Turtle Tube

An Erutuf National Park Novel

Children - Adventure
110 Pages
Reviewed on 09/18/2021
Buy on Amazon

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Author Biography

Kathy Arnold Cherry is author of the magical and entertaining Erutuf National Park book series that provides action-packed adventure, humor, and magic for children. As an avid national park fan, she incorporates the enchantment of real national parks into this imaginary world.

Kathy studied anthropology and political science at Indiana University and earned a Master’s degree at DePaul University. Originally from Chicago, she lives in Northern California with her husband, two children, and pup. Kathy has traveled to many national parks and dreams about the next one.

You can learn more about what she is up to at www.kathycherrybooks.com.

    Book Review

Reviewed by Foluso Falaye for Readers' Favorite

It all starts when two young siblings, Reese and Dean, come across a special sea turtle video online. Consequently, they both get hypnotized while watching it, and with colors swirling around them, they find themselves on a beach that turns out to be part of a magical national park island protected by talking sea turtles. Unfortunately, some pirates are plotting to take over the national park filled with different animals. To avoid losing the island, Reese and Dean must help to find the sea turtle map somewhere on the island and hide it in a new safe place. Find out if the two adventurous siblings succeed in their mission to protect the friendly island animals in Kathy Arnold Cherry's book Turtle Tube: An Erutuf National Park Novel.

Imagine if animals could talk about their needs and how our activities, as humans, affect them. Would we listen then? Turtle Tube builds an endearing children's story around the idea of protecting animals, and like a master chef's signature dish, it's done to perfection. The language is straightforward enough for its young audience. The themes and subjects covered are educational, from the different types of animals to marine biology, teamwork, brainstorming, troubleshooting, helping and protecting the less privileged, and more. I was touched by how Reese made efforts to cheer her brother up when he wasn't feeling too good. Kathy Arnold Cherry combines adventure and magic in this highly engaging and intriguing narrative. Turtle Tube is recommended to parents who want their children to learn the value of protecting nature and preserving earth's treasures at an early age.

Emily-Jane Hills Orford

Kathy Arnold Cherry’s middle-grade novel, Turtle Tube: An Erutuf National Park Novel, is an engaging adventure story containing interesting factual information about turtles. Reese is fascinated with turtles. She wants to become a marine biologist and work specifically with sea turtles. Reese is close to her brother, Dean, and they share many interests, including watching online videos. While watching a new online video about turtles, something mysterious happens, and the siblings end up in an almost magical national park where no one can see them, hear them, or talk to them, except the turtles and the invading pirates. One turtle, in particular, Emma, seeks out Reese and Dean and asks them to help save the precious natural habitat of their park from the pirates who will plunder it all in search of a hidden map. And the only way home is to defeat the pirates and save Emma and the other turtles. Sound like a great adventure? It is.

The plot develops slowly with the siblings watching videos together. Once they are swept away to this magical parkland, the excitement builds as the siblings try to figure out where they are and how they got there. Kathy Arnold Cherry has created two very realistic young characters to lead the story forward. Reese is the serious one of the siblings, while Dean likes to joke around – he enjoys sharing his humor in feeble attempts to make light of every situation they encounter. Dialogue is compelling and makes for a pleasant read. With realistic settings, magic, wormhole travel through time and/or space, talking turtles, shapeshifting into mermaids, and even pirates, this little gem offers a lot. Turtle Tube is a great read.

Jon Michael Miller

In Turtle Tube: An Erutuf National Park Novel by Kathy Arnold Cherry, siblings Dean and Reese, ages 8 and 10 respectively, are magically swept away to an expansive island park while watching a video about sea turtles. They land on a beautiful beach. Lost and bewildered, they meet Emma, a sea turtle, who is apparently behind the amazing transition. There in the sand, they find a brochure that contains a map of the park, a copy of which begins the book. It seems that pirates (a modern sort) are trying to use this idyllic world for their own financial gain, and Dean and Reese have been taken to help save this magical place. Though confused about what is happening, the siblings are so excited that they do not feel threatened or worried about their parents missing them. After a time of magical experiences, Emma gives them a mission to save the park from the pirates.

Besides the unbelievable plot, what endeared me to Kathy Arnold Cherry’s fantasy book was the relationship between Dean and Reese. It is a model of what a brother and sister should be. Though there’s a bit of bickering, Reese takes care of Dean, keeps him on more or less level ground, laughs at his silly jokes, and they enjoy each other’s company. As their mission unfolds, they meet not only sea turtles but talking butterflies, swirling rainbows, mystical pandas, helpful bison, even music by the Rolling Stones—all of which helps them battle pirates who resemble penguins. Turtle Tube: An Erutuf National Park Novel by Kathy Arnold Cherry is a delightful parable of environmental protection and filial love.