by Maria José Fitzgerald, author of Turtles of the Midnight Moon

Mysteries have always captivated young readers through their suspenseful scenes, puzzles, red herrings, and whodunnits. The mystery genre in children’s literature transports young minds to realms of adventure and discovery. From Harriet the Spy and Nancy Drew to more recent novels like Greenglass House and Hoot, mysteries keep kids engaged and turning the pages, yearning to discover the truth. As young readers reach the end of the book, they might wonder: Were my suspicions correct? What clues did I miss along the way? What information led me astray?  If they’re like me, they might even start the book over and try to find the hints they missed.

But beyond the thrill of cracking a puzzling case, mysteries also offer authors the ability to weave profound universal truths into their narratives. As readers dig for evidence, they may also find that they are simultaneously digging within themselves, asking questions unrelated to the novel’s “main” mystery. Because the truth is, what matters even more than the puzzle, are the connections readers make with the characters in these stories and the sometimes-difficult truths they discover about being human.

In my debut middle-grade eco-mystery, Turtles of the Midnight Moon, I strived to craft a classic whodunnit that also delved into truths about friendship, compassion, conservation, forgiveness, identity, and even the importance of art. While young readers immerse themselves in the beaches of Honduras, trying to figure out who the egg-poaching villain(s) might be, it is my hope that they also connect to the protagonists’ struggles, hopes, and the questions they are grappling with:

• What does it mean to be a real friend?
• How do I show compassion towards the natural environment and its creatures?
• Why is forgiving so hard? Why is it important?
• What does it mean to be of mixed race or culture? What is identity anyway?

While fiction might not always answer these questions directly, stories—including suspenseful mysteries—can guide readers to come up with their own answers. Stories shine a light on the complicated truths about being human and the struggles we all share. They help readers navigate this complicated world. Even high-paced, action-packed mysteries can open doors for readers to foster new relationships with not only others but also with themselves and our planet.

Readers will find their own hidden truths within stories, perhaps even some that the author may not have consciously thought of. Here are four that I kept in mind as I created the characters, world, and plot for Turtles of the Midnight Moon.

Truth 1: Compassion is the heart of connection:

Compassion is like the bright moon in the darkness, lighting our way and illuminating the beauty around us. Compassion, the capacity to understand and share the feelings of others, lies at the core of human connections (and our connection to the natural world).  It is also at the heart of any compelling children’s novel. E.B. White did this masterfully in one of my favorite books of all time, Charlotte’s Web. In Turtles of the Midnight Moon, Barana shows great compassion for the sea turtles that nest on her beach. She has a special connection to one turtle in particular, Luna, with whom she shares a mysterious scar. Through Barana’s example, Abby also develops compassion for these creatures. As both girls work together to unravel the mystery, they must also learn to empathize with those who have wronged them and, eventually, find compassion for them.

Readers might uncover the universal truth that when there is compassion, friendships can truly bloom. When there is compassion, our natural world can thrive. And when there is compassion, communities can grow stronger. Is it always easy to be compassionate? No, but if we are able to channel it within us, the results might be magical!

Truth 2: Forgiveness is the door to healing:

Forgiveness is the path to healing and the only way forward, even when an act seems unforgivable. In Turtles of the Midnight Moon, forgiveness emerges as another powerful force and essential virtue in human relationships. As Barana and Abby contend with suspects and clues, they also face conflict with each other. The girls learn that if they are to ever find the answers they are seeking, they must learn to forgive each other and move forward. Abby’s father also contends with forgiveness. In his case, he must forgive himself for years spent neglecting his past, his pain, and his relationship with his father. We also witness forgiveness at the community level. When Barana and Abby finally solve the sea turtle poaching mystery, they and the entire village of Pataya face the difficulty of finding forgiveness in their hearts for the poacher(s). How do you forgive someone you know is inherently good but has done something “bad?”  Barana and Abby encounter individuals who have made mistakes, acted out of fear, or succumbed to their flaws but have also done much good in the past. By forgiving these characters, Barana and Abby bring closure to the mystery, showing young readers that there is great power in forgiveness. Letting go of resentment and embracing second chances can seem impossible, but young readers might consider that–perhaps– it is worth trying.

Truth 3: Identity is who we are in our own eyes:

Today more than ever, kids are exposed to the whole world in the palm of their hands. While this blog post is not about social media and its effects on young readers, we can probably all agree that we live in a time when stories and their messages might be more important than ever. While our technology has evolved and changed the very fabric of our society, young readers’ questions around identity haven’t. Who am I? Who do I want to be? How do people see me? These questions have been around for a long time. As a GenXer, I recall quite vividly how between the ages of about ten and twenty-something, I was constantly seeking to define who I was. In some ways, I still am. Perhaps we all are.

There is a line in one of the poems in Turtles of the Midnight Moon that reads: The answers are within. I love this verse because it speaks to the core of identity: it is within us, and it can only be defined by us. The opening poem in Turtles begins with this stanza:

I am from the ocean, vast and cold.

From the heart of the Atlantic.

Swimming miles away from home,

Until I return again.

Home can have many meanings. It is a place, or many places, and it is also something many of us carry with us, especially if we have moved or immigrated from our place of birth.

Abby longs to visit her father’s homeland. The urge to know where he, and therefore where she, comes from, motivates her to insist on joining him to Honduras. It is through this journey that Abby is able to begin to look inward. By traveling far from her home in New Jersey, she begins to strengthen her sense of identity and belonging.

Truth #4: Friendship is not easy, but when it is real, it can transcend anything.

I am in my mid-forties, and friendship is still somewhat of a mystery to me! In Turtles, Abby’s best friend has moved far away. Abby is having a difficult time navigating middle school, feeling alone and unseen, and she isn’t sure she’ll ever make another friend. Hiding behind her camera, Abby counts down the days for summer to begin. By the end of the novel, she has learned that she is still capable of not only creating, cultivating, and thriving in new friendships, but that it is sometimes okay to let go of past ones. While Barana and Abby don’t exactly get along at first, as they get to know each other and work together, they realize that their relationship is special. They see each other for who they are, and they support each other’s interests. The two totems the girls find are a sort of metaphor for their friendship. Sometimes the totems are warm, sometimes they shine bright, and other times, they fade and become cool. Like these carved talismans, friendship shifts over time too, but even old friendships remain with us, like a tiny turtle charm that we can carry inside our pockets wherever we go.

What are some universal truths you have uncovered while reading children’s mysteries? I’d love to connect and hear from you! You can find me at www.mariajosefitzgerald.com or @mariajosewrites on Instagram and @MariaJoseFitzg2 on Twitter

Our authors are so dedicated to their readers that they created extra resources for classroom and library use! Visit their pages for ideas and information.

Be sure to check back for new content.

Click the cover image above to learn more about the book, or click the link below for the title-specific guide. 

Calling the Wind by Trudy Ludwig Educators’ Guide

Cat Dog Dog by Nelly Buchet; illustrated by Andrea Zuill Activities

The Last Loose Tooth by Tyler Clarke Burke Activity Sheets

The Paper Kingdom by Helena Ku Rhee; illustrated by Pascal Campion Reading Guide

Rivka’s Presents by Laurie Wallmark; illustrated by Adelina Lirius Teacher Guide

Sprouting Wings by Louise Jagger and Shari Becker; illustrated by Floyd Cooper by Educators’ Guide 

Stand Up! Speak Up! by Andrew Joyner Activities

A Story for Small Bear by Alice B. McGinty; illustrated by Richard Jones Video

The Wishing Flower by A.J. Irving; illustrated by Kip Alizadeh Activities & Guide

Click the cover image above to learn more about the book, or click the link below for the title-specific guide. 

Dear Student by Elly Swartz Educators Guide 

The Elephant’s Girl by Celesta Rimington Curriculum Guide 

Forever Twelve by Stacy McAnulty Educator’s Guide

Heroes of Havensong: Dragonboy by Megan Reyes Educators’ Guide

Hidden Truths by Elly Swartz Educator’s Guide

Kingdom of Secrets by Christyne Morrell Discussion Guide

The Long Ride by Marina Budhos Educators’ Guide

The Magnificent Makers Series by Theanne Griffith Resources

Orphan Eleven by Gennifer Choldenko Discussion & Activity Guide

Our Friend Hedgehog by Lauren Castillo Downloadable Activity Sheets & Our Friend Hedgehog Downloadable Coloring Sheets

Paperboy by Vince Vawtner Book Club Clinical Tool; Developed collaboratively by Ana Paula G. Mumy, SLP and clinical professor, Kellie Deutsch, SLP Graduate Student and the Class of 2022 at the University of Kansas

Seven Clues to Home by Nora Baskin Curriculum Guide

Spellbinders: The Not-So-Chosen One by Andrew Auseon 

Take Back the Block by Chrystal D. Giles Educators’ Guide

Tips for Magicians by Celesta Rimington Curriculum Guide

Trex by Christyne Morrell Discussion Guide

Turtle Boy by M. Evan Wolkenstein Book Curriculum

Unusual Chickens for the Exceptional Poultry Farmer by Kelly Jones Letter Writing Exercises

Click the cover image above to learn more about the book, or click the link below for the title-specific guide. 

The Assignment by Liza Wiemer Curriculum Guide

Girls Who Green the World by Diana Kapp; illustrated by Ana Jarén Educator Tool Kit 

In addition to writing Disability Visibility, you are the founder of the Disability Visibility Project. What prompted you to start the online community, and how can young readers interact with it to find community of their own?

I originally started the Disability Visibility Project (DVP) in 2014 as an oral history campaign encouraging disabled people across the country to record their stories in the lead-up to the twenty-fifth anniversary of the Americans with Disabilities Act in 2015. I was tired of not seeing disability history taught in school, with the exception of the same small handful of famous disabled people like Helen Keller and FDR. The DVP grew quickly into an online community with a podcast, guest essays, and more. There’s a lot of content people can find on my website or by following me on Instagram and Twitter. The DVP is my attempt to create work by us and for us.

What advice do you have for young people looking to write or start their own entrepreneurial projects?

Knowing what’s out there is a start, and seeing other projects that are good examples of what to do and what not to do is helpful, too. Before you launch a name or hashtag, check if it’s already in use by others. If you’re working on a project, figure out how much time you have, what budget you’ll need, how you can make it sustainable, and what will set you apart. Are you filling a need? Will this give you joy? Is it a good use of your time? If you are interested in writing, start with what you care about. Journal writing can help you develop your voice and a place for your thoughts. It’s private so you don’t have to edit; you can just write without any rules. I also try to learn from my past work and try to challenge myself. I’m still figuring stuff out and cringe at some of my essays from a few years ago. So maybe that’s a sign of growth?

Can you talk about the process of selecting essays to be included in Disability Visibility? How did you find authors of the essays, and how did you decide what to keep in the young adult adaptation?

I bookmark a lot of great articles, essays, and websites for my own use. When I wrote the book proposal for the adult version of Disability Visibility, I had a spreadsheet of over fifty essays I wanted to include. During the manuscript phase, my editor, Catherine Tung, and I narrowed it down to thirty-seven because each was singular and covered an issue or perspective that is important to me. I knew most of the authors already from social media or as acquaintances and friends. It helped that I spent many years developing these relationships so people knew and trusted me. Beverly Horowitz and Rebecca Gudelis of Delacorte Press reached out to me and suggested the seventeen pieces that are in the young reader version because of length and content.

Are there any stories of disability you feel are yet to be told and would have liked to include?

There are always a ton more stories to be told! Universes upon universes! I want to hear from young disabled people, disabled artists, activists, and people from all walks of life. I want to see more work by disabled queer people, disabled gender-nonconforming people, and Black, Brown, and Indigenous disabled people. Publishing has barely scratched the surface when it comes to the richness and diversity of disabled lives.

As you were editing the essays, what were some things that really struck you?

It is a great responsibility to be an editor, and my role was to give the authors another perspective, to ask questions, and to make suggestions. I took a lot of care with their words. The contributions excited me because they were all very different, yet all were personal, political, and powerful. I appreciated the contributors’ participation in this anthology and the efforts they made in the editing process, which can be time-consuming and difficult. (I say this as a writer who understands the pain.) There wouldn’t be an anthology without them. I continue to love the essay form, since the contributors were able to express themselves clearly and concisely. Longform works seem more daunting to me!

Can you share some memories you have of being in school?

I am “an old,” as the kids say. I attended grade school in Indianapolis in the 1980s and loved reading, writing, social studies, art, and going to the library. One of my favorite places was the Nora Branch of the Indianapolis Public Library, where I attended summer reading programs. Good times. Later, I became a volunteer and got to listen to kids talk about books at the Carmel Public Library in Carmel, Indiana, when I was in high school. By the way, support your local library and volunteer or donate if you can!

Do you have hopes for how this book will be received and used in schools and libraries now?

With any anthology, I hope there is something for everyone, and the length of the essays make them ideal for short assignments and readings. It would be awesome if teachers used this in English, cultural studies, or history classes. I’d love to see libraries or student groups form book clubs or use it as a springboard to encourage students, especially disabled students, to tell their stories. There’s also a free plain-language summary and discussion guide, both by disabled writers, available as resources for teachers, students, and librarians.

Time for a fun rapid-fire round!

Name a book or books you won’t ever part with.

Let Papa Sleep by Crosby Bonsall

What’s your favorite food or snack?

Coffee and pie (or cookies, or doughnuts)

Who is a person/group doing amazing work that you admire?

I think Sandy Ho, the founder and co-organizer of the Disability & Intersectionality Summit, is pretty awesome! Full disclosure: I am on their steering committee.

Name something that brings you joy.

Group texts with friends, fancy snacks, and Netflix

What’s next for you after finishing Disability Visibility?

Thank you for asking! I am about to turn in the manuscript for my memoir, Year of the Tiger, which will be published by Vintage Books in 2022. I have a few other fun projects lined up next year, and if I’m really organized, I’ll start outlining a proposal for another anthology I want to edit.