Turtle under Ice

By: Juleah del Rosario

Narrated by: Donnabella Mortel, Cassie Simone

A teen navigates questions of grief, identity, and guilt in the wake of her sister's mysterious disappearance in this breathtaking novel-in-verse from the author of 500 Words or Less--perfect for fans of Elizabeth Acevedo.

Rowena feels like her family is a frayed string of lights that someone needs to fix with electrical tape. After her mother died a few years ago, she and her sister, Ariana, drifted into their own corners of the world, each figuring out in their own separate ways how to exist in a world in which their mother is no longer alive.

But then Ariana disappears under the cover of night in the middle of a snowstorm, leaving no trace or tracks. When Row wakes up to a world of snow and her sister's empty bedroom, she is left to piece together the mystery behind where Ariana went and why, realizing along the way that she might be part of the reason Ariana is gone.

Haunting and evocative--and told in dual perspectives--Turtle Under Ice examines two sisters frozen by grief as they search for a way to unthaw.

Beautifully gutting

Turtle Under Ice explores the different ways in which grief impacts the lives of those left behind and their feelings of being alone and misunderstood as they navigate through their pain, even years after the loss. As someone who has experienced the sudden death of a loved one, the book and its sentiments genuinely resonated with me.