With a dedication to all the world’s mothers, it is no surprise that the mothering instinct is pivotal in this novel set in Costa Rica.
Silver, 11, is the daughter of a British artist and a vet, and their house has seemed awfully sad ever since they failed to have a younger sibling for her. So an invitation to visit a Central American turtle rescue centre allowing her father to produce illustrations is accepted with some trepidation from all three.
Silver is a tomboy who likes nothing better than climbing trees, particularly the large oak in their garden, so she is delighted to find Rafi, a boy of her own age, at the turtle rescue centre, who also likes to climb trees. He has a particular purpose at the centre and finds a willing ally in Silver, and she can forget for a while that her mother seems unhappy.
The ‘mothering’ theme extends to the jungle animals being treated at the centre, particularly a mother sloth whose baby has died; as well as the turtles who haul themselves onto the beach to lay their eggs, having hatched on that beach themselves and navigated their way back to it.
Rafi, and the others at the centre, hope to see a leatherback turtle laying eggs, but they have become especially rare among the green, hawksbill and loggerhead turtles that come to Turtle Beach.
Their eggs are a temptation for poachers who sell them to restaurants, so the rescue centre makes every effort to guard them. Just how the intrepid youngsters do their bit, and Silver’s parents regain their happiness, makes for an action-packed plot.
Reviewed by Jennifer Somerville
Age Guide 8+
ABOUT THE AUTHOR
Growing up, Hannah’s biggest dream was to own a cat and be a writer and she’s happy to say she’s achieved both. After studying screenwriting at university she went onto work in the London film and theatre industry before following her heart to sunnier climes. She now lives in Lincolnshire with her tortoise, her cat and her husband.
Hannah is passionate about writing stories which share her love of the planet and is a proud ambassador for the Whale and Dolphin Conservation charity.
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