Turtle in Paradise

Turtle in Paradise

By Jennifer L. Holm

54 ratings 60 reviews 92 followers
Interest LevelReading LevelReading A-ZATOSWord Count
Grades 4 - 8Grades 2 - 8V3.730474
In Jennifer L. Holm's New York Times bestselling, Newbery Honor winning middle grade historical fiction novel, life isn't like the movies. But then again, 11-year-old Turtle is no Shirley Temple

She's smart and tough and has seen enough of the world not to expect a Hollywood ending. After all, it's 1935 and jobs and money and sometimes even dreams are scarce. So when Turtle's mama gets a job housekeeping for a lady who doesn't like kids, Turtle says goodbye without a tear and heads off to Key West, Florida to live with relatives she's never met. Florida's like nothing Turtle's ever seen before though. It's hot and strange, full of rag tag boy cousins, family secrets, scams, and even buried pirate treasure! Before she knows what's happened, Turtle finds herself coming out of the shell she's spent her life building, and as she does, her world opens up in the most unexpected ways. Filled with adventure, humor and heart, Turtle in Paradise is an instant classic both boys and girls with love.

Includes an Author's Note with photographs and further background on the Great Depression, as well as additional resources and websites.

Starred Review, Kirkus Reviews:
"Sweet, funny and superb."

Starred Review, Booklist:
"Just the right mixture of knowingness and hope . . . a hilarious blend of family drama seasoned with a dollop of adventure."
Publisher: Yearling
Published on 1/11/2012
Binding: Paperback

Book Reviews (59)

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I love this book!

So far, this book is pretty good. It’s about a girl named Turtle, who’s living in 1935, at the Great Depression, and is sent to live with her cousins in Key West by herself. She’s tough, and doesn’t back down from a challenge. But Key West is nothing she expected it to be. I’m not finished reading about what she does there, but I’m sure it’ll be great! :)

Awesome cat Awesome cat

This book is awesome! It has comedy, drama, and sadness.

Really Good!

envirogirl envirogirl

Turtles In Paradise by Jennifer L Holm is about a girl who gets sent to live with her mom's sister in Key West because her mom is a cleaning lady and her mom’s boss does not like kids. Turtle, the main character, thinks kids are bad even though she is a kid. I know this because in the first chapter she said, “some kids are really nasty.” Turtle was expecting Key West to be shiny and new but it turns out to be stinky and run down. The main characters in this book are Bean, Aunt Minnie, Kermit, Turtle, Buddy, Pork Chop and Slow Poke. Turtle is the central character. When she moved to Key West she had many adventures. They began when she made friends with her cousins. Then she started to bring her grandmother who her mom said was dead lunch. Finally she found a treasure map and went to find the treasure. At the end of the book she realizes even though Key West is not the prettiest place in the world their are some very nice people there which is all that matters. My opinion on the book is that it is just ok. I think that it is average because the book is pretty choppy. What I mean by choppy is that the events happened without being connected with any of the events that come before. For example, Turtle’s Aunt Minnie made her get rid of her cat and then she found a treasure map in her grandmother's piano all within a short time. I think a good part of this book is that you don’t really know what is going to happen next. So, what is good about it is also what is bad. I also like this book because it is the perfect size. It was not too long so you don’t get bored reading but not too short that it ended without a good ending. I give this book 3.5 out of 5 stars.

This book is a amazing book. you should read it so it was about a girl that only lives with her mother turtle has no idea who her father is. her mom works for rich people who are very mean all the houses. she has been to everyone is very mean to turtle so then she has to move to her ants house that all boys live in she has never lived in a all boy house before so she has to face a hole summer with boys when she is at her ants house she sees two boys playing marbles so then she is greeted in side very meanly so find out what happens to turtles big adventure so read this book!!!!!!!!!!!😊😊😊

This bookish very sweet its about a girl named turtle who gos to spend the summer with her aunt and crazy cousins she starts off hating it but then she loves it she get stranded on a island and find a lot of money but her moms boyfriend steels it all. This book is pretty funny because turtle is very sassy and fun. I recommend this book to everyone.

awesome book, I want to read this book again!!!!😊😊😊

I was okay I guess.

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