emmilyjessup's review against another edition

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adventurous emotional informative inspiring fast-paced
  • Plot- or character-driven? A mix
  • Strong character development? Yes
  • Loveable characters? Yes
  • Diverse cast of characters? Yes
  • Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated

5.0


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emily_mh's review against another edition

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hopeful inspiring mysterious medium-paced
  • Plot- or character-driven? Plot
  • Strong character development? Yes
  • Loveable characters? Yes
  • Diverse cast of characters? Yes
  • Flaws of characters a main focus? No

4.5

This was such an enjoyable read. The MCs Barana and Abby were superb, being determined, passionate, creative, and realistic, but each in their own different way. Both narrative voices were also entertaining. The friendship Barana and Abby shared was sweet, and I liked how it was built on a shared goal. I think perhaps the friendship was a little quick to form given Abby’s nervousness around making friends, but this wasn’t a biggie.

Fitzgerald described the setting vividly; I felt fully transported by its beauty and summery feel. And the turtles! I learned so much about them and loved reading about them doing turtle-y things like laying nests and swimming.

The plot was well-structured and crafted. The mystery aspect relating to the poachers’ identities was unexpected yet such a great addition to the story. 

Above all, this book showcases the duty we have to the environment and the relationship we have with it, and how capitalism can force us to neglect both. It also demonstrates the power middle-graders can wield for change through the courageous and dedicated actions of Barana and Abby. I loved that the author included a section at the back giving readers actionable, achievable steps to help look after turtles from wherever they may be reading.   

This was one of my most anticipated middle grade releases of 2023 and I’m so stoked it was such a great read. I would highly recommend!

Rep: Honduran MC, white/Honduran-American MC, Honduran SCs, Honduran-American SC, Chinese-American/white-British SC

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thekissballad's review against another edition

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adventurous hopeful inspiring mysterious fast-paced
  • Plot- or character-driven? A mix
  • Strong character development? It's complicated
  • Loveable characters? Yes
  • Diverse cast of characters? Yes
  • Flaws of characters a main focus? No

4.5

4.5 stars. for this middle-grade eco-mystery with magical elements set in Honduras. It is a beautifully written and wholesome story of friendship, community, ecology, and a touch of betrayal.

With the dual POV's, you really got to learn about Barana and Abby, to connect with them, and to feel like you're in the story with them. Then the Spanish beautifully woven in gave this story a more authentic feel.

Speaking of the Spanish though, as someone who unfortunately doesn't speak the language, there were a few times where I would have liked to have the context clues for what was being said sooner, like when the dialogue took up a decent chunk of space, because otherwise it stopped the flow of the story.

My only other criticism is that I personally don't think the magical elements were needed. Were they nice? Yes. I just don't think they were necessary. [I'd explain further, but I try to avoid spoilers.]

All in all, this is a wonderful book and I can't wait to buy the physical copy for my collection.

Thank you NetGalley and publishers for allowing me to read this ARC in exchange for an honest review.

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