I have always imagined that Paradise will be a kind of library ~ Jorge Luis Borges



Sunday, July 24, 2011

Turtle in Paradise

Holm, Jennifer L.  (2010).  Turtle in paradise.  New York:  Random House Children's Books.
This book received the Newbery Award and is a Bluebonnet Award Nominee.

Set during the Depression in Key West, Turtle is a girl that has had to grow up quickly because her mom sees everything through rose-colored glasses.  Turtle is sent to live with her aunt in Key West while her mom works as a housekeeper for a woman that does not like children.  Turtle lives with three male cousins, Kermit, Beans, and Buddy that add quite a bit of humor to this novel.  Turtle learns about a grandmother she never knew she had and was able to crack the grandmother's hard exterior.  Turtle and her cousins go on a treasure hunt adventure and survive a devastating hurricane. 

Turtle, the main character, is a sassy, witty, sarcastic, smart, patient, and caring girl.  The author, Jennifer Holm, has created a spirited character that comes to life from the pages.  Turtle in Paradise had me smiling and laughing out loud throughout this book.  I love how Turtle is not the typical teenage character.  Turtle does not create a lot of drama, which many teenagers do, and is a girl that can "keep up," and often surpasses, with the boys.  I remember hanging out with a group of kids all day long and keeping ourselves busy.  We didn't sit at home watching television or playing on the computer like kids do nowadays.  We stayed out until the streetlights came on.  That was our cue to go home.  This book doesn't have the typical happy ending you think it's going to have; however, it has the ending that it's supposed to have and leaves you smiling.  Absolutely loved this book!

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