Hannah Gold has done it again. This book was difficult to put down, I could have been up all night reading it. Hannah covers some very sensitive topics in this book, but covered in a way that was understandable for children, as well as a meaningful message about looking after our planet and turtles.
This book would be great for within a classroom for KS2 children who are covering rainforest and endangered species.

Hannah Gold has done it again with Turtle Moon! A beautiful story that transports you to the tropical shores of Costa Rica, with stunning illustrations from Levi Pinfold.

Silver, an only child, lives under the shadow of her parents’ unhappiness at not being able to have another child - often feeling that she is not quite ‘enough’. Her life changes when her father is offered the chance to paint wildlife portraits at a turtle rescue centre. He seizes the opportunity, believing it to be the change they need: an adventure for the whole family.

Silver is thrown in to jungle life and the vibrancy of the exotic surroundings and the hubbub of the comings and goings of the rescue centre are vividly described. At first, it seems that Silver is the only one to be embracing and adapting to her new home and when she befriends Rafi, she discovers the true extent of the dangers the turtles face in the wild and the lengths the volunteers go to protect their nearby nesting beaches.

With the threat of illegal poachers ever present, the daring duo take it upon themselves to play their part in protecting the precious creatures and embark on an adventure that threatens to put their own lives at risk…

A brilliantly personal story, sensitively dealing with the emotional struggles of a family going through IVF. Set against the backdrop of the jungle, we see the changing family dynamics, rekindling of lost passions, blossoming friendships and a story of hope. Alongside this, the important messages of conservation and the plight of endangered species are at the forefront and approached in an accessible way for children, our future ‘guardians of a better tomorrow’.

This book deserves a place in any KS2 classroom or school library, for pure enjoyment alone, but it also offers so many opportunities for discussion and cross-curricular links to geography and environmental studies. An absolute must-read adventure that I can’t wait to recommend and put in the hands of children!

Thank you to Netgalley and HarperCollins UK for the ARC.

I have very few words for this book -Beautiful, Perfect, Important would suffice. A massive environmental message packaged iin a child friendly way inside a cracking book. Two brave and adventurous children look danger in the face to save a clutch of turtle eggs and in doing so save more then just the eggs. Absolute stonker of a book.

This is a wonderful tale full of the magic of nature. But it also makes an important point about the damage humans do to nature, in this case, turtles in particular. Although overall it is a hopeful tale, Gold doesn't shy away from the darker aspects of caring for animals, from the black market trade in turtle eggs, to those poor turtles injured or killed by boat propellers.
However, the main focus is the rehabilitation and protection of these wonderful creatures.
There is also an underlying story of with Silver's mother and father, who are struggling with fertility issues, having tried for years to bring another child into the world, but failing. And how it has effected their family dynamic. And there is a nice aspect to this story too, as it could be a way to bring up such conversations with your own children, if, as a parent, it's something youre having difficulties with as well.

The only reason it doesn't quite make 5 stars is that it just doesn't have the deep, emotional feeling I got from reading the Last Bear, which really hit me deeply.
But it is still an excellent book. Perfect for animal lovers or children who want to learn more about the environment and caring for animals.

This is absolutely one of my favourite middle grade reads of the year so far! Hannah Gold writes fantastic books about animals and conservation but I think this is my favourite of all of them as it features turtles, one of my favourite animals.

Silver moves to Costa Rica with her Mum and Dad after they’ve been unhappy at home for a while having not been able to have a second child. She initially didn’t want to go but quickly becomes involved with protecting the local turtle population by guarding their eggs from poachers.

It’s a lovely story about conservation with some incredible descriptions of Costa Rica but there are also some really deep themes of infertility, family, belonging and being enough.

I loved the characters, the setting and the plot - it was such a well rounded and enjoyable story. The illustrations by Levi Pinfold are also such a lovely addition - they work so well with the story. Out on 26th September, definitely one to pick up for yourself, your little ones or as a gift.

This is such a beautiful, heartwarming, alive story about a young girl and the glorious Costa Rica. The writing is easy to read, with short chapters and lovely descriptions of wildlife.

The illustrations are gorgeous and fit perfectly with the story.

This book would be suitable for all ages and I'd wholeheartedly recommend it.

Thank you so much to Netgalley and the publishers for the ARC

CW: Infertility, Secondary Infertility, Child Loss.

‘Turtle Moon’ is the latest offering from multi award-winning, internationally best-selling author Hannah Gold, who is a name that should be on every library shelf, in every book store and in every home. Expertly blending themes of environmentalism and animal conservation with strong, modern characters from a wealth of backgrounds – Hannah has cemented herself as writer for all, and I have to say that this book, is by far, Hannah’s most moving.

Without spoilers (there is an afterword on this subject), Hannah has poured her heart and soul onto the pages of this book and it really shows. It’s a raw and emotional story from start to finish, and she has taken us, the readers, on a wild ride through the Costa Rican jungle in this twisty, page-turner of a book and along with Hannah’s backlist, I will be continuing to emphatically recommend her books for years to come.

Silver is a wild child, never happier than when she is climbing trees, flyaway hair under a cap and her favourite football top on. But things at home have been really tense lately. Mum is snappy, Dad’s art is a lot less bright greens and blues, and more greys, blacks and muted tones. One day, Dad gets a letter, to create a mural for an animal sanctuary – all the way in Costa Rica! Off they go – all needing a little something out of this four-month trip. Mum needs to rest and relax, Dad needs to complete this art piece and Silver?

She needs to explore…

What comes next is a stunning tale of family, adventure, environmentalism, conservation and danger, as Silver and her family each adjust to life in the jungle. It’s fast-paced (I read this in two sittings, but only because I had to go to work in the middle…), heart-warming and tear-jerking in equal measure, a perfect story for all.

A very, VERY easy 5 stars from me.

I have been a fan of Hannah’s since 2020 when I got given a proof copy of ‘The Last Bear’, so I need to say, for the fourth time, a huge thank you to Hannah, NetGalley and the team at Harper Collins for an advanced copy, in exchange for another honest review.

If you've read any of Hannah Gold's other books, then you'll be glad to know this was is just as good. With the usual gorgeous settings, beautiful animals and eco-themes, it's a celebration of the wonder of nature. Unlike The Last Bear, there is less of a fantasy element but the story still triggers the emotions and packs a powerful punch.
What I love most about Hannah Gold's novels is the way she cleverly weaves a human issue, such as mental health, grief or having children, with the main plot, using the storyline to explore human challenges and emotions in an emotional and poignant but relatable way.

What a heartwarming story, of love, loss, passion & adventure. Perfectly written & beautifully illustrated, Hannah Gold did it again. Can’t wait to get my hands on a print copy for our school library. Thank you

Hannah Gold is back with another fantastic story about animals and why it's so important to look after our world. This story follows Silver, an only child, who is desperate to feel good enough. Through her adventure to Costa Rica, she learns about life and begins to understand the pain her parents face from not being able to have another child. Because of this, there are some issues that might be triggering for some readers but these are dealt with in a sensitive way. Definitely a book I will be recommending to my students.

📚 Turtle Moon by Hannah Gold 📚

Illustrated by Levi Pinfold
Published by Harper Collins

I was lucky enough to be able to get a sneaky advance read of this via Netgalley. All views are my own.

I'm actually going to write this review in three parts.

Part 1: Children
Wow! What an adventure. Once again Hannah has created an incredible experience for our environmentally conscious young people of today. Children will quickly be drawn into the world of Silver and become attached to her new friends at the turtle sanctuary.
For any children who enjoyed Hannah's previous books, you will not be disappointed and will race through this book to find out the dramatic conclusion.
I think all children reading this will be so much more aware of the plight of turtles and will want to make a difference.

Part 2 : The illustrations
Any book that is illustrated by Levi is one that I'm buying without even reading the blurb! You know that the art work will transport you directly inside the authors head and bring their imagination to your reality.

Part 3 : For anyone, like me, who was sold the idea that fertility was straight forward and quite simple.
This book is incredibly brave in tackling the issue of infertility head on and the impact of it on the whole family. I don't want to give any spoilers, but Hannah's sensitive yet honest approach is one that I find extremely refreshing.

I'm looking forward to my pre-ordered version to arrive so that I can read it again and take even more time to appreciate the illustrations.

I had Turtle Moon on my wishlist as soon as I heard about it and was lucky enough to be able to read it as an eARC. What a superbly special book. Being Costa Rican myself (and not knowing where it was based at the time) turtles are something near and dear to me. This book bought to life the beauty of Costa Rican wildlife and it's people. I loved the use of little Costa Rican colloquialisms here and there. The description, the writing, the pain her parents are feeling... it is so well written and I will be recommending it in my school and more widely. Even reading it as an adult, I was entranced and loved it. As ever, a brilliant message from Hannah Gold about wildlife and how we need to protect it and look after our world.

Without doubt, Turtle Moon is going to be another firm favourite. Silver’s story will resonate with children and families alike and her mission with Rafi will ignite the empathy and compassion needed for a better tomorrow. Hannah Gold wraps hard hitting themes in a blanket of hope!

This is a lovely story about Silver, a young girl who is experiencing some difficulties in her relationship with her parents, who are struggling with the fact that they cannot have more children.

After her father receives an invitation to go to Costa Rica, the family travels to a very special sanctuary in Costa Rica - a rainforest reserve where rare turtles breed.

With a mother who is a vet and a father who is an artist, it is not surprising that Silver ultimately discovers her love for nature and conservation in the course of her journey in this book, helping to save the turtles after they are menaced by poachers.

This is a beautiful story that will be enjoyed by middle grade readers as well as adults whose inner child is alive and well. Do check it out.

"For the love of the animals and to the children- the guardians of a better tomorrow"

Turtle Moon is a truly wonderful book celebrating what it means to be alive and live in the moment .

Silver Trevelon is an only child; dad is an artist and mum is a vet but something is wrong- there is a deep sadness between her parents. They have been unable to have another child.

When an invitation arrives for Silver's dad to travel to Costa Rica to create paintings at at a turtle rescue centre, it is felt that the three of them should go in the hope they resolve their differences and possibly start afresh.

Silver befriends Rafa whose father works at the rescue centre led by Ana.

Silver learns what life is like in a rainforest- the natural environment and the abundance of wildlife and most importantly the precarious situation for turtles - becoming extinct from climate change, being eaten by animals and poachers.

Upon discovering rare greenback turtle eggs, everyone is aware how precious they are and their need to hatch but when poachers strike during a storm Silver and Ravi set out on life and death journey to save them.

This is a story about love, healing and recognising the beauty and preciousness of the natural world

Following the superb The Last Bear, Finding Bear and The Lost Whale, Hannah Gold has surpassed herself with this beautiful and moving adventure story. Levi Penfold's illustrations are stunning and add another layer of depth to the book.

I cannot recommend this highly enough as a great adventure read for 9-12 year olds and a brilliant classroom read for upper key stage 2 -particularly if exploring rainforests and survival of species.

An absolute winner- one of the top children's books of 2024

This is an excellent MG book and a book parents, older siblings, grandparents can safely read together with the younger ones.
Silver’s family are going through a difficult time. We are in a rescue centre in Costa Rica, and Silver and her friends help the turtles, and each other.
It is both tender and adventurous. Much appreciated. 4.5 stars.

Wow! What a fabulous book about Silver, a young girl who, along with her parents, travel to Costa Rica. While her father paints pictures to help raise funds for a Turtle sanctuary Silver soon immerses herself in helping at the sanctuary. A fabulous story highlighting the plight of turtles and how we need to do everything we can to help. A story about hope, love and understanding.

I love how Hannah writes beautifully crafted stories that not only raise the issues of dangers facing animals on our planet but also build a cast of characters that you grow to love through the story. Silver is another strong female lead, navigating a difficult family circumstance and the friendship she develops with Rafi gives her the security to understand herself and grow through the story. Set in Costa Rica, this story explores the mission of wildlife sanctuaries trying to protect and help animals in danger and the focus here is on turtle eggs being poached. Woven through the atory and dealt with in a sensitive but direct way is about motherhood and what challenges some women can face in trying to become mothers and the effect that has on both their own mental health and their family around them.
I adored this book and the illustrations by Levi Pinfold and just stunning.

This is by far my favourite of Hannah’s books and definitely her best yet, so much emotion!! I’ve read through the night and now can’t sleep, just brilliant 👏🏻👏🏻