You had to just pick it up as you go along. where is that? Why are they talking about India? What language is spoken here? What is a souk?" but there was no glossary of Arabic phrases or terms. There is no dictionary or map or extra context for this book. I'm not sure what the big theme of "I'm moving and miserable" is all about, but that is also a concept that not every student can relate to- and certainly not Aref, who is difficult to relate to, to begin with. Aref seemed like a 6 year old, and not a character that my students at a 4.6 reading level could relate to. The point of view was very childish- very short, broken up sentences with scattered thoughts. They visit a desert camp, turtle hatching beach, go fishing, and have new adventures together before Aref leaves. In the week before the move, he visits all of his favorite places with his Sidi (grandfather). Although they are planning to return to Oman in three years, Aref is resentful of moving, and does not want to leave. They are leaving their country of Oman and moving to Ann Arbor, Michigan, for his parents' education at a university. Turtle of Oman is a book about a young man named Aref whose family is moving.
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