Turtle in Paradise

this book is awesome?❣️?❣️?❣️?❣️????❣️???????❣️????❣️???????❣️?????❣️?❣️?❣️?❣️?????❤️????❣️?❣️?❣️??????❤️?❤️❤️???❣️????????❣️?????????❤️?????❣️❣️??????❣️❣️???❤️❤️?????????❣️?❣️so many words so cute i ? turtles o o o o o o o o o

Wonderful reading about a young girl & a family of relatives she didn't know she had yet who became the very people she knew she would never again be able to live without. "We got babies!" is a statement what will forever bring a smile to my face.

I loved turtle in paradise! It was very entertaining and I loved the characters. Every single one of them had their own charm in their own way. I also think the book was funny. This book is for boys and girls and I very much enjoyed it so you have to read turtle in paradise!

Gnocchi the hobbits summer in the hobbits to find the other side tragedy is a providing an important to find a verb the traditional teen tall nonfat the murders at Columbine shootings the other side of you and your overwhelming reaction to oakland raiders

I much prefer MG speculative fiction to contemporary, and rather read about space adventures, and dragons, and magic than about coming-of-age; or at least this “coming-of-age” can be incorporated in the “crazy witch with fireballs” plot – in other words, something I won’t be able to experience in my everyday life. Sometimes though, authors come along that simply leave you no choice, but to love the story they tell. Even if it’s not your cuppa. Even if it doesn’t have your favorite elements in it… Jennifer Holm is one of those authors for me. Second time I pick up her middle grade fiction and second time I end up mesmerized.

“Turtle in Paradise” is so magnetic in its simplicity that despite lacking crazy monsters and anything magical, it is definitely a one-time read. It calls to you loud and clear, in the voice of kids living during Depression Era in Florida Keys. If I had to compare it to something it would be like comparing it to clean spring salad – you know, the one that has very few yet high-quality ingredients. A zing of fresh lemon juice, a sweetness or ripe tomatoes, a distinctive note of olive oil and fresh acidity of vinegar, gentleness of shallots and freshly grounded pepper, undertone of basil… Nothing too complex, and yet somehow – one of the best things you tasted in a while. This was “Turtle in Paradise” in food version.

Florida Keys are written so well, that I almost felt the sand between my toes as I was reading. I felt the heat. I heard the Diaper Gang passing by, whispering about their Secret. I’ve seen men working on the boats, and turtles… And the food! Despite the fact that whatever families in the Key West had was hard to come by, it was the freshest, the juiciest and most mouth-watering goodness!

I hope I managed to convey that “Turtle in Paradise” is children historical fiction at its best. Honest to goodness, it would’ve been already marvelous be it just a story of a spunky heroine Turtle and her cousins: mischievous Beans, life-loving Kermit, little Buddy, and the rest of the island full of strangers slowly becoming family/friends…But Jennifer Holm added pirate treasure to it! Can you think of anything pirate treasure won’t improve? There is nothing! Pirate treasures make everything better. Always. “Turtle in Paradise” is no exception. Of course, unlike magical tales, here treasure hunt takes on a more realistic turn, but it is a treasure hunt indeed. It’s full of excitement, and self-discovery, and a lot of danger as well; and all those things are brilliantly weaved in a tale of friendship.

I feel like I can endlessly go on and on about how wonderful this book is (and will possibly end up with a review longer than the book itself, which is quite short, unfortunately), but I’ll probably stop here. I’m always skeptical about all the big awards given to children’s books because they are given by adults, and in many cases (for me personally) they are missing the mark entirely. “Turtle in Paradise” however is one of the few I wholeheartedly agree deserves a Newberry honor and more. It’s definitely a must-have!
Open the book, feel the hot wind from Key West blowing from the pages and relax… Happy Reading!

P.S. For another FANTASTIC Newbery Honor winner (if you are also weary of all the “awards books” and generally avoid them) I highly recommend my absolute favorite - Sheila Turnage’s “Three Times Lucky” – a magnificent book (which turned into a series) that will capture your heart from the very first page as well.

This book was ok, possibly almost good. But certainly NOT for 8 and up or the 3rd-5th grade group it's being marketed to, which is why I rated it so low. I read this with my 9-year-old and was not really impressed. Although it does do a nice job of showing what Key West must have been like all those years ago, there are pieces of the plot I would have rather not discussed with my daughter. Spoiler alert but good warning for parents - included in this book is the fact that the main character discovers that her mother got pregnant outside of marriage and then ran off when the guy wouldn't marry her right away, thereby becoming a disgrace to her mother for being an single mom. Can we just let children stay children until at least TEN! Kids that age don't fully understand where babies come from - but if you read this book, be ready to explain it! All through the book, you get to read all about how the mom is constantly dating this guy and that and how they all try and buy the kid's love along the way. Then at the end, she actually gets married - only to have that guy steal all their money and run off to Cuba without them! What a great bedtime story, right? Don't worry honey, our dad isn't going to steal all our money and run away. Now go to sleep......

If this book were marketed to 5th or 6th grade and up, it would be more appropriate. The conversations between the characters are often funny. If it were marketed for 11 and up, I'd probably have given it 3 or 4 stars.

Turtle in Paradise by Jennifer Holm is a book about a strong and spunky eleven year old girl named Turtle. The story takes place during the summer of 1935 during the great depression. Turtle's mother has to send her to Key West Florida to spend some time with family that she has never met. When Turtle gets to Key West with her cat smokey she realizes that nobody was expecting her. All of her cousins are boys and they are rude, stingy and fight all the time! The hardest part is for Turtle to find a way to fit into this family and strange new place.

(spoiler warning)
There are many adventures for Turtle to discover during that summer. She finds a map in her grandmothers piano that leads them to a buried treasure! Her cousins and their friends have a club called "The Diaper Gang". Turtle tries to become part of this crew of boys who get paid for babysitting with candy. Turtle also gets to know her Aunt Minnie who is always busy taking care of everyone. Aunt Minnie isn't very happy to be taking care of another child when Turtle gets to her house. Her cousins are Beans, Buddy, Kermit, and they all live with a dog named Termite. The biggest person for Turtle to get to know is her very mean grandmother named Nana Philly. She gives Turtle a really hard time at first but they finally get to be very close. I really liked Turtle and the way she stood up to all the new people she met. Her strong personality helped her to get through all the hard times.

The author was very good at describing what it was like in Key West and it made me want to go there for a visit. I really learned a lot about the history of Key West from reading this book. At times this book reminded of a very laid back beach house that I have visited with my family during my summers. I could almost see the kids running barefoot everywhere. Parts of the book were boring but I loved Turtle so I kept reading the story. The ending of the book was exciting when the "Diaper Gang" and Turtle finally gets the treasure. Turtle is accepted by her cousins and she realizes how important it is to have a family and friends. Turtle is happy and it leaves you with a good feeling.

This book was good and I am glad that I read it. I would recommend it to my friends because it has adventure and history in the story. The best part of the book is seeing Turtle find out how to fit in with her new family. I really liked the part where Turtle and her mean grandmother learn to like each other. Turtle's mother finally comes to get her after the summer but she isn't so sure she wants to leave!

Some Spoilers included

11 year old Turtle knows life is not all peaches and cream, unlike her
single mother who has big dreams of Hollywood. Now, Turtle does not like
people who make life seem like this, such as Shirley Temple. Turtle is head-
strong and doesn't shed a tear when she's sent off to spend the summer with her
aunt and cousins for the summer, while her mother is working as a housekeeper for
a woman who does not like children one bit.

In her relative's Florida home she meets her cousins, which are all boys.
Her cousins are in a group called The Diaper Gang, which is a club of all boys, who take care of babies who cry a lot and take care of them to change their crying
personality around. Instead of getting paid by money, they get paid by candy.
Turtle ends up sort of joining this club even though the boys have one major
rule and that is "No Girls Allow". The Diaper Gang ends up going on a fantastic
adventure and find some long-last treasure on an island a while away from their
home. They end up "borrowing" a boat to get there. On the island they end up going
through The Labor Day Hurricane of 1935, a strong, massive hurricane which was
a Category 5, the worst of all. They do feel some strong winds, but most of
the hurricane had its eye on a different section of Florida. They do end up finding the treasure, which contained thousands of dollars, and they also
end up getting rescued by a local sailor that lives near them, since their
boat floated away when they first got to the island.

When they return to Key West, they all divide the money between them.
Turtle's grandmother also ends up liking her, and under all of her grandmother's
tough personality they actually end up sharing a special bond together.There is
also a surprise at the end that ends up being sad, but happy at the end.

I would give this book 5 stars since it was just wonderful. period.
It had a classic charm to it and I love how the author set it in the 1930's
when the time was simple and children got ice cream for a nickle.I loved
the book and I think anyone would.

There is something almost magical, in my opinion, about a well written young adult novel. I was happy to come across Jennifer Holm's Turtle in Paradise; exactly the kind of magical of which I speak. It is about an eleven year old girl who goes by the name Turtle. It takes place in 1935 and families everywhere are without jobs. When Turtle's mom finds work cleaning a woman's house who does not like children, she decides to take the employment and send her daughter to her hometown in the Florida Keys. Once there, Turtle meets many relations she had not previously heard about and realizes that she is a part of a family much bigger than she'd ever known.

This book is not lengthy. It's written concisely and to the point. It is filled with a dozen very colorful characters and illustrates a time period most people today know very little about. It is told from the honest and straight forward perspective of a very intelligent and resourceful child and the story is a very good one.

At the end of the book, Holm has included an assortment of photographs and the reader learns that Turtle in Paradise was built upon stories told to the author by her great-grandmother. It's fun to see photographs of real children on whom characters of the book are based. Turtle in Paradise is a winner of the Newberry Honor Book Award. Very enjoyable indeed.

This is a charming story about Turtle, a little girl who gets shipped off to live with her aunt and cousins she's never met down in Key West in the 1930's. Turtle worries about her single mother, who constantly falls in love with one guy after another, although she believes her mom has found the right guy this time. She had to go live with the relatives because the old woman her mother keeps house for didn't want Turtle and her cat around.

Turtle is thrust into this new environment and has to try to learn to cope with her cousins, all rambuncious boys, their friends and life in general in Key West. Some of the boys have a club they call the "Diaper Gang," a group of boys who take babies for walks and receive payment in candy. As Turtle adjusts to life in Key West, she realizes there are some things she didn't know about her mom, who left the area before she was born. And being Key West, pirate treasure stories abound in the area and the kids even have a little adventure trying to find some hidden treasure. There are some historical bits and pieces thrown into the story for good measure too.

All in all, I found this to be an entertaining read. I think this book is an appropriate read for young girls and boys, as there is no bad language or adult themes. I recommend it!

As a mother who screens everything her 11-year-old daughter reads, I knew "Turtle in Paradise" by Jennifer L. Holm was a keeper the minute I laid eyes on the cover. Sure enough, I was unable to put to put the book down once I started reading it, and I couldn't wait to get it to said daughter and see how *she* was unable to put it down as well! As said daughter is also a fan of the "American Girl Historical Mysteries" (Kit, in this case) and "The Postcard" by Tony Abbott, there were already other books from which we could draw comparisons, and "Turtle in Paradise" held its own with little effort. I especially appreciated the non-traditional happy ending, and welcomed the chance to discuss the issue of how the choices made by the adults around us will have consequences on the children. Loved how Hemingway is featured in the story as well! Below is how said daughter enjoyed the book:

"It is 1935 and 11-year- old Turtle is no Shirley Temple. When Turtle's Mom gets a job with a boss who detests kids, Turtle is sent to stay with her aunt and the Diaper Gang in Key West, Florida. There, Turtle comes out of her shell as she finds her dad, grandmother (who also dislikes Shirley Temple), pirate treasure and true friends.

"I thought the book was very surprising and funny, especially when I found out that the special baby formula was what my mother always used on me when I was little, and it *always* worked, instantly. I also laughed when, as the boys were tick-tocking people, one lady thought it was the ghost of a widow whose sailor husband drowned at sea and was trying to communicate with her! Also, I thought it was romantic how Turtle's dad named his boat in memory of her mom.

"I would recommend the book to anyone interested in wonderful books on the Great Depression and treasure-hunting girls in Florida. I would give the book no less than five stars: two stars for the cover, one star for the adventure, one star for keeping me interested and one star for the humor which made laugh till my sides ached."

This book certainly brings you out intop the open: The great depression and some bunch of smart alecs. Yet the book makes you read on and not stop. Turtle does state her opinion once or a million times, that it gets annoying and you wait for the end of the book. It feels like a small breeze that some how hit you like a tornado. You feel bonds between characters and then hate. If only this book was not so, boring but tempting, I would have loved it. The plopt is good, and some characters are so mysterious you wish there was more of an," ending."Like, what did Archie do with that gold? Was he caught? The relation ship between Turtle's mom and Slow Poke? It is all a mystery and you just don't like the book. I would suggest it to readers under ten.

Turtle has to leave her hometown to live with her aunt in Key West, because her mother is a maid and her boss won't allow children to stay with her. Turtle is pretty anxious about this move initially, because Key West is entirely different than what she's used to. Plus, there are her male cousins who are spunky and outgoing and she is surrounded by family members that she has never met. There are secrets surrounding her family and fun adventures around every corner. Turtle knows that there's no Hollywood ending in life, especially during the Great Depression, but she finds happiness where she least expects it. Turtle in Paradise by Jennifer Holm is a Newbery Honor book that is simply delightful.

Turtle is a likable character that I admired. She doesn't live with her head in the clouds; she understands that life isn't a Shirley Temple movie. Turtle was hesitant and closed off at first, but once she opened up, I enjoyed her even more. She's one tough cookie, but I guess you had to be growing up in the Great Depression.

Her relationships with her male cousins and friends were hilarious. They were always going on adventures, looking for treasure, and running around Key West. They were known as the Diaper Gang and they had me laughing out loud. Holm creates characters that are so memorable and quirky. I especially liked Archie, one of Turtle's mom's former boyfriends, and loved as the sub plot that unfolded around him.

The setting was incredible. I am such a fan of Key West so I loved how Holm included landmarks like Sloppy Joe's and famous residents like Ernest Hemingway. She made the setting so vivid and since I just visited there last July, I could really visualize the little side streets, the harbor, the lush landscape, and of course, Duval Street.

Another aspect of this novel that I adored was the fact that this story was inspired by Holm's family stories. In fact at the end of the book, Holm includes pictures of her own family living in Key West during the Depression and explains characters were based on "real people." I thought this made the story that much more authentic; it's obvious that this was a well researched historical fiction.

This book would be the perfect feel good read while on vacation. Also, I will definitely be pushing this book in my classroom as a good summer read for my students. So, if you are looking for a heartwarming book with substance this summer, you must pick up Jennifer Holm's Turtle in Paradise. I'm already dreaming of my next trip to Key West.

Jennifer Holm spins the reader back to the perilous economic times of the Great Depression. Set in the 1930s, eleven year old Turtle is sent to live with her Aunt Minerva in Key West, Florida because her single mother has a new job as a housekeeper and the new employer does not want children staying at the house. Turtle settles into life in Key West, eating new foods and trying to fit in with her male cousins.

The Our Gang comedies come to mind as her cousin Bean and the neighborhood Diaper Gang work to provide babysitting and diaper changing services for the mothers in the area. The children pull the neighborhood babies in their wagon and provide a secret cure for diaper rash that is a the stuff of legend. Unlike today, these children enjoy a wonderful freedom, safe within their community and extended families. Turtle meets more of her mother's family for the first time, including her ill tempered grandmother, Nana Philly. Her grandmother is suffering from the after-effects of a stroke and a lifetime of ill humor. Happily, Turtle is not fazed by her grandmother's attitude. Holmes always writes such interesting grandmother characters into her stories. Turtle gains more insight into her mother's early life and the man who might be her father. There is also lost pirate treasure, a hurricane and a cameo appearance from a very famous literary resident of Key West.

Photos of Key West and some of the real life characters in the story are provided at the end. Holm's research and meticulous attention to detail pay off, giving the story a rich sense of place and time.

Jennifer Holm's characters, May Amelia (Our Only May Amelia,) Penny (Penny from Heaven,) and now Turtle are girls I love spending time with.

TURTLE IN PARADISE is a lively, Depression-era yarn about an eleven-year-old girl with a tough exterior named Turtle. She has never known her father. She has been forced to move again and again as her mother has struggled in a buyer's market to make the best of a series of horror-show, live-in housecleaning positions around the mid-Atlantic region. Mom's latest employer -- this one in New Jersey -- can't stand children, and the times call for desperate measures, so Mom's latest boyfriend, Archie, has contracted with an acquaintance who is traveling in the right direction to deliver Turtle and her cat Smokey to Key West, Florida. Mom hails from Key West and Turtle heads down there to squeeze into a small house with her maternal aunt and three boy cousins, none of whom she has ever previously met (and without the letter Mom mailed to Aunt Minerva having ever arrived).

It seems like Turtle is related to half the neighborhood and, being that she is the spitting-image of her mom, every grownup she meets immediately wants to know whether she is related to Sadiebelle Gifford. The question we immediately ask ourselves is whether one of the guys in town can be the father Turtle has never met.

We come to find out that the grandmother who Mom told Turtle was dead is actually very much alive, and quite an ornery character, although she is now incapacitated by a stroke. And then, thanks to Smokey, Turtle finds a long-lost treasure map...

What I really enjoyed is that Jenni Holm --who was inspired by old family stories about Key West -- keeps throwing you off balance by permitting you to discover clues. And so you think you've figured something out -- and you have -- but what you thought was the big mystery is only another step along the path. More surprises are coming your way...

You're gonna find yourself up to your ears in scorpions and smugglers, boys and baby powder, treasure and trouble...as Turtle comes to learn what home is really all about.

Although brought up with Little Orphan Annie and Shirley Temple, Turtle knows life isn't that easy - it isn't full of song numbers and happy endings. As a housekeeper with her mom, she's constantly moving from house to house. That is, until her mom gets hired by a woman who hates kids. So it's off to Key West for Turtle, where she's to live with her Aunt, Uncle and three male cousins - all of whom she's never met. But Turtle is tough, she's not afraid.

Once there, she realizes that Key West is quite like another world. It's beyond hot, no one wears shoes, and everyone is seemingly related. But soon enough, she swept up with the tide of things, ditches her shoes, becomes one of the infamous Diaper Baby Gang, learns of secret buried treasure, and slowly comes out of her shell. Turtle learns what's really important, and how sometimes what you really want may be right in front of you.

Holm wrote a great book for kids, one full of adventure, mystery and growth (and even a little bit of history). Every little girl will want to be 11-year-old Turtle, who's sharp, witty, observant and smart. And every boy can identify with her cousins, the Diaper Baby Gang, who pull pranks, are exclusive about the company they keep and may even have their own weak spots. Then there are the adults, who, although air-headed at times, or bossy and mean at others, truly care.

The book has an incredibly amount of detail that's accurate to the time period. From old writers sitting in the pub (Hemingway), to sponge diving to make a living, the Great Depression is a great background. I especially like that it's mentioned, however not made into a brutal plot point. Although lack of money keeps Turtle and her mom apart, it's not because of stock markets or dust bowls. I also enjoyed the detail given to the scenery. Having been to Key West, I delighted in reading about the island during the early 1900s. From the scorpions to the ice cream, everything put you in that tropical state of mind. The book wonderfully culminates with an action-packed ending which invigorates and excites the reader. It's actually a bit scary, but you never lose hope.

Turtle in Paradise is a fast paced read that keeps you on your toes. Whether young or old, the book, along with Turtle's strength and heart, with intrigue, entertain, and thoroughly delight you.

Growing up in the Depression Era, preteen Turtle not only can spot a no-good rotten kid from a mile away, she's used to unsympathetic adults, as well. When her mom gets a job as a housekeeper with an employer who dislikes children, Turtle decides to move to Key West, Florida where her aunt's family lives. There she meets her young cousins (and everyone in the area seems to be related), who run a babysitting business. Girls are not allowed, so Turtle turns her attention to the other residents. Though Turtle knows better than to expect life to imitate the movies and comics, she winds up discovering clues in her grandmother's house that might possibly lead to real buried treasure. Can dreams like that come true after all?

I enjoyed this book. It was sweet without being saccharine, and the kids sounded like kids, not like they were auditioning for a TV sitcom. Books where every character has a quirky name tend to annoy me, but this book is based on the author's real life experiences. She also did a superb job of tying up all the loose ends and giving the reader an ending that was upbeat but realistic.

A cute novel with endearing characters and a poignant story. The beauty of Turtle and all of Key West is that it doesn't try to sugar-coat the world, illustrating the good and the bad side-by-side. The country is still in the Great Depression and times are hard all around, but friends, ice cream, and the simple things in life can still be enjoyed.

Jennifer L. Holm is probably best known among kids today as the author of the incredibly popular Babymouse series of very pink graphic novels about a mouse's adventures in elementary school . In Turtle in Paradise, however, Holm returns to her beginnings as an accomplished historical fiction writer. Two of her prior novels in this genre, Our Only May Amelia and Penny from Heaven, were Newbery Honor books.

Set in the summer of 1935, Turtle in Paradise features a spunky and tough heroine named Turtle, who kept making me think of Tatum O'Neal's character in the movie Paper Moon. I particularly liked the opening paragraph of the novel, which sets the tone for Turtle's character and voice:

"Everyone thinks children are sweet as Necco Wafers, but I've lived long enough to know the truth: kids are rotten. The only difference between grown-ups and kids is that grown-ups go to jail for murder. Kids get away with it."

As the novel opens, Turtle's mom, a live-in housekeeper and single mom, has a new job with a woman who doesn't like kids; Turtle is therefore shuttled off to live with an aunt and cousins she's never met in Key West, Florida. The plot of this charming novel seems almost beside the point; to me the story is really about Turtle and the colorful characters who surround her in Key West. Even Hemingway makes several brief appearances (in the first one referred to only as a writer named "Papa" but any adult readers will get the reference!) The kids in the neighborhood, most of whom are related in some way to Turtle and her family, are all known by nick-names that will remind readers of The Little Rascals--in this novel you'll meet Beans, Pork Chop, and Kermit, who comprise the Diaper Gang, a group of kids (all boys) who pick up fussy babies, including one named Pudding, from their harried mothers and cart them around in a little wagon for a few hours until they fall asleep. Because no one has any extra money, the boys work for candy! There's also a crotchety old grandmother that Turtle never knew existed, and even the promise of possible buried treasure figures into the story.

What I enjoyed most about this book was the way Holms recreates a different time and place, a place where mothers send babies off with neighborhood children, kids can go by themselves to the local theatre to see Shirley Temple movies, kids read the funny pages instead of playing video games, and a horse-drawn wagon comes around selling ice cream for a nickel. Still, the story doesn't descend into sentimentality, particularly because of an ending in which everyone's dreams definitely do not come true. Life is not a Hollywood movie, Turtle would tell us with a wisdom beyond her years.

Like Penny from Heaven, this novel was inspired by Holm's own family stories, in particular the story of her great-grandmother, who immigrated from the Bahamas to Key West in the late 19th century. Holm provides an excellent Author's Note which provides some background information on Key West, and other real-life subjects that come up in the novel, including photos of Shirley Temple and a reproduction of a Little Orphan Annie comic, both icons of the period that kids might not recognize today. She also provides a brief bibliography and list of related websites.

Times are tough in Depression-Era America. Eleven-year-old Turtle's Mom keeps losing housekeeper jobs and getting her heart broken by no-good men. When her Mom gets a job with an old lady who doesn't like children, she has no other choice but to send her daughter Turtle home to Key West to live with her sister, Minerva. Turtle really isn't sure how her Mom is going to survive since she's the sensible one of the two of them, but hard times call for desperate measures.

Turtle arrives with her cat, Smokey, only to discover she's going to be living in a house with boys, a dog, and nobody wears shoes on the island. At least, she's not the only one to have a nickname, there's Beans, Too Bad, Slow Poke and others.

She rides along with the Diaper Gang, a bunch of boys who babysit for candy, and learns the secret family formula for diaper rash.

While in the Conch Republic, she learns about alligator pears (avocadoes), rum running, sponge fishing and most importantly, that she still has a Grandma. Prior to this, her Mom had told Turtle that her Grandma was dead. Oddly, the hard-shelled Turtle is one of the few people that Nana Philly actually likes. She also meets Key West's most famous denizen and advises him he should be writing for the funny papers.

"Turtle in Paradise" is a great historical Young Adult novel that readers of all ages will enjoy. The story's got more than one good line per page and will keep you reading all night.

Rebecca Kyle, July 2010

The Great Depression is always a quality place for novels--that tragic time seems to have so much story fodder. Here Holm dots the story of a girl and her unknown family in Key West with tidbits from her own family history.

Holm is a lovely writer who brings quirk and charm to Turtle's voice, and the little girl makes some keen and sweet observations. It's a character-based novel that relies on the day-to-day adventures of Turtle and her family and friends, and I found myself captivated by this old-time spirit of Key West.

It's a lovely little book that brings this period of time to life. I don't know if the characters or stories had enough to keep my devotion, but it's certainly a heartfelt, enjoyable read.

This book reminds me of sour apple candy - sweet, but with a bittersweet edge to it.

Jennifer L. Holm's depiction of a cynical little girl during the Great Depression reminded me of my own mother, who born in 1930, had the same dry wit and skepticism. Several times I laughed out loud at Turtle's matter of fact remarks. Any young reader will have fun following Turtle and her boy cousins on their summer adventures.

The book ends on a sour note even though Holm tries to save it with one of those, "when one door closes another opens," type of scenario. Still the ending does leave the door open for sequels, which would be a good thing. Good clean fun and imagination.

Have you ever been away from your mom? Well, eleven year old Turtle has. Turtle's mama is a housekeeper for rich Mrs. Budnick who doesn't like kids. Turtle gets sent to Key West, Florida where she stays with her Aunt Minnie and all of her relatives. While she's there, she meets some people her mama never told her about. Will she survive living with three boys? Read the book to find out.
I gave this four stars, why not? "Turtle in Paradise" I thought was good except for the ending. I think Jennifer Holm could have ended it better. I did like how it was really detailed. I also liked the amusing names like Slow Poke and Pork Chop. I liked how I could imagine this story. I liked how it had precise characters. I think you should read this book. This book was so good. I think I'm finally in paradise.
by Alyssa

Turtle in Paradise's greatest strength is its vibrant characters, beginning with the narrator, Turtle herself. Each person leaps off the pages with life and humor, it didn't surprise me that they were based on the author's own relatives. Even as they feel large and exaggerated in personality, they all possess a firm core of realism that I think readers will appreciate.

The setting of Key West is well developed by the novel, and one that interested me as a reader. The historical details were well woven into the book, it was educational without feeling forced at all.

The plot was middling. It was certainly rushed, particularly in the climax and ending. Disappointingly, its got the bones of a great story. It just wasn't written as well as it could have been, which would have made this book a strong contender for awards and longevity in the word of middle grades literature. As it is, it's a good read, even one I'd recommend for those interested in the great depression or the development of Florida, particularly Key West.

Eleven year old Turtle doesn't like kids 'cause they are nothing like Shirley Temple (and Turtle doesn't like HER either). See, Turtle's had some bad experiences with the children of her mother's various employers. No kid is nice to the housekeeper's kid.

When Mama's new employer Mrs. Budnick shares Turtle's low opinion of children and refuses to let Turtle stay in her house, Mama sends Turtle to Key West and the home of an aunt and far too many boy cousins none of whom Turtle's ever met. New environment, new culture, new family, new rules.

Her eleven-year-old cousin Beans (everyone has a nickname, so Turtle fits in THAT way) runs the Diaper Gang, a babysitting service with a secret weapon against diaper rash & they have a rule: no girls allowed. Turtle usually tags along anyway because despite the colorful locals (including a very familiar mustached author) there isn't much to do on the island.

Her mother may have Hollywood dreams, but turtle is down to earth. She views life as more like the story of the three little pigs: you just set up a new house & a big bad wolf comes to blow it down (Mama's not the best at picking men)...but Archie could be different...but the two of them are up in New Jersey--while Turtle's stuck in the mud and the heat.

Holm again mixes her family's history with a well told story (much like she did in "Penny from Heaven" in 2006). This one has all the local color you could want and rum runners and pirates and a heroine who's just the right mix of snarky and charming. A winner for fans of Holm or historical fiction.

(And now full disclosure: I read most of this while walking on my treadmill right next to a framed manuscript page from "Penny from Heaven." I have met Jenny Holm & she's just about the nicest person you'd ever want to meet...so I may not be entirely unbiased. However, I have never been a fan of historical fiction & I really did not want to put this down. Holm & Cushman are the only ones who do that to me consistently!)

PS to the publisher: this cover has nothing to do with the book--it's very misleading!

If you are looking for a Shirley-Temple-like story, Turtle in Paradise isn’t it. Childhood can be hard. Parents make mistakes. Children are cruel. Life isn’t fair.

Jennifer L. Holm wrote an excellent book explaining these hard truths in the life of an 11-year-old girl of the Great Depression. By combining family stories and popular entertainment of the 1930s, I think she got it right.

I sat down to start reading Turtle in Paradise and could not get up until I was finished with the book. This story is written in first person through a young girl named Turtle. This book takes place in 1935 during the depression when jobs and money were scarce. So when Turtle’s mother starts a new job housekeeping for a lady who does not allow kids, Turtle must go stay with relatives she has never met in Key West, Florida. Once Turtle arrives in Key West, she finds herself surrounded by strangers that quickly become something more. Through the journey, Turtle encounters many adventures such as finding her grandmother, tagging along with the diaper gang, working a day with her unknown father, and going on a treasure hunt. As Turtle becomes more outgoing and comfortable with the people around her, she discovers her life opening up in the most unexpected ways. I really enjoyed reading this book and I think it would be a great fit for students in grades 4-6. Young children will enjoy Turtle and her friends along with this book’s humor, adventures and heart. This book can be connected to discussions about life during the Great Depression and the cultural attributes of a community such as the ones found in Key West.

This book is written for the younger generation however I thought I would read this book before recommending it to my 10 year old boy. I really enjoyed this book. It was a quick read in which I finished it in one day. The main character was interesting and you really got to know her. And the dialog was funny - throughout the book. I really like to read about the depression era and this was the first time I have learned something about hows those days were for families living in Florida, not just the frontier. Two thumbs up!

When I first saw this was written by Jennifer Holm the bar was not very high. I had just read Sunny Side Up and I was disappointed because it was a comic strip and the plot was weak. So when I first opened it and saw it was an actual book the bar went up. This story has a good plot and it keeps you on your toes with a startling ending that you will not expect!

Charming novel set in Key West during the Great Depression. Turtle is a spunky girl with a positive attitude. Parents should be aware that there are some themes (Turtle's mother is unwed, and has never told her daughter who her father is) that may not be suitable for younger kids.

Huckleberry Finn has a female companion in Turtle.
Life in the depression just got more bearable with
mean Nana Philly and Beans, characters that ring true.
Sort of a sub-theme is: "most kids are rotten".
When Turtle's shoes are stolen off the front porch,
we know that Key West life is hard.
But there is treasure and sponge hunting to liven the
plot; a Dad found and a Dad lost;
a hurricane lived through and fortunes lost.
Turtle finds a home and a solid family life.

I must say from the beginning that I really enjoyed this book and have found myself repeatedly recommending it to my students. Turtle is a delightful girl with a realistic (and refreshing) outlook on life. Sure, she has had her share of hard knocks, but she is clever and witty enough to survive and make the best of things. She repeatedly outsmarts older kids and adults alike. The Depression- Era Key West setting makes a great background for this hilarious and heartwarming story. The ending was not what I expected, but it was exactly what Turtle needed. A great read.

Rad this story if:
*you love children's fiction
*you love historical fiction
*you love stories that take place in an island setting
*you love stories with a strong female protagonist

from my blog: [...]

Charming story of thr West Keys told by Turtle the title character. Visits life there in the 30's. I was immediately drawn into the story, told by Turtle in the first person. Lovely for tween or adult!

I loved this book that my grandson insisted I read. It is not in my normal science fiction genre so I read it because I didn't want to disappoint him. Well imagine my surprise when I couldn't put it down. It was a simple but very well written book that had warm and rich characters whose dialogue flowed flawlessly throughout the story. I wish more kids (and adults) would pick this book up and read it. They couldn't help but love it!

I was captivated by Turtle and her plucky personality in this outstanding historical fiction novel. As an adult, I learned SO much and I lived in FL for ten years! I would highly recommend this novel to fourth through seventh graders. The writing is beautiful, it has adventure, mystery, a love story, and family ties. What more could you want? I didn't want it to end.

The Depression-era Florida Keys setting and the believable, thoroughly likeable main character make for an enjoyable read. The problem is that the author spends the first two-thirds of the book developing these two elements of her story with a gently-paced, day-to-day style plot, then throws in a whirlwind of major plot twists in the last 50 pages. It felt a little off-balance. I liked the setting and characters so much that I wanted these new plot developments to be explored a little more fully, but it almost felt like the author had reached her page limit so she just had to wrap it up. So it's not a perfect book, but it's not a waste of time, either. Read it and see what you think!

Centered on a group of young boys called the Diaper Gang, who watch babies, and their girl cousin Turtle. Turtle's mother sends her to live with family in Key West, an alien world to the New Jersey girl. The only girl in the group, Turtle struggles to fit in while becoming embroiled in typical childhood adventures and emergencies.

Absolutely hilarious, well-written dialogue coincides perfectly with the one-of-a-kind Key West setting during a memorable (though for the wrong reasons) time period, all enwrapped in a bizzarre, but not completely outlandish plotline that will have you engrossed from start to finish. Easily one of the best newberry honor books I've read.