The Turtle of Oman

   

The Turtle of Oman

By Naomi Shihab Nye




The Turtle of Oman is a novel about a young boy named Aref Al-Amri that is moving from Muscat, Oman to Ann Arbor, Michigan. The book is about the challenges of leaving one's home and adapting to a new environment. Aref struggles to come to terms with the fact that he is leaving everything he knows and loves behind, including his beloved turtles. Through the support of his family and his own resilience, Aref slowly learns to appreciate his new surroundings and find joy in unexpected places.

The Turtle of Oman is a beautifully written novel that explores themes of family, friendship, and cultural identity. I think this book is great for children to read because it is realistic fiction and deals with situations that children face in their own lives. For children who are in the same position as Aref, having to move to a new place and leave friends/family behind, reading this book will provide them with a character they can relate to. I think it is so important for children to have literary characters they can relate to because it helps them work through what they are going through and gives them a sense of hope and guidance. Additionally, I found the relationship between Aref and his grandfather, Sidi, to be particularly touching. It reminded me of my relationship with my grandparents and shows that bonds can continue to be strong even when someone moves away. Overall, this novel is a great story for all readers, but especially for those in the same situation as Aref. 




The Turtle of Oman, by Naomi Shihab Nye. Greenwillow Books (2016). 

For more information about Naomi Shihab Nye click here. 


Word Count: 260



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