4^th Grade and Up

Jake Rizzi is about to spend the summer at his great-aunt Hettle’s cabin in the mossy, sodden Oregon backwoods. His parents seem to need a break from him and his ADHD. He tries not to take it personally but isn’t sure about his aunt’s off-the-grid lifestyle and strange stories about a turtle with a ruby-colored shell.
Soon, Jake 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 animal poacher and towering twin zoologists from Sweden. Jake is sure that finding the turtle will change how people see him and his “attention issues,” but he’ll need help. Setting off with his new friend Mia, Jake must decide what matters more. Personal glory? Or protecting the wonders of nature?

I enjoyed reading Jake’s ADHD perspective and seeing how his brain works. I liked how the term ‘ping-ponging’ described how his thoughts bounce around. This is precisely how I imagine the inside of an ADHD brain to be like.

I found it humorous and laughable how Jake’s parents constantly tell Jake to ‘focus.’ Yeah, it doesn’t work like that. You can’t tell a person with ADHD to ‘focus’ and expect them to suddenly be able to focus. It’s like telling a person with an anxiety disorder to ‘stop worrying.’ This is a perfect example of parents who have no idea how to help their kid but are trying their best.

Jake’s representation of ADHD reminded me of autism. While ADHD and autism are distinct diagnoses, they are both neurodevelopmental disorders, and they have their pros and cons. In Jake’s case, the pros are noticing small details that others miss, creativity, and a brain full of animal facts. The cons are being impulsive, not thinking things through, disorganized, and forgetful. The cons don’t outweigh the pros, and vice versa. It’s hard when it feels like your mind is working against you, but once you find the help you need, it becomes manageable.

The whole hunt for the ruby-backed turtle was started by one lady’s online article. Proving that it only takes one person on the internet to blow things out of proportion. This lady was overly pushy and very annoying. Someone who believes what they want to believe but has no real credibility to back it up. This is one of the dangers of the internet.

I loved the backwoods Oregon setting. So many trees, lichen, moss, mushrooms, and creatures. It’s a little too rainy for my liking, but it still sounds beautiful. I agree with Aunt Hettle and Jake. This is an environment worth protecting.

Overall, this was a heartfelt story that I recommend to fans of eco-adventures like Carl Hiaasen’s Hoot.