"Turtle in Paradise" by Jennifer Holm

Citation:

Holm, Jennifer. Turtle in Paradise. New York: Random House, 2010.

ISBN: 9780375836886

Plot Summary:

Turtle's mother takes a house-keeping job which prevents her to keep Turtle with her.  As a result, Turtle is sent to live her grandmother in Key West, "Paradise" as her mother recalls it.  Turtle is less than enamored with the place and must adjust to the new life and new family members she meets. After finding a treasure map, Turtle begins the search for a way to get a home for her and her mother.  She finds that Key West isn't so bad after all and this once tough girl begins to open herself up to new possibilities of paradise.

Critical Analysis:

Holm's main character, Turtle, is a strong lead.  Her tough exterior at the age of 11 lends to the idea that she has had a less than flowery childhood.  The novel upholds the idea that everything changes-- including, and especially, people.

Holm creates a strong setting of both the physical location and time period.  Cultural references are strong throughout.  These help add to the authenticity of the novel as it is read.  The Great Depression was a tough time for all.  This is stressed by the fact that Turtle’s mother takes a job that forces her to relocate her daughter.  Jobs were hard to come by and rarely passed up; Turtle’s relocation is an excellent way for Holm to iterate the troubles of the Depression to young readers.
Holm writes the novel by inspiration of her grandmother’s experiences.  In this instance, her grandmother is a primary source of information.  Holm includes references, resources, and websites for more information in the appendix.  These listings all serve to bolster the validity of her historical fiction

Review Excerpts:

Publisher's Weekly: "Two-time Newbery Honor author Holm again crafts a winning heroine who, despite her hardened exterior, gradually warms to her eccentric family members, including her unruly cousins and waspish grandmother (who Turtle thought was dead). Infused with period pop culture references, a strong sense of place, and the unique traditions and culture of Key West natives (aka “Conchs”), this humorous adventure effectively portrays Turtle as caught between her mother’s Hollywood-inspired dreams and the very real family and geography that offer a different kind of paradise."

BookList: "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."

Connections:

*Bring the setting to life for children by bringing in Conch shells and ask them to think of an item that would best represent their home and/or personal "Paradise".

*Explore the Great Depression with a nonfiction pairing:

Children of the Great Depression by Russell Freedman

ISBN: 9780618446308