For Aref and his grandfather, nothing is too insignificant to be studied or too small to be a treasure. I think the beauty of this book is the theme of looking at things more closely and from different perspectives and thus learning more. Through these lists, we get a sense of Aref’s world and perspective, the details he notices and the topics that catch his eye. We the readers get to see some of these lists, which introduce us to everything from basic geographical facts about Oman, to the biology of turtles, to a short biography of Martin Luther King, Jr. Everyone in his family keeps lists of interesting discoveries, even his grandfather, though Sidi doesn’t write them down in journals. His love for learning and exploring is encouraged by his parents, who taught him a game called “Discover Something New Every Day,” which is their so-called family motto. The two have a deep bond and shared interests that makes me envious because I was never close to any of my grandparents due to a combination of generational, cultural, and language gaps.Īlthough Aref is a third-grader, the narration doesn’t patronize him it’s evident that he’s very bright and also curious. The relationship between Aref and his grandfather drives a lot of the story, and it’s very heartfelt. He spends some time resisting the idea of moving, but with Sidi’s guidance, he moves toward acceptance. There are adventures and high points, but a lot of the narrative is devoted to reflection and immersion in the rhythms of Aref’s environment. I think I sort of misread the blurb and thought it would chronicle the events that happened after Aref’s move, but in fact, the whole story takes place in Oman, while he’s preparing for the move to Michigan.įor the most part, this is a quiet story. This book wasn’t quite what I expected, but it surprised me in a good way. With Sidi’s help, however, he begins to see his journey in a new light.

He loves it there, and he does not want to leave it behind to move to Michigan, a place so foreign and far away for him. ]My Summary: Aref’s home is Oman, where his house and cat and friends are, where his beloved grandfather, Sidi, lives.

The turtle of oman by naomi shihab nye