TURTLE IN PARADISE

Turtle in Paradise

a. Bibliographic Data: Holm, Jennifer. TURTLE IN PARADISE. Ill. by Matthew Holm. Random House Children’s Books, 2010. ISBN: 9780375836909.

b. Plot Summary:

            TURTLE IN PARADISE is an exciting book that puts the reader right into the 1930’s. Set in the time of the Great Depression, Holms shares life’s many heartbreaks, adventures, and new beginnings through the eyes of an 11-year-old girl. Turtle is a tough girl, much like Little Orphan Annie and nothing like little Shirley Temple. Life was going okay for Turtle in New Jersey, despite the many men in and out of mama’s life, until her mom’s new housekeeping job didn’t allow for children to be around.  As a result, she was sent down to Key West, Florida to live with her Aunt Minnie, seeing hard times get harder. Turtle becomes pals with the neighborhood kids and her cousins, all of which have a silly nickname and are a part of the Diaper Gang. As this new life of chores, shoe stealers, treasure maps, and witty remarks becomes the norm, she seeks to find out more information about who she is (including finding out she had a living grandmother). In the midst of this new life, she finds more than she could have imagined.

c. Critical Analysis:  

            TURTLE IN PARADISE starts quite slow in the beginning and then flies by near the end with jam-packed action in the last few chapters. I listened to this book through a CD, which brought the book to life, especially with the vivid scenery descriptions and narrator accents that fit the time. Turtle, named for her “hard shell” on the outside, has a soft spot for only one person: her mama. Turtle and her mom couldn’t be more opposite, one a dream and the other a realist. “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.”

            In her new, not-so-tidy home, Turtle finds herself in the company of many young boys, who are full of adventure and curiosity. She seems to be the most mature of the gang, helping out with chores, keeping the boys in check, and even offering to help feed her grandmother for lunch every day. The characters in this book, differing in ages, are very relatable to the children of this day and age. The boys’ nicknames also add quite a bit of humor to the story with names such as Beans, Pork Chop, Buddy, Kermit, Slow Poke, etc.

            Throughout the entire book, Turtle parallels her life experiences with those of two famous female children that were popular in that time period, one of which she openly despises. Turtle frequently relates her life to Little Orphan Annie’s, from having a pet as a companion to feeling like an orphan without a family to wishing for a Daddy Warbucks to come along (which almost happened). She thinks lowly of Shirley Temple on the other hand, making it obvious to those around her through her comments and attitude, even though she secretly loves her song On the Good Ship Lollipop and sings it often. 

              Holm consistently shows setting and plot through Turtles narration, the kids on the street, and Turtle's cousins, who are all continuously responding to situations aligned with that time period: from the ‘Shadow’ on the radio, to sponging in the ocean, to pirates, to Spanish influence from Cuba, to shoeless street kids. The style of writing that Holm’s uses is consistent and well written. Instead of explicitly giving every detail as an explanation, she allows Turtle’s narration to tell the story through emotion, expression, and detail.

            Although the ending can be quite shocking to a younger mind, there is still a warm part to the ending, which reveals a great deal about the theme and meaning behind the book, “Maybe the real treasure has been right here on curry lane the whole time. People who love mama and me. A home.” 

d. Reviews:
"Sweet, funny and superb." –Kirkus Reviews

"Just the right mixture of knowingness and hope . . . a hilarious blend of family drama seasoned with a dollop of adventure." -Booklist

"This richly detailed novel was inspired by Holm’s great-grandmother’s stories. Readers who enjoy melodic, humorous tales of the past won’t want to miss it." –School Library Journal

“Holm is relentless in pushing her young character to the edge, with apparent triumph quickly followed by heartbreak. Breathe, and there's reconciliation, and picture-perfect hope dawning once more.” –Children’s Literature

“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.” –Publishers Weekly

Awards/ Honors

Scott O'Dell Award for Historical Fiction

John Newbery Medal 2011

Golden Kite Award for Fiction 2011

ALA-ALSC Children’s Notable Book

IRA Children's Choices 2011

Children's Book Committee Bank Street College of Education Children's Choices

     - Best Books of 2011, Historical Fiction

Booklist 2010 Editor’s Choice

Kirkus Reviews 2010 Best Children’s Books

e. Connections:

The students could do a book trailer for this book!

Students could compare the life of Annie the Orphan with the life of Shirley Temple, or even do a quick biography on the two (even though one is a character).

At the end of the book, Turtle finds a treasure map that leads the kids to treasure. This would be a fun time to give students the chance to follow a map of their classroom in order to find “treasure.” They could also make maps for one another!

The students should have a discussion about why the main character’s name is Turtle (hard shell/soft shell vs. emotions).

What about the other kids? How did they get their nicknames?

Students can compare New Jersey to Key West, Florida. This would be a good chance to look at maps and note just how far apart the locations are. They could discuss/ write about what it would be like to pick up and move to a brand new place with just a pet and a suitcase, not knowing for how long and not being able to contact their mom.

The students can reflect on the ending of the book. Have they ever been deceived, or tricked? Has anyone ever “pulled a fast one on them?”

Sponging was mentioned for a small portion of the book but it was something that people did to make a living. They can research what it means to sponge, the impact this had on the environment, what the sponges were used for, etc. 

http://www.keyshistory.org/shelf-sponge.html