45 pages • 1 hour read
Naomi Shihab NyeThe Turtle of Oman
Fiction | Novel | Middle Grade | Published in 2014A modern alternative to SparkNotes and CliffsNotes, SuperSummary offers high-quality Study Guides with detailed chapter summaries and analysis of major themes, characters, and more.
Character Analysis
Aref Al-Amri
Aref Al-Amri is the main character in The Turtle of Oman. He is in third grade and attends The American International School of Muscat; he speaks both Arabic and English. Like his family members, Aref is naturally curious and collects many facts about different animals, especially turtles. From the start of the novel, it is clear that he is fascinated by the world around him. He loves Oman, but he also learns to accept his imminent departure and anticipate the experiences that await him in Michigan.
However, it quickly becomes evident that Aref does not want to leave his life in Oman. He has been comfortable here, and he takes nothing about his city for granted. Aref’s close relationship with his grandfather ultimately encourages him to think beyond Oman, even as they appreciate Muscat together. Their connection is foreshadowed when Aref’s father tells him, “You are just like your grandpa” (14), and this idea is reinforced when Sidi and Aref are able to have conversations about anything and everything. As a result of this close bond, Sidi can challenge Aref to think more critically about the significance of leaving Oman, and his positive disposition pushes Aref to see the advantages of the trip, for the boy will be a “world traveler” (286) when he returns.
Over the course of their many adventures in the week before Aref departs, the protagonist comes to appreciate the deeper symbolism of the turtles that fascinate him. He is comforted to know that the turtles always come back to the same beach, and he realizes that although he is about to temporarily swim away from Oman, he will return when his parents finish their doctorates. The “turtle of Oman” of the book’s title is, in fact, Aref himself. He is learning to leave Oman so that he can return to it in the future.
Another major turning point in Aref’s attitude about the journey occurs when he and Sidi sleep on the roof together. As they memorize the lights of the city below them, this activity helps them to feel like they are “part of the sky and everything under it” (272). In this moment, Aref recognizes that the city will always be a part of him and that his relationship with his grandfather won’t change just because he is going to the US. After that night, Aref starts to feel that “[m]aybe he could make a little space for bravery inside his fear, maybe just a little” (277). This shift encourages him to finish packing his suitcase, symbolizing that he is now ready to plunge into his next big adventure.
Sidi
From the start of the novel, Sidi acts as an important role model for Aref, inspiring him with stories of his own life in Oman. Sidi has lived in Muscat all his life, and the narrative implies that he is a familiar figure to many inhabitants of the city. As he and Aref explore the area, people refer to him by name and treat him with respect whenever they go. He also is often positive, wanting to see the bright side in everything.
Sidi tries to embrace all that the world has to offer, and he tells Aref that it is “important to get all the different views” (108). For example, Sidi always looks back at the scenery or makes sure to get close to something so that he can see it from different perspectives. Sidi’s attention to detail illustrates his desire to absorb the world, and he passes this trait on to Aref in a metaphorical sense, for the boy tries to look at his upcoming journey from a different perspective. Sidi also plays a critical role in helping Aref to prepare for departure by immersing him in a variety of settings and adventures in Oman. Their travels help Aref to realize that many creatures—animals and humans—leave their homes for new experiences and then ultimately return. Moreover, Sidi ensures that Aref has different pieces of Oman to take with him, giving him small stones as mementos from their travels. A key moment between Sidi and Aref occurs when Sidi gives his grandson a blue hat with a tassel that matches the one that Aref’s father has and the one that Sidi wears around his neck. It is Aref’s first dress-up tassel, and his awe upon receiving the gift shows how much it means to him to feel linked to his father and grandfather.
However, as positive as Sidi is about Aref’s journey to the US, he eventually admits that he will miss his grandson. Aref knows that this confession is out of the ordinary for Sidi since his grandfather “always trie[s] to keep everything positive” (273). However, Aref is grateful for Sidi’s honesty, and thinks to himself that Sidi is “the king of my heart forever” (259). He finds comfort in knowing that someone who tries so hard to look on the bright side can admit to being sad.
Aref’s Parents
Aref’s parents are the reason that the Al-Amri family is moving to the US. Both of Aref’s parents teach at the university in Muscat, and they have each decided to return to school in Michigan to get their doctorates. They love Aref and are supportive of him, encouraging him to learn English so that they are all prepared when they arrive in the US.
Aref’s father appears in the story only briefly, just before he leaves Muscat for the US, setting off on the family’s big adventure. He is a jovial man, joking with Aref about someone trying to sneak a parrot onto a plane before he departs. Like Aref’s mother, he wants Aref to feel excited about moving to the US. His emails to Oman over the course of the novel emphasize the possibility of getting a cat or having Mexican food available right near their apartment. The time that Aref’s father takes to include these details illustrate his desire for Aref to feel excited about moving, which he knows must be difficult for the boy.
Likewise, Aref’s mother tries to help Aref cope with preparing to leave. When she sees him struggling to pack his suitcase, she tries to help him understand that many have left Oman. As she tells him, “In our country it is quite a tradition that people go away, then they come back home. We can be proud of it” (82). This comment foreshadows Aref’s eventual acceptance of leaving and highlights the kinship he feels with creatures like turtles, who often return home after migrating away. Additionally, Aref’s mother attempts to tend to his needs by calling upon Sidi to take him on a series of local adventures. This choice ultimately means that more of the packing falls on her shoulders, but she prioritizes Aref’s happiness over her own list of chores.
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By Naomi Shihab Nye
