Today we are excited to share a guest post from author Maddalena Bearzi (THE SECRET LIFE OF A SEA TURTLE).
Read on for more about the author, the book, and what she has to say!
Meet the Author: Maddalena Bearzi
Maddalena Bearzi is a marine biologist, conservationist, photo-journalist, and published author of books and articles, including Beautiful Minds: The Parallel Lives of Great Apes and Dolphins, Dolphin Confidential: Confessions of a Field Biologist, and Stranded: Finding Nature in Uncertain Times. Maddalena was born and raised in Italy and now lives in Los Angeles, California, with her husband and dog.
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About the Book: THE SECRET LIFE OF A SEA TURTLE
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.
~ Guest Post ~
From the time I was a young girl growing up in my native country of Italy, I’ve been captivated by observing non-human animals in their natural habitats. It never mattered whether the creatures were large or small, whether they had scales, fur, or a hard shell; nor did it matter that I lived in the city—in every corner of my world, I always found something wild to discover.
My passion for nature was ignited during childhood vacations with my family on the remote shores of Sardinia. My brother and I spent our days exploring, our nights falling asleep in tents, gazing at the stars to the sound of crashing waves. We swam in a turquoise sea teeming with life and embraced wilderness in a way that felt effortless. Nearly nothing was needed to feel happy. My parents never coddled us with safety and excessive caution; if I stepped on a sea urchin, fell on an intertidal rock, or got pinched by a crab, so be it! That was my dad’s philosophy.
These early, hands-on field experiences shaped my deep connection to the natural world and eventually guided me toward a career in marine biology and conservation.
In my early twenties, I was earning money as a freelance photojournalist and studying for my bachelor’s in Natural Science at the University of Padova, when I was given the opportunity to develop and manage a research eco-volunteer program focused on sea turtles in a secluded natural reserve in Yucatán, Mexico.
Though my studies at the time centered on a species of lizard thriving in the Tuscan countryside, my background in herpetology and willingness to embrace solitude landed me the role.
For several summers, I traveled to Yucatán with a handful of volunteers to observe and record the land segment of the astonishing life cycle of these almost prehistoric creatures. We walked miles of unspoiled shores in search of sea turtles under the cover of night. We watched in awe as females emerged from the sea, meticulously dug their nests, buried their ping pong ball-sized eggs beneath the sand, and then returned to the water. And later, we witnessed tiny hatchlings emerging from the sand and scrambling toward the ocean, guided by the brightness of the horizon, in their fight to survive. Even now, it amazes me that only one in 1,000 of those eggs will become an adult turtle.
The serenity and untamed beauty of the reserve, combined with the presence of these remarkable reptiles, left a lasting imprint on me. It inspired me to share these adventures; to bring others closer to the wonder of encountering wildlife in its natural habitat.
Today, I worry that many children are missing out on the transformative experiences that I was fortunate to have—in Sardinia, in Yucatán, and in so many other places throughout my career. Writing about sea turtles and their fate is my way of bridging that gap, inviting young (and adult) readers into the fascinating lives of these reptiles while highlighting the devastating impact humanity has had on them.
By provoking curiosity, my hope is that children will be inspired not only to protect these wonderful animals but also to embrace a wider sense of appreciation and stewardship for all the creatures, large and small, that share the earth with us humans.
The greatest joy of writing nonfiction books on animals for a young audience lies in knowing that words may have the power to awaken a sense of wonder, perhaps strengthening the bond with our natural world.
If we are to safeguard our oceans and their inhabitants, we must first ignite in young minds the desire to learn, explore, and turn knowledge into real action.
Maddalena Bearzi, author of The Secret Life of a Sea Turtle
Title: THE SECRET LIFE OF A SEA TURTLE
Author: Maddalena Bearzi
Illustrator: Alex Boersma
Release Date: 05/13/2025
Publisher: Roaring Brook Press
Genre: Picture Book
Age Range: 4-8
