Advanced praise from Booklist for Turtles of the Midnight Moon:

“In the small Honduran village of Pataya, Barana’s crescent-shaped scar begins to burn, a sure sign that her beloved leatherback sea turtle, Luna, has returned to the beach to lay eggs. Meanwhile in New Jersey, Abby is struggling through sixth grade without her best friend. The two girls’ paths cross when Abby’s father brings her on a work trip to Pataya—the village where he was born. Though neither girl is excited when Barana is named as Abby’s guide, they bond over a shared love of wildlife and art—Barana possessing a knack for writing poetry and drawing, and Abby displaying her passion for photography at every turn. When turtle poachers are reported in the area, Luna and the local sea turtle–conservation program are thrown into danger, spurring Barana and Abby to discover who’s behind this terrible enterprise. Fitzgerald sprinkles her debut novel with magic and Honduran culture but roots it in the girls’ personal journeys. The environmental and economic challenges faced in Pataya also play pivotal roles in this heartwarming tale of activism, art, and identity.

— Julia Smith”

Advanced praise from Kirkus:

An eco-mystery brings two girls together in Honduras.

Imbued with hints of magical realism, this novel follows Barana and Abby’s unfolding friendship and places an environmental mystery at the forefront. Both girls are 12, but they come from different worlds. Barana resides in Pataya, a small Honduran beach town where she knows everyone. Her priority is the leatherback turtles, especially Luna, a turtle she has a special connection to and looks for every year during nesting season. In New Jersey, Abby is mostly trying to work out how to survive the loneliness of sixth grade since her best friend moved away. When Abby’s doctor father has to spend a couple of weeks in Pataya for work, Abby begs to come along, eager to finally visit his home country (her mom is a White American). The two girls meet when Abby and Papi stay in Barana’s family’s guesthouse. They don’t get along at first, but eventually, the threat to the turtles’ nests from poachers leads them to work together to identify and catch the culprits….A character-driven mystery in which the setting pops out.

From Rebecca Balcárcel, Pura Belpé Honor winner:

This absorbing tale of friendship and environmental activism will steal your heart! Artfully told from two viewpoints, this book perfectly captures the passions, determination, and self-doubt of two girls from different worlds who become unlikely allies on a lush Caribbean island. Readers will come away inspired at the power of speaking one's truth and awed at the magic of a wise turtle and how fully families can heal. A glowing gem of a book! -- Rebecca Balcárcel, author of Pura Belpé Honor winner, The Other Half of Happy