• Age: 9 to 12
• Grade: 4 to 7

A behind-the-scenes look at a hospital for severely injured turtles.

Turtles have been around for 220 million years -- longer than dinosaurs. But now their time might be running out. And their biggest threat is us!

There are more than 300 species worldwide and half of these are threatened with extinction. Freshwater, marine and land turtles all face the same threats, whether it is habitat loss, pollution, harvesting by the pet trade or road and fishing fatalities.

In this fully illustrated book, veterinarian Dr. Sue Carstairs reveals what steps young readers can take to help turtles that they might find injured at the side of the road or next to waterways. When injured turtles are brought into her hospital needing medical attention, Carstairs describes the amazing behind-the-scenes workings of how she repairs shattered shells, broken jaws and injured skulls, nursing severely injured turtles back to health.

Topics covered in Saving Turtles include:

• A behind-the-scenes look at the medical procedures used to heal injured turtles
• How eggs are harvested, incubated and hatched
• Raising and releasing baby turtles
• Tagging and tracking turtles in the wild
• Conservation efforts worldwide to save some species from extinction
• Steps you can take to help turtles survive.

Sue Carstairs, B.Sc., DVM, is a veterinarian and the Executive and Medical Director at the Ontario Turtle Conservation Centre, a registered charity located in Peterborough, Ontario. She was awarded the Order of Ontario in 2020 for her work in turtle conservation.

Sue Carstairs' profile page

[Review of previous edition:] Saving the planet's endangered and threatened species evokes equal parts urgency and wonder in (this new non-fiction book) that will have young animal lovers starting petitions. First-time author Sue Carstairs -- a veterinarian and executive and medical director at the Ontario Turtle Conservation Centre -- writes with passion and clarity about wildlife conservation.... She sets a friendly tone in her introductory note but quickly gets down to business, stating: turtles are in trouble all over the world.

Quill and Quire

[Review of previous edition:] Endangered turtle species around the world and the dangers they face is addressed in this wonderful expose. Fascinating and invaluable information is accompanied by excellent photography... 5 out of 5.

Youth Services Book Review

[Review of previous edition:] (starred review) Although turtles have been around for 220 million years, now almost half of the roughly 300 species are threatened with extinction. Turtles are losing their habitats, suffering from the effects of pollution and the pet and food trade and are killed by cars and snared in fishing nets. Scientists, environmentalists and volunteers around the world are helping to protect and save turtles. Readers learn how they can help.

The Canadian Children's Book Centre's Best Books for Kids and Teens 2015

[Review of previous edition:] Aimed at children aged 9-10 and upwards, this is a behind-the-scenes look at a hospital in Ontario, Canada, for severely injured turtles. It is written by. a veterinarian whose mission has been to protect the 300 turtle species around the world, all of which are under threat and, particularly the seven out of eight species in Ontario which are "at risk". The book is very well presented and will be eagerly read by children who want to know what happens to turtles when they are brought in with injuries from dogs, cars and speedboats. There are many procedures shown from the operating table on how surgery is performed and photographs to show how their shells repair so well after treatment. The book comes with a glossary and index and is highly recommended.

School Librarian Journal Vol. 63 No. 1 Spring 2015

[Review of previous edition:] Carstairs, the chief medical officer at the Ontario Turtle Conservation Centre and professor of veterinary science, explains to readers clearly and concisely the many threats facing freshwater, marine and land turtles globally.... The most interesting chapter offers a behind-the-scenes look at a hospital for severely injured turtles, explaining how injured turtles are rescued, treated, rehabilitated and released back into the wild.... The attractively designed, abundantly illustrated book concludes with tips: some simple things young people can do to help turtles. An accessible, informative introduction to fascinating, threatened reptiles and what can be done to help them.

Kirkus Reviews

[Review of previous edition:] Saving Turtles uses excellent quality photos and captions to help readers understand the critical nature of the issues affecting turtles. The details of treating injuries, with graphic illustrations, are thorough, highlighting the source and extent of the problems. They are presented in clear, straightforward language... This valuable resource will fascinate young nature lovers and will add to their knowledge about a common reptile many will encounter. But its forte is the message for youngsters (for everyone) about the need to work now to save this species. Highly Recommended.

CM Magazine

[Review of previous edition:] Saving Turtles is billed as "A Kid's Guide to Helping Endangered Creatures," but this short paperback is really an expose on turtle rescue, rehabilitation and research. Veterinarian and turtle rehab specialist Sue Carstairs gives readers a verbal and visual window on how turtles get put back together after sustaining serious injuries. Each two-page spread briefly covers specific topics related to basic turtle biology and extremes (oldest, rarest, etc.), turtles in crisis (in the past decade 80 percent of Asian freshwater turtles have been lost for example), "headstarting" (including incubating, hatching and releasing baby turtles), research being done in the field (protection), how to educate students and get involved in conservation. One two-pager near the back of the book is dedicated to ways in which kids can get involved, but that is only a small part of the much larger picture the book presents. Excellent photography, maps and other visuals contribute to what is about a 50/50 text/image split. Middle school students and their teachers can use this book as a brief introduction to all things turtles. Apart from the gory details and photographs of turtle rehab that may especially appeal to the budding vets in your class, this book will also provide them with a global perspective on how to save turtles.

Green Teacher

[Review of previous edition:] The text is descriptive and well-written. Color photos are captioned and found throughout the book. The book has a table of contents, index, glossary and extensive resource list. Students working on research about turtles or conservation will find this a great resource. A solid addition for your reptile section.

Puget Sound Council for the Review of Children's and Young Adult Literature

[Review of previous edition:] Written by a veterinarian working directly in the field of turtle rescue, this title focuses on the efforts made to save and, eventually, release wild turtles that have been injured, primarily as a result of human interactions. A basic introduction to turtles and tortoises, including anatomy, habitat, and diet, provide enough background for readers to understand how fragile and susceptible these creatures are to changes in their environment. Carstairs takes children through the process of treating turtles, describing the most common types of injuries and the various medical techniques used. A lengthy explanation of the importance of releasing turtles back into their original habitat makes it clear that some turtles can never be returned to the wild if their original location is unknown. The straightforward, accessible text is accompanied by many photographs, some depicting fairly graphic injuries that are not for the faint of heart, with the occasional sidebar highlighting specific turtle-rescue practices. The book ends with information about field research being done on turtles, their living conditions, and worldwide efforts to save them, especially the protection of nesting areas, and how readers can help. A helpful glossary and a fairly extensive list of online resources is appended at the end. A solid choice for libraries looking to supplement their science and sustainability collections.

School Library Journal