Week 6: Turtle in Paradise

Book Cover Image:

Book Summary:

Turtle is the main character in this coming of age book. She gets her name from hiding behind a shell, like a turtle, and not letting many people in. She does not like children and thinks they are basically rotten. She learned how to keep people at arms length because her mom is never able to have and hold onto any relationships. She is always looking for Mr. Right. Turtle is sent to spend some time with relatives she hardly knows and ends up learning how to create friendships. She also learns a lot about growing up and standing on her own two feet. Even though this is a learning trip for her, she does have some scary and exciting adventures including treasure hunts and finding out about long, lost relatives she never knew she had. It takes place during the Great Depression era, so there are many references to olden times and old Hollywood, but children of this modern era can still relate to many situations. This Newbery Honor book will surely entertain children, especially grades 3-6.

APA Reference:

Holm, J. L. (2010). Turtle in paradise. New York, NY: Random House. 

My Impressions:

I really like this book and how it addresses Turtle’s psychological well-being, in a little less serious manner. She begins the book being closed off to most relationships because she and her mother have had so many disappointments with them in the past. Her mom, however, keeps on trying to find the perfect man. Turtle, on the other hand, keeps herself closed off, at least until she moves to be with her cousins. While in Florida, Turtle learns to open up a little more. She learns to be more responsible. I like the surprises the author has for her when she meets her grandma and when she discovers another very important long, lost relative. When the book ends with her mom coming to get her and them both finding happiness in the arms of family and hopefully, a new nuclear family, I was very satisfied. I felt so sorry for her having to be on her own and never really being able to experience the family she surely has always wanted. Even though this story was set back in the 30’s, I think children of today can relate to the issues single parents have and issues we all have with our own extended family. In the end, though, they are family. I think that theme will resonate and be a positive message for elementary aged students.

  

Professional Review:

“Eleven-year-old Turtle is not one to suffer fools gladly. And she runs into a lot of fools, especially the no-goods her starry-eyed mother meets. So it's a tough little Turtle who arrives in Key West in June of 1935. She's been sent to Florida to stay with relatives because her mother's latest housekeeping job doesn't allow children. Unfortunately, Mama has neglected to tell Aunt Minnie she's coming, and Turtle gets the stink eye from cousins with monikers like Buddy and Beans. As Turtle soon learns, everything is different in Key West, from the fruit hanging on trees to the scorpions in nightgowns to the ways kids earn money. She can't be part of her cousins' Diaper Gang (no girls allowed), which takes care of fussy babies, but when she finds a treasure map, she hopes she'll be on Easy Street like Little Orphan Annie. Holm uses family stories as the basis for this tale, part romp, part steely-eyed look at the Depression era. Reminiscent of Addie in the movie Paper Moon, 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. The many references to 1930s entertainments (Terry and the Pirates, Shirley Temple) will mostly go over kids' heads, but they'll get how much comics and movies meant to a population desperate for smiles. An author's note (with photos) shows Holm's family close-up.”

Review Reference:

Cooper, I. (2010, April 15). [Review of the book Turtle in paradise, by J. L. Holm]. Booklist,

            106(16), 60. Retrieved from http://www.booklistonline.com/

Library Uses:

Focus ages: grades 3-6

This book would be a good addition to a “Summer is Coming” themed display. The librarian can display it a right after spring break so the students have a chance to check it out, along with other themed books, before school is out.

This book would be a fun read aloud and summer collage inspiration. The teacher and librarian could take turns reading the book over time and when completed, the students can create a collage of summertime pictures and trinkets.