Turtle Moon

Journey to the heart of the jungle in this unforgettable adventure from the bestselling author of The Last Bear. Beautifully illustrated by Levi Pinfold, this is perfect for readers 8+.

A Waterstones Best Children's Book of the Year

Shortlisted for The Children's Wainwright Prize for Fiction 2025 and The Week Junior Book Awards 2025

Silver Trevelon’s parents aren’t happy. They haven’t been happy since the nursery they decorated started gathering cobwebs, waiting for the baby brother or sister that never came. So when Silver’s dad is invited to paint at a turtle rescue centre in Costa Rica, she hopes it’ll be just the adventure the family needs.

Under the hot tropical sun, Silver settles into life at the animal centre. She even witnesses a rare sighting of a leatherback turtle nesting on the beach. But when the turtle’s eggs are stolen, events take a dark and dangerous turn. Can Silver and her new friends track them down before it's too late? It’ll mean journeying into the heart of the jungle …

Review

‘Such clever, courageous storytelling. I adored it’ Emma Carroll, author of Letters from the Lighthouse

‘A glorious, shining adventure story with nature and wildness at its heart’ Pari Thomson, author of Greenwild

‘Hannah Gold writes hope and heartbreak and healing with astonishing perfection. Not only will it make readers want to fight bravely for a better world, but it encourages them to be kinder to themselves, too. Turtle Moon is, without a doubt, her best yet’ A.F. Steadman, author of the Skandar series

‘Beautiful, hopeful and heart-expanding. I love this book so much’ Rashmi Sirdeshpande, author of How to Change the World

‘I can see why so many children are falling in love with Hannah Gold’s stories. Turtle Moon is gorgeous … full of heart and hope’ Abi Elphinstone, author of Ember Spark

‘Gold is one of the best writers around when it comes to eco-adventure and Turtle Moon, which culminates in a breathtakingly exciting rescue mission, is just as good (if not better than) her Waterstones Children’s Book Prize-Winning The Last Bear' The Bookseller, Editor’s Choice

‘A gorgeous family story with huge emotional power and an utterly heart-stopping eco-adventure. Gold has done it again – this book is another enchanting must-read.’ Aisling Fowler, author of the Fireborn series

‘A wondrous, deeply felt story that will captivate and tug at your heart’ A. M. Dassu

‘I adore all of Hannah’s books but this one stole my heart … a map of how to heal ourselves as well as our fragile earth’ Jasbinder Bilan, author of Asha and the Spirit Bird

‘A poignant, rich and thrilling 9+ conservationist adventure’ Guardian

‘This dramatic story … is her best yet … explores themes of loss, renewal, and hope with sensitivity and compassion’ Daily Mail

‘A spellbinding, personal story of love, longing and adventure in a lush rainforest setting’ Nizrana Farook, author of The Girl Who Stole an Elephant

About the Author

Hannah Gold is a multi-award-winning and bestselling author known for writing heartwarming adventure stories. Her books – including The Last Bear, The Lost Whale, Finding Bear and Turtle Moon – have won several major awards such as the Blue Peter Book Award and the Waterstones Children’s Book Prize. Translated into twenty-eight languages, her books are beloved by readers around the world. Hannah currently lives in Lincolnshire with her tortoise and her husband.