Books

WINNER - Independent Press Award 2025

Eye of the Turtle

Lucy Morgan Adventure Series (Book 1)

Eye of the Turtle

A Children’s Ocean Adventure About Fear, Friendship, and Finding Courage
Lucy Morgan Adventure Stories • Book 1 • Ages 8–13+

Lucy Morgan is afraid of the ocean.

Which is a problem—because she’s just moved from a London tower block to a tiny Caribbean island surrounded by water.

At eleven years old, Lucy doesn’t swim, doesn’t fit in, and doesn’t understand why anyone would choose to visit a place where danger lurks beneath the surface. The sea feels vast, powerful, and unforgiving—and Lucy wants nothing to do with it.

Then she meets Jack and Solomon.

Drawn into their world of reef exploration and shallow‑water dives, Lucy begins to see the ocean differently—not as something to fear, but as something alive. Beautiful. Vulnerable. And in need of protection.

When the children discover an injured sea turtle, Lucy is faced with a choice that changes everything.

Eye of the Turtle is an adventure rooted in emotion, and discovery of self. The science lives inside the story, revealed through experience and consequence.

In this unforgettable first adventure, readers will encounter:

• A relatable heroine learning that courage isn’t the absence of fear
• Ocean wildlife and marine environments experienced up close
• Friendship and trust built under pressure
• The reality of human impact on the natural world
• The power of small choices to create meaningful change

All shown through Lucy’s actions, setbacks, and growth.  

Written by real‑life ocean explorer and educator Gloria Barnett (known to many UK children as the WeirdFish Lady), Eye of the Turtle combines authentic marine knowledge with a fast‑paced, emotionally grounded story that keeps readers turning pages.

Perfect for ages 8–13+, independent readers, classrooms, and children who love animals, adventure, and stories that feel real.

A story about fear, friendship, and the moment you choose to be brave.

Wed 1st July. A new editorial review has just arrived from The Prairies Book Review: 

Eye of the Turtle (Lucy Morgan Adventure Series) by Gloria Barnett

A page-turning dive into the wonders of the sea…

Barnett’s exciting series opener in the Lucy Morgan Adventure follows an anxious girl who discovers resilience through friendship and the natural world. Eleven-year-old Lucy Morgan is uprooted from her familiar life in London when her mother accepts a job on the Caribbean island of Pontus. The move leaves Lucy overwhelmed by homesickness and intimidated by an environment defined by the ocean—especially since she cannot swim and fears what lies beneath the surface. Her outlook begins to shift after she befriends Jack and Solomon, two local boys whose curiosity about marine life proves contagious. As Lucy ventures beyond the shoreline, encounters sea turtles and coral reefs, and witnesses the challenges facing the island’s wildlife, she finds herself confronting fears she has long allowed to shape her world.

The novel  traces her gradual adjustment to an unfamiliar home while exploring how meaningful connections, to people and to place, can transform uncertainty into purpose. Barnett integrates themes of marine conservation, environmental responsibility, and personal growth into the adventure without allowing them to overshadow the narrative. Lucy’s emotional arc unfolds at a measured pace, making her developing confidence feel earned, while the Caribbean setting is vividly rendered through details of its landscapes, wildlife, and close-knit community. Supporting characters provide warmth and encouragement without becoming idealized, and factual information about ocean ecosystems is incorporated organically through the children’s experiences. Readers interested in wildlife, outdoor adventure, and realistic stories of overcoming fear, along with libraries and classrooms seeking environmentally themed middle-grade fiction, will find much to recommend here.

A satisfying coming-of-age tale with a conservationist core.