Turtle in Paradise

Turtle in Paradise

Author:Holm, Jennifer L.

Publisher:Random House, Incorporated

Publication Date: May 2010

Turtle is just the right mixture of knowingness and hope; the plot is a hilarious blend of family dramas seasoned with a dollop of adventure.

- Booklist

Turtle's voice is tart and world-weary. Though her narrative is peppered with references from the time, modern-day readers will have no trouble relating, and the fast-moving plot will keep them interested to the end. 

- Horn Book

        

         TURTLE IN PARADISE has been distinguished as a 2011 Newbery Honor Book, an ALA Notable Book, a Booklist Editor's Choice, on the Texas Bluebonnet List and is a New York Times bestselling novel. The story is about Turtle, and 11 year old girl who is finding her way in Key West, Florida in the economic depression of the 1930's. Turtle's haphazard mom has taken a job as a housekeeper for a woman who does not allow children, and so has sent Turtle to live with her Aunt Minnie in Key West. Therefor Turtle and her mouse-eating cat must settle into a new life with a new family - even though they don't even know she is coming! At first Turtle feels uncomfortable in her new home with her new family. She soon starts to spend time time with her cousins' all-boy group called the "Diaper Gang" - who take care of bad (of course, all babies are bad!) babies in exchange for candy, and even have a secret remedy for diaper rash. Cousins Pork Chop and Beans become increasingly important to Turtle's idea of a perfect family. Although Turtle had been told that her grandmother was dead, she ends up unexpectedly meeting her, and so she attempts to form a bond. Turtle then finds a local treasure map to a buried pirate treasure in her grandmother's piano - and so of course a great adventure with the Diaper Gang ensues! In the end, Turtle realizes she may be a lucky orphan after all - and see's the value of family in a whole new light.

        Although Turtle's adventures are fantastic, they are also realistic and believable both as far as the characters and the setting. Turtle and her family members learn and grow through the story, lending them a three-dimensional and humanistic, universal quality, as people everywhere and through time are struggling to forge new relationships, to accept themselves, and to learn acceptance of their imperfect families. Turtle herself blossoms from a castaway orphan who is struggling to fit in a new place and new family, to someone who is making decisions for her mother and herself - to give in to a new notion of love and of family. This is inspirational to any child who is struggling with feeling alienated and feeling the pangs of an imperfect family situation. The adventures may seem incredible to modern readers, but nonetheless stay on point with historical detail. 

      At the end of the book Holm provides readers with an "Author's Note" section. Here Holm provides historical details and photos about the Great Depression and Key West, Florida, as well as details about her own family history in this area. She reveals that the story was based on her own grandmother, and even provides family photos. This lends both accuracy and more interesting information about this area and time in history. Holm also provides a references section with four books related to the topic of the Great Depression, and a web sites section with three sites related to the Florida Keys. This is helpful for children, parents, and educators to find relevant, connecting material - but not too many to be overwhelming. 

     This book is filled with details that relate back to life in the 1930's - particularly in the Florida Keys. Some of these details include continual references to Shirley Temple and Little Orphan Annie. In the "Author's Note," Holms reminds us that entrainment was an important diversion, and that these were superstars of the time. Additionally, she reminds us that Turtle's situation - having to stay with relatives while her mom works - was a frequent occurrence during the Depression when finding a job was very difficult and could not be turned down. She also relates the hurricane in the story to the real-life "Labor Day Hurricane" that struck the Florida Keys on September 2, 1935. Further, the Diaper Gang's ambition of finding Black Caesar's buried treasure was also accurate: …in the '30's everybody in Key West had a treasure story".

     Activities can be done in relation to learning about the 1930's and the Great Depression. Children can research through the library and the internet about what it was like to live during the great depression. They can find one picture of life in the 1930's and present it to the class. Another important theme o the book is the acceptance of imperfect family. Children can be prompted to write a short story about a child who comes to accept his or her family. 

Holm, Jennifer L. 2010. TURTLE IN PARADISE. New York, NY: Random House Children’s Books. ISBN 9780375936883