Hannah Gold consistently writes about two themes: human connection with nature, and children who feel distant from thier parents. She always finds a way of weaving the two together so that a parent - child bond is re-established, and I love that. In this story, Silver is struggling with feeling that maybe she is not enough for her parents: why else would they be so desperate for another child? In her loneliness, she finds a new friend, Rafi (as wild at heart as she is!), and a love for the animals in the Turtle Rescue Sanctuary, but none of this can replace completely the need for acceptance she has. It's not until a stormy night, when all the animals escape, and the turtle eggs she and Rafi have worked so hard to protect are stolen by poachers, that she discovers how deeply her parents treasure her. It's a story about the power of nature to change us, and the power of love to make us whole. And, of course, it's a senses blazing, bursting full of colour, sights and sounds, trip to Costa Rica   without ever getting on a plane!