The Turtle of Michigan

January 15, 2022
Transplanted from Oman to Michigan, an Arab boy adjusts to his new life while missing his beloved grandfather in this stand-alone companion to The Turtle of Oman (2014). After weeks of worry and fear about leaving his home; his grandfather Sidi; and his friends, 8-year-old Aref's finally on the plane with his mother, poised to join his father in Ann Arbor, where they will live while his parents attend graduate school. As the plane ascends, Aref's relieved, excited, and fascinated with everything during their flights to Paris, New York City, and Detroit. They settle into their small apartment, and Aref's parents attend classes at the university while he starts third grade at a diverse new school that reminds him of his old one. Aref enthusiastically savors the sights, sounds, and scents of Michigan, especially the deciduous trees, small turtles, and snow--so different from Oman's palm trees, large turtles, and desert. Gradually Aref's fear of feeling strange in Ann Arbor dissipates, but he still misses Sidi, who's not doing well without his grandson. If only Sidi could overcome his fear of new things and come visit. Nye's inimitable, poetic prose beautifully captures Aref's emotions as he meets the challenges of international travel and adjusting to a new community and culture while worrying about Sidi. Seamlessly continuing Aref's story but accessible to new readers, this novel deftly explores the meaning of home. Final art not seen. A humorous, sensitive, and poignant family-centered take on moving to a new country. (Fiction. 8-12)

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March 1, 2022
Grades 3-7 This long-awaited follow-up to The Turtle of Oman (2014) reunites readers with an eight-year-old boy named Aref, who's from Oman. Audiences finally learn what happens to Aref after he moves with his parents to the U.S. while they attend grad school. Aref's beloved grandfather, Sidi, stays behind in Oman, and they miss each other deeply. This very gentle read captures Aref's experiences in his new town of Ann Arbor, including attending his new, inclusive school. While the story is written in the third person, Aref's notebook entries, sprinkled throughout, provide an intimate look into his thoughts and emotions. Set in a handwriting-like font, these lists and notes add to Aref's precocious and humorous voice. This slower-paced story is driven by the characters and the discoveries they make about themselves and their surroundings. The included illustrations (final artwork not available) enhance the reading experience through intricate, small illustrations on the top and bottom of each page. Enjoyable as a standalone, this accessible read offers a comfortingly warm, joyful view of moving to a new country.

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Starred review from April 1, 2022

Gr 3-5-Aref Al-Amri has finally packed his suitcase and is journeying from Oman to Michigan in this charming follow-up to Nye's The Turtle of Oman. As it turns out, flying is thrilling for Aref, and though the journey is long, his new home in Ann Arbor, MI, offers plenty of new and exciting experiences. Aref is just as curious, insightful, and enthusiastic as he was in the previous book, and after a period of adjustment, he begins to feel quite at home. If only his beloved grandfather, Sidi, would come to visit, then everything would be perfect. Nye's imagery brings the snows and forests of Michigan to vivid life, and her characters nearly leap off the page with authenticity. Both fans of the previous book and new readers will surely relate to Aref's simultaneous enthusiasm for his new home and homesickness for Oman and Sidi. VERDICT A lovely first purchase celebrating the power of human connections.-Dana West

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