Book Review - Turtle in Paradise

1. Bibliography

Holm, Jennifer L. 2010. Turtle in Paradise. New York: Random House. ISBN:  978-0-375-83688-6.
2. Plot Summary
Eleven year old Turtle is sent to live with her aunt during the great depression.  During a time when people took any kind of work they could find, Turtle's mother got a job as a housekeeper working for a woman who did not like children.  Turtle's time with her cousins is challenging and adventurous. 
3. Critical Analysis
"Everyone thinks children are sweet as Necco Wafers, but I've lived long enough to know the truth: kids are rotten." From the beginning of this adventurous tale to the end, Jennifer L. Holm engages readers of every age. The characters are completely believable.  Turtle, an eleven year old girl, narrates the story and draws the reader in through the entire tale.  Her cousins, all boys, experience fun and adventure that even children living some eighty years later can think, "they seem like us!" The tone of the story is sometimes somber, portraying the hardships of the Great Depression, but it is frequently punctuated with humor and fun. 
Many children can relate to moving from one city to another so Turtle's move from Pennsylvania to Florida is an obviously huge adjustment for her.  The story's main setting, the Florida Keys, is so intriguing and is presented in such a way that even someone who has not lived near a beach can relate. Though some of the references are exclusive to the time, they are presented in such an authentic manner that the reader knows and understands what is being referred to. This authentic historic fiction is a very enjoyable work and captures the hearts of readers.

4. Review Excerpts
2010 Booklist starred: "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."
2010: Horn Book Starred:  "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."
2010 Texas Bluebonnet Award Nominee
5. Connections
Research the 1930s to gain knowledge about something specific about the time such as entertainment, popular foods, or other areas of interest to students and compare them to current trends.
Read other books from the same time period such as The Gawgon and the Boy by Lloyd Alexander. Compare the stories and the writing styles of the two authors.
Write a poem or story about going to a beach.  Conduct research or read other texts in order to gain more information about a beach, if needed.