I read this historical novel set in Key West (year: 1935) with my class and my daughter. Everyone LOVED the book! Turtle had just enough 'snap' in her to make her relatable and funny. You even fall in love with her rotten band of cousins. I thought it was interesting how many of my students had never seen Annie or Shirley Temple. We had access to both through YouTube . . . you can even listen to the old Annie radio shows as there were many references to these two icons throughout the book. The s...

My 11yo son and I read this book together for the school parent/child book club. I give it 4 stars because it's age appropriate, entertaining, a bit educational on the history of Key West, and generally an interesting read. I'm not sure my son would rate it as highly. He loved the book throughout until we read the last chapter. The last chapter does kind of spring an unraveling of the plot on an unsuspecting child reader (hint: adult readers will probably see it coming). My son has been ranting

4 stars! I'm reading a lot more middle grade books now for professional development, and since I had read Full of Beans and loved it a few years back, I thought I should read the book that came before it. I love this Key West setting with a group of kids in the 1930's. Turtle is disillusioned by things most kids enjoy, she doesn't like Shirley Temple and she knows she's smarter than most people, adults included. When Turtle's mother gets a new job with a woman who doesn't like kids, she's sent

Read this with my daughter for the Great Reads program for our library. Really fun, I liked Betsy Bird's description of "Paper Moon meets Little Rascals," which just about sums it up! It was so fascinating to read about life in Key West, real old Key West, during the Depression, and I liked all the characters. My only complaint is that it was so short! I would have liked to have gotten to know Turtle better, and her enormous family. Everything happened so fast at the end!

When her mother gets a new job as a housekeeper for a woman who doesn't like children, Turtle must move to Key West to live with her aunt and uncle while her mother waits for her dreamer of a boyfriend to pop the question so they can finally be a family.In the meantime, Turtle adjusts to life with her relatives in Key West which includes a band of raucous boy cousins who call themselves The Diaper Gang (because they, ironically, know how to soothe fussy babies) and the surly grandmother who had

I think this is a really good book. The character Turtle connects to me because we both sometimes hide in a shell and push away the people trying to help us. Turtle's story tells me to get out of my comfort zone and do things that challenge me.

Newbery Honor BookFelt a bit forced and some things didn't ring true, but the notes at the were very interesting/illuminating

Turtle has to leave her hometown to live with her aunt in Key West, because her mother is a maid and her boss won't allow children to stay with her. Turtle is pretty anxious about this move initially, because Key West is entirely different than what she's used to. Plus, there are her male cousins who are spunky and outgoing and she is surrounded by family members that she has never met. There are secrets surrounding her family and fun adventures around every corner. Turtle knows that there's no

With lines like, "But I'm not lucky as an orphan," Turtle in Paradise packs a lot of punch into a short, sweet story. Jennifer Holm is a master at making each and every sentence count. Once you begin reading Turtle's story you won't want to stop.When her Mom takes a domestic job that doesn't allow kids, eleven-year-old Turtle is sent to live with relatives she's never met in Key West. It's 1935, and jobs are scarce. Everyone we meet is feeling the hurt of the Great Depression in one way or anoth...

I listened to this book last week. What a sweet story set during the Great Depression. It’s hard to believe what a hardship that time was on everyone, and how much kids learned to survive. In this, we meet the spunky and very together 11 year old Turtle whose mother has sent her to Florida to live with her aunt, who already has three boys and an absent husband who is absent because the job he found is so far away. Turtle’s mother has a good job as a housekeeper, but her employer unfortunately do...

Turtle in Paradise is just the kind of book I love to read best. Sweet and clean, well-crafted, beautiful, with a host of characters I wish I knew, and an open-armed family at the end. It claimed Newbery honors this year. Turtle grew up in New Jersey with her single mother. She’s the steady one in the family. “I think the color of a person’s eyes says a lot about them. Mama has soft blue eyes, and all she sees is kittens and roses. My eyes are gray as soot, and I see things for what they are.” W...

A beautiful book that highlights The Florida Keys during the depression. If you read Turtle in Paradise, be sure to read the author notes at the end. They add a great deal to the history behind the story.

A book that is sour yet undeniably sweet.Set in the Great Depression, this novel tells the story of a pessimistic girl who’s separated from her mama and goes to live with her relatives in Key West Florida—a place filled with alligator pears, humor, and maybe a little pirate treasure. ;) I loved the unique and hilarious voice of Turtle, along with the quirky cast of characters. I appreciated the little facts that made the setting come alive (and the many Shirley Temple references made my vintage

I have had Jennifer L. Holm’s 2011 Newbery Honour winning Turtle in Paradise on my to-read list for years, but I guess I just never got around to actually reading it. And perhaps this was in fact my reading instincts telling me to tread prudently, lightly, and to equally be more than a trifle worried. For yes indeed, when I started reading Turtle in Paradise late last night, I very quickly began to become majorly textually furious and massively frustrated regarding how lacking in particular Jenn...

Spending so much of my time reading epic fantasy tomes, I rarely complain that I wish a book was longer, but that is how I felt about Turtle in Paradise.The dramatic tension and emotional moments seemed crammed into the last 30 pages of the book and it left little time for readers to react or assimilate what was happening.The writing is great, though, and I think young readers will enjoy Turtle and her friends.

I'm a bit mixed on if I think this book was Newbery Honor worthy. On one hand I really enjoyed it, the storyline is great, and the author weaves together a lovely plot. On the other, I thought there was a lot that wasn't developed and the book wrapped up too quickly. The end of the book felt much different than the beginning.The setting of 1930's Key West is a unique one-I didn't know much about Key West during this time, so I learned a bit from this book. But while this is a historical novel, i...

I wanted very much to like this book, but I think ultimately it just isn't written in a style I am drawn to so I stopped after about five chapters. (Too many other books calling my name!) I wanted more descriptions and to feel closer to the characters' emotions. And I felt the historical details (like the Little Orphan Annie comics, etc.) were placed in too obvious a way. I do think it's worth a try as I'm sure many would like this style and the story seems interesting. It's a place and era I wo...

Turtle In Paradise Book ReviewFor the second time reading this book, I felt like I was reading a brand new book (maybe because the first time I read it was in 5th grade). I noticed the drastic change I felt when reading this book, compared to last time. It probably is because I have improved and grown as a reader, so I have read more carefully and intensely.One thing that stands out to me is the personality of Turtle. Even though she just got to a new place, she has already adapted to the place....

This gave very little flavor of the 1930s. It seemed much too modern. Everything supposedly "old" felt forced, not authentic (references to radio, movies, etc.). Yes, I understand that the author's family has ties to the area, but in spite of this the book had an artificial feel. The story seemed like something from a TV movie. So much of it was predictable. The dumb nicknames for everyone did not help. I felt the babysitting business was overplayed, and there was way too much discussion of diap...

Another great book! Good sequel to Full of Beans...Holm is a great author. Didn’t like the end though, felt like a plot device.