Hessa rescues a turtle that has been dropped in the market by a man who runs off when he sees a policeman. Her uncle is a marine bioligist with a special interest in the turtles of the Persian Gulf where they live, and Hessa is soon captivated by their precarious way of life. But Hessa's sister is about to marry and her father is still grieving after the death of Hessa's mother and neither has time for Hessa and her interests. So when Hessa goes out one evening with Uncle Salem to see the turtles nesting on the beach, her father becomes very angry with her - why can't she behave like a good Muslim girl and help her sitster and father? Then Uncle Salem tells her that someone has been stealing the turtle eggs from the beach - some people will pay a lot of money to eat them. Soon Hessa can think of nothing but how to catch the thieves and protect the turtles. In an exciting climax Hessa faces great danger as she comes face to face with the criminals. This wonderfully exciting and heart-warming story features an appealing character who is torn between competing loyalties.

 

There are 96 pages in this book. This book was published 2012 by Frances Lincoln Publishers Ltd .

Julia Johnson is a writer and actress. She first went to the middle East in 1975, where she continued to develop her skills as a story teller. This is her sixth children's book.