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3.61 AVERAGE
3.61 AVERAGE
Turtles are my favorite, so the title and the cover were the first to draw me in, but I stayed for the story. Aref does not want to leave his home in Oman and move to America for his parents to get their doctorates. He spends his time before the move spending time with his grandfather and his friends as he takes the time to say goodbye and have a new adventure.
emotional
fast-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Character
Strong character development:
Complicated
Loveable characters:
Yes
Diverse cast of characters:
N/A
The protagonist is a little bit of a punk but the wise and poetic Arab grandfather is a standout. Overall a nice low-stakes kid story
It's simple and beautiful and doesn't talk down to children. We need more middle readers like this one.
emotional
reflective
slow-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Character
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
Yes
Diverse cast of characters:
Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus:
No
adventurous
emotional
hopeful
inspiring
fast-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Plot
Strong character development:
Complicated
Loveable characters:
Yes
Diverse cast of characters:
Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus:
No
School Librarian Review
I would put this book in any library! School kids of all ages will enjoy learning about Oman, and the boys' adventures are able to translate into any culture. It is a great book for showing that no matter where we live, we are all basically the same.
SLIGHT SPOILER -
I went into this expecting Aref to get to the US and learn how he handled the transition from Oman to the US, but the book ends as he finishes packing...so be prepared to be slightly disappointed that we don't see the next step in his story. This is a book about saying goodbye.
I would put this book in any library! School kids of all ages will enjoy learning about Oman, and the boys' adventures are able to translate into any culture. It is a great book for showing that no matter where we live, we are all basically the same.
SLIGHT SPOILER -
I went into this expecting Aref to get to the US and learn how he handled the transition from Oman to the US, but the book ends as he finishes packing...so be prepared to be slightly disappointed that we don't see the next step in his story. This is a book about saying goodbye.
emotional
reflective
slow-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Character
A beautiful book about a boy afraid to move to a new country and a grandfather sad to see him go. During his last week in Oman, Aref gets to spend time with his grandfather camping, traveling and seeing his beloved turtles. Aref will soon be living in Ann Arbor Michigan as his parents work on getting Doctorates. Since this reviewer is a native Michigander and grew up outside of A2, went to UM and worked in A2 as well I was eager to see that part of the story which you don't end up getting. (This is probably a good thing because I'd probably end up picking that part apart) Lovely book for the elementary set.
Book #3 from the Torchlight Level 2 curriculum. I really, really enjoyed this. I am unfamiliar with the author and their other work, and have never heard of this story before, but it was lovely. It merged beautifully with the two weeks' lessons it was paired with on Muslim culture and history of the Arabian peninsula, but more than that, it's just a really charming tale about a boy who is sad to move away from home, and his grandfather who helps him come to terms with it. I did not absolutely love the way Aref's mother seems to disregard and dismiss his ambivalent feelings about their upcoming trip, but Sidi's compassion, understanding, and warm humor more than makes up for her, and happily he occupies a much larger chunk of page share. I loved the way they talk to each other, the way their simple adventures create emotional space for Aref to explore the changes happening in his life and to really allow the emotional change that takes place in him over the course of the book to develop at its own pace. This is not always an easy thing to write compellingly and Nye does a stellar job of taking Aref from true, obvious unhappiness to peace and a clarity of self that allows his normal optimism and generosity to shine through. Also, because of this book we watched some great videos of turtles hatching on the beaches of Oman, which was spectacular in its own right.