This account by a marine biologist follows a green sea turtle from her hatching and treacherous journey into the ocean to her return years later to that same spot to lay eggs of her own. From a nest of approximately 100 baby turtles, she is one of just ten that survives predation on land and in water to then follow a path through the Atlantic Ocean and Gulf of Mexico. At a couple of years of age she is less susceptible to predators, but still faces threats from large sharks, although an evasive maneuver of rolling her body sideways so the width of her carapace faces the shark’s mouth is a successful tactic. Human-made nets are more difficult to evade and pose a significant risk to sea turtles. When she reaches 30 years, the sea turtle returns to the shore where she hatched to dig a nest and lay her eggs within it. The book closes with a final illustration of her hatchlings embarking on their own secret life. The stunningly realistic illustrations are equally adept at capturing scenes on land and underwater. Six pages of added information at the book’s end include suggestions of ways to protect sea turtles, highlight differences among sea turtle species, and describe how to become a sea turtle researcher.

Follow the captivating yet perilous life of one sea turtle in this dazzling nonfiction tale by the co-founder of the Ocean Conservation Society, perfect for fans of Jason Chin's ISLAND.

On a beach at the Ría Lagartos nature reserve in Mexico, a sea turtle is born.

Newly hatched into a big world, she breaks out of an egg buried in the sand. Now, her journey begins. To reach the ocean she must avoid predatory opossums, crabs, and raccoons -- many of her siblings will not make it. But our sea turtle does, and when she finally dives beneath the blue sea, she’ll travel for thousands of miles on a beautiful and pulse-pounding adventure.

Brilliant, informative, and compelling, The Secret Life of a Sea Turtle is a sweeping nonfiction tale following one turtle’s extraordinary life from hatchling to adulthood, written by sea turtle expert and activist Maddalena Bearzi, and illustrated by rising star Alex Boersma.