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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This book is so good! I think Shirly Temple is awesome though, and Turtle definetly dosen't think that. :(

I liked this book but I think it could have been better.

Turtle in paradise is a very good book. It is about a girl named Turtle. Her mom is a house keeper. When they go to live at a ladys house that they work for the lady makes Turtle leave. Her mom has to work to earn more money so she is forced to go to her aunts house.

I love this amazingly detailed book by Jennifer L. Holms! I have read other books by this author such as Penny From Heaven so, I knew from the moment that I picked it up that it would be fantastic. It is about an 11 year old girl who moves in with her Aunt and cousins. During her stay, she meets her Grandmother who Turtle's mom said was dead. Read this Newbery Honor book to find out more!

i didnt really like this book it was confuseing and boring to me. I couldnt stay focoused on it. but other people say its good.

amazing! a girl in the great deppression finds her granmother her mom said was dead as a doornail!for history lovers!

turtles mom is a maid, moving from house to house in the great deppresion, since one of her moms bosses does not like children, so she has to go to "paradise"

placed in the great depresion, turtles life is full of twisted fun, being the first girl to join the diaper gang, meeting the grandmother she never thought she had, and most of all getting stranded on a island, a great book for 9 and up.