Race for the Ruby Turtle

by Stephen Bramucci Narrated by Stephen Bramucci

Overview

Bloomsbury presents Race for the Ruby Turtle, written and read by Stephen Bracmucci A heartfelt middle grade eco-adventure story full of friendship and self-discovery, perfect for fans of Dan Gemeinhart and Gary D. Schmidt. Summer is winding down and Jake Rizzi is headed to his great-aunt's cabin in the wet, mossy Oregon backwoods. His parents are going on a "couples retreat" and Jake can't help but wonder if it's him and his ADHD that they need a break from. His great-aunt's off-the-grid lifestyle seems strange, but her stories about a turtle with a ruby-colored shell spark his imagination. Jake soon learns that the turtle is more than a myth. And thanks to a viral article online, strangers from all over the world have arrived to search for it--including a sinister "park ranger" and towering twins claiming to be zoologists. Jake is sure that finding the turtle will change how people see him and his "attention issues"--but he'll need help. With villains lurking and mysteries to solve, Jake and his new friend Mia find themselves locked in a race against time. But when things turn dangerous, Jake has to choose what matters most--personal glory or protecting the wonders of nature?

Editorial Reviews

From the Publisher

“A thrilling mystery adventure filled with a deep love of nature; you'll be rooting for Jake and Mia from beginning to end.” —Varian Johnson, award-winning author of TWINS and THE PARKER INHERITANCE

“Readers will keep enthusiastically turning pages to continue this heartfelt adventure about nature conservation.” —School Library Journal

“The author also leaves readers with the priceless insight that 'the only way to protect the
natural world is to love it.'” —Booklist Reviews

“Bramucci packs in teachable moments around digital literacy, mindfulness, and ecological interdependence . . . A wild romp that champions making space for vulnerable creatures and each other.” —Kirkus Reviews

Kirkus Reviews

2023-08-11
A boy with ADHD explores nature and himself.

Eleven-year-old Jake Rizzi just wants to be seen as “normal”; he blames his brain for leading him into trouble and making him do things that annoy his peers and even his own parents. Case in point: He’s stuck spending a week in rural Oregon with an aunt he barely knows while his parents go on vacation. Jake’s reluctance changes as he learns about the town’s annual festival, during which locals search for a fabled turtle. But news of this possibly undiscovered species has spread. Although Aunt Hettle insists to Jake that it’s only folklore, the fame-hungry convene, sure that the Ruby-Backed Turtle is indeed real—just as Jake discovers is the case. Keeping its existence secret is critical to protecting the rare creature from a poacher and others with ill intentions. Readers will keep turning pages to find out how Jake and new friend Mia will foil the caricatured villains. Along the way, Bramucci packs in teachable moments around digital literacy, mindfulness, and ecological interdependence, along with the message that “the only way to protect the natural world is to love it.” Jake’s inner monologue elucidates the challenges and benefits of ADHD as well as practical coping strategies. Whether or not readers share Jake’s diagnosis, they’ll empathize with his insecurities. Jake and his family present white; Mia is Black, and names of secondary characters indicate some ethnic diversity.

A wild romp that champions making space for vulnerable creatures and each other. (Adventure. 8-11)

Product Details

BN ID:	2940195084035
Publisher:	Bloomsbury Children's Books
Publication date:	10/03/2023
Edition description:	Unabridged
Age Range:	8 - 11 Years

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