TURTLE IN PARADISE

By: Jennifer L. Holm

Image Credit: http://d.gr-assets.com/books/1320552830l/6871737.jpg

1. Bibliography:
Holm, Jennifer L. TURTLE IN PARADISE. New York: Random House, 2010. Print. ISBN: 9780329839017

2. Plot Summary
TURTLE IN PARADISE is a historical fiction novel about a young girl during the Great Depression in 1935. Turtle is forced to move to Key West to live with relatives while her mother takes a job as a housekeeper for a couple that didn't like children. While in Key West, Turtle becomes friends with her cousins who run the "Diaper Gang."  After the children go on a treasure hunt and end up missing for a few days, Turtle learns that family is the most important thing in life.

3. Critical Analysis
The story is set in 1935 during the Great Depression. Many of the families faced various struggles during this time including money. This is true to the time of the Great Depression. The story is told from Turtle' perspective with vivid details of growing up during the Great Depression. Many of the children in the story do not wear shoes and go on wild adventures through town. The author gives enough detail to help the reader understand life during this time period, but does not overwhelmed the reader with great details. "There's a fella selling live flopping fish right on the dock and another one who's unloading some scary-looking cargo: dead sharks." The children are left to wonder the streets on their own each day and even go on a treasure hunt after Turtle finds a map in a piano at her grandmother's house. Children will enjoy reading this story for the dialogue and adventure.

From the author's notes at the end of the book, we learn that TURTLE IN PARADISE is based on family history of Holm's great-grandmother. The author includes pictures of the neighborhood where the book was set, important buildings of the time period, and a picture of Shirley Temple.  Turtle learns that not everyone will have a Shirley Temple ending to their story. Holm includes additional resources that she consulted for historical information as well as websites.

4.  Review Excerpts
~2011 Newbery Honor

~SCHOOL LIBRARY JOURNAL 2010: "This richly detailed novel was inspired by Holm's great-grandmother's stories. Readers who enjoy melodic, humorous tales of the past won't want to miss it."

~HORN BOOK MAGAZINE 2010: "The episodic novel includes details, events,
and figures from history (including those from Holm's own family), and Turtle's narrative is peppered with references from the time, as she compares herself to Little Orphan Annie and gladly avoids going to a Shirley Temple movie. Modern-day readers will have no trouble relating to Turtle, though, and the fast-moving plot will keep them interested to the end."

5. Connections
~Have students bring in old family photos and write their own story of history while including themselves as the main character.

~Have students research more about Key West during the Great Depression using the websites listed in the author's notes.

Other books by Jennifer L. Holm
PENNY FROM HEAVEN
THE CREEK
BABYMOUSE Series