GRANDFATHER'S TURTLE

Visiting relatives in the Marshall Islands, an American boy must decide whether to save an endangered animal.

David is excited about visiting his mother’s family in the Marshall Islands, a freely associated state of the United States, for his great-grandfather’s birthday. He can’t wait to meet his cousin Betra and hopes to glimpse a sea turtle. Much surprises David about the islands; there are no jungles, for example, and no hula dancers. The islanders’ clothes are simple, sometimes ragged; Betra’s family lives in a tiny house with walls of woven palm mats. David’s relatives teach him new skills, like fishing and climbing a palm tree for coconuts. He helps catch a sea turtle but is horrified to learn it’s intended for Grandfather’s birthday feast, protesting, “These animals are endangered. If we kill them to eat, they will all be gone soon!” The night before the feast, David has a difficult choice to make: make his family angry or free the turtle. In his debut children’s book, Hubbs provides a well-balanced story that considers cultural differences and similarities. David realizes that “the poorest people that he knew in America were rich compared to his cousins,” but he also appreciates their wealth of knowledge about island life. Wisely, Hubbs doesn’t present the Marshall Islanders as a monolith; David’s cousin and uncle see turtle meat as “a very important part of our culture” and “a great way to honor Grandfather”—but in Grandfather’s own view, “Times have changed and we must change also.” The lively illustrations by Lydia and Isaia of Worlds Beyond Art, who previously contributed to the Hawaii-set Puanani and the Volcano (2020), show medium- to dark-brown–skinned characters and capture the turtle’s beauty well.

A warmhearted story that helps kids appreciate cultural complexities and values.