Super Short Summary

The Back of the Turtle by Thomas King follows Gabriel Quinn, a First Nations scientist who returns to Samaritan Bay to confront the devastation caused by a bacterium he helped create, which killed much of the community, including his family. As Gabriel reckons with his guilt, he forms new bonds and helps the town recover. The novel interweaves Indigenous mythology, themes of rebirth, and critiques of corporate environmental destruction. The novel depicts suicidal ideation and suicide attempts.