(2) K-3 Illustrated by Leah Giles. In 1974, a Greek military coup in Cyprus prompted a Turkish invasion and occupation, and the small eastern Mediterranean island was divided into a Turkish north and a Greek south with a contentious “green line” separating the two. This reflective take on that conflict gives, in third person, the perspective of a fig tree that lives along the green line and has seen both peace and war. Mixed-media illustrations combine paint, printmaking textures, and digital art and have a highly geometric, layered, collage-like construction. The art contrasts the barren destroyed landscape with the lushness of the fig tree. The text never gets into specifics of the different ethnicities or what they are fighting over, and the use of the passive voice narrates a history without assigning blame to one side or another: “Trust was torn in tatters...understanding was lost, and fighting broke out.” The tree serves as a symbol of peace: “The fig tree never forgets...she knows that whatever side you’re from, the fruit always tastes the same [and] sharing its sweetness can bring people back together.” A sweet conclusion presents two children -- one Turkish, one Greek -- savoring a majilla (fig), a shared word between Greek and Turkish Cypriots, together. This thoughtful representation speaks to something universal about ethnic conflict and peace that can be appreciated by many readers. A glossary and an author’s note with more information on the history are appended.

Reviewer: Julie Hakim Azzam | Horn Book Magazine Issue: September, 2025

(2) K-3 Illustrated by Hüseyin Sönmezay. In the first double-page spread of this Turkish import, readers see a boy and girl, each in their respective homes "somewhere in the world." The boy looks out the window with delight as fireworks flash; the girl sleeps while what is revealed on the next spread to be a bomb falls near her window. The rest of the book, spread by spread and with nearly identical dialogue, juxtaposes the two different journeys of the boy and his mother and the girl and her father. One is safe and comfortable while the other is steeped in danger. In one striking spread, the boy leans over a bridge to point at a swan. "Don't get too close to the edge," says his mother. On the recto, the father says the same to the girl, now a war refugee, as they navigate a small raft in the water, leaving the country they knew as home. A tangerine-colored fish follows the girl; it grows progressively in size, representing her longing for the home she has left. Both parent-child pairs end up at the same fair on a Ferris wheel, a symbol of global interconnection. "Who knows whose turn it will be to pack a bag," the author writes in a closing note. This sensitive story should prompt readers to consider that idea along with the importance of empathy when encountering strangers.

Reviewer: Julie Danielson | Horn Book Magazine Issue: March, 2024

(3) YA Lada (And I Darken; Now I Rise) has finally claimed the Wallachian throne. Now she must defend her crown and her country's borders from threats of all kinds, including the good intentions of her brother, Radu. With the series' hallmarks--a fifteenth-century setting evoked with copious historical and sensory detail and two diametrically opposed yet equally compelling protagonists--in full force, this volume brings the saga to a satisfying close.

Reviewer: Katie Bircher

(3) K-3 Illustrated by Rowan Sommerset. Feeling bored, Little Baa Baa pranks Quirky Turkey, convincing him that a pile of (presumably) sheep droppings are actually "smarty tablets" and basking in deadpan satisfaction when the gullible--yet now, indeed, wiser--bird gobbles them up. The two pencil-drawn animals in a brown-gray wash converse in speech bubbles, their expressive faces supporting a goofy cumulative text. The timeless poop humor has wide appeal.

Reviewer: Rebecca Reed Whidden

(3) YA Zan is running from her father's Boston political scandal and her own shoplifting spree. A quiet trip to visit her aunt in Turkey seems like an escape--until she gets caught up in a smuggling ring. Now Zan must solve her uncle's murder and recover an artifact he died trying to preserve. The exotic setting and thrilling events don't overshadow Renn's believable characterization.

Reviewer: Lisa Catherine Findlay

(3) K-3 One World, Many Countries series. These serviceable overviews for report writers are liberally illustrated with sharp photos. An introductory chapter in each book often highlights a holiday or festival (Turkey features a particularly fantastic photo of Istanbul's Grand Bazaar). Four chapters then focus on land, government and cities, people and cultures, and daily life. A "Global Connections" page is usually devoted to a social issue. Fast facts are appended. Maps, reading list. Glos., ind. Review covers these One World, Many Countries titles: Russia, Ireland, France, Sweden, United Kingdom, Germany, Greece, Italy, and Turkey.

Reviewer: Melinda Greenblatt

(2) YA This graphic memoir chronicles the coming of age of a girl and her country, Turkey. �-zge is starting school in the early 1980s, just after the coup that would place the country under a military dictatorship. She's a sharp observer of the world, writ both large and small. While primarily relying on small ink sketches, Samancı provides graphic surprise on nearly every spread.

Reviewer: Roger Sutton | Horn Book Magazine Issue: January, 2016

(4) 4-6 Emerging Nations series. For a series on the "fastest-developing" countries, these attractive volumes for report writers are already somewhat dated (not much is mentioned past 2013). Each book includes sections devoted to history, culture, political change, and economic development, as well as several double-page spotlights on a major city (Moscow and Istanbul, respectively). Bright color photographs are plentiful and varied. Reading list, websites. Glos. Ind. Review covers these Emerging Nations titles: Russia and Turkey.

Reviewer: Melinda Greenblatt

(3) YA This unusual novel about the 1915 Armenian genocide is written in intricate verse and tempered by the magical realism of an eagle that helps three siblings during their escape from their village. Shahen (disguised as a girl), his twin sister, and younger sister flee after their family is killed, eventually making it to Syria. An excellent author's note and extensive resource lists are appended. Map. Glos.

Reviewer: Melinda Greenblatt

(3) K-3 Illustrated by André Letria. Village wise man Nasreddin Hoca (a real figure from thirteenth-century Turkey) helps poor Mustafo maintain his family's pride--while avoiding the Mongolian tyrant's wrath--by purportedly teaching Mustafo's donkey to read. The story's clever trickery and triumph-over-wickedness elements are satisfying. The vivid illustrations have a playful irreverence--including a very personable donkey. The last page provides some historical context for Nasreddin.

Reviewer: Miriam Steinberg-Egeth

(4) YA Sara meets Amesh, a poor Turkish boy, and finds a flying carpet while visiting her father in Istanbul. Both the carpet and the boy change her indelibly, leading her on a path toward self-definition and the realization of her destiny. Sara's constant, sudden "knowing" things and some misleading cultural information occasionally break the flow of an otherwise engaging story.

Reviewer: Jenn Matters

(3) 4-6 Countries of the World series. These books ably cover the main topics of interest for children researching foreign countries. The clearly written texts are profusely illustrated with excellent photographs and maps. Like other titles in the series, these volumes tend to downplay negative aspects of a country's history (e.g., in Turkey Shields explains, "Many...Armenians left the country..." during 1919–1923, but not under what circumstances). Reading list, timeline, websites. Bib., glos., ind. Review covers these Countries of the World titles: Laos and Turkey.

Reviewer: Miriam Lang Budin

(4) 1-3 Illustrated by Muriel Wood. This accessible sequel to Aram's Choice is based on actual events. Aram is one of a group of Armenian orphans brought to Canada in 1923. The boys acclimate to life on a farm run by a minister and his wife, but they protest when told to take Anglicized names. Though the illustrations are stiff, they will help engage readers in the story. Reading list, websites. Glos., ind.

Reviewer: Melinda Greenblatt

(3) YA Pivotal Moments in History series. This volume examines the fall of Constantinople, marking the end of the Middle Ages. Sure to satisfy history buffs, the book not only relates military facts but also delves into the events leading up to Constantinople's defeat as well as exploring its effects throughout history. Numerous sidebars, illustrations, maps, and art reproductions provide additional information. Reading list, timeline, websites. Bib., glos., ind.

Reviewer: Antonio Trujillo

(4) K-3 Illustrated by Frané Lessac. Jack Simpson was a soldier who, along with his pet donkey, came to the aid of more than three hundred wounded British soldiers on the bloody battlefields of Gallipoli. Though the events can be difficult to follow, the story is poignantly told. Gouache illustrations offer a strong visual sense of the setting. Bib.

Reviewer: Cyrisse Jaffee

(2) YA Paula (Wildwood Dancing) sails to Istanbul with her merchant father. A series of magical signs lead her on a perilous quest, calling on her scholarship, wits, and bravery. Marillier's exotic Istanbul, with its rich blend of musical languages and bright costumes, is a plausible threshold to the magical Old Kingdom and a vivid backdrop for Paula's thrilling journey.

Reviewer: Lauren Adams | Horn Book Magazine Issue: November, 2008

(4) YA Creation of the Modern Middle East series. These books (most revised and updated) are straightforward histories of Middle Eastern countries (though the area's volatility makes the series immediately out of date). The texts are dry, but they do an adequate job of providing background. Useful maps delineate the region's geography, and the many photographs add interest. Timeline, websites. Bib., ind. Review covers these Creation of the Modern Middle East titles: Lebanon, Jordan, Syria, Iran, Israel, Saudi Arabia, and Turkey.

Reviewer: Melinda Greenblatt

(4) 4-6 Global Cities series. Photographs by Edward Parker. Readers are introduced to the history, culture, economy, environment, and challenges faced by these European cities. Each section is dense with facts, reading like an encyclopedia entry, but the "case study" sidebars focusing on specific people or issues provide insider views. Well-captioned photographs, charts, graphs, and maps appear throughout the busy pages. Reading list, websites. Glos., ind. Review covers these Global Cities titles: Istanbul, Berlin, and London.

Reviewer: Miriam Steinberg-Egeth

(4) YA Making of the Middle East series. This series presents the history and culture of the complex, influential Middle East region, from the early twentieth century to today. Maps and photographs (some gruesome) expand the dry, straightforward texts, which provide clear accountings of events, places, and political and religious figures. There are five other fall 2007 books in this series. Reading list, timeline, websites. Glos., ind. Review covers these Making of the Middle East titles: The First World War and the End of the Ottoman Order, The Palestine Mandate and the Creation of Israel, 1920–1949, The Middle East in the Age of Uncertainty, 1991–Present, The Cold War in the Middle East, 1950–1991, and The Rise of Nationalism.

Reviewer: Tamara DePasquale

(4) 1-3 Illustrated by Muriel Wood. Aram is an Armenian boy who is displaced to Greece by the 1915 Turkish genocide. In 1923, he leaves his elderly grandmother behind and immigrates to Ontario, Canada, to live on a farm for Armenian orphans. His journey is told simply (although it's stilted in places); realistic paintings decorate most pages. An author's note gives more information. Reading list, websites. Glos., ind.

Reviewer: Melinda Greenblatt