Turtle in Paradise
 | |
| Author | Jennifer L. Holm |
|---|---|
Publication date | 27 December 2011 |
| Media type | paperback |
| Awards | 2010 Newbery Honor Book |
| ISBN | 9780375836909 |
Turtle in Paradise is a 2010 Newbery Honor Book by Jennifer L. Holm.[1] The book also won the Golden Kite Award. The main character, Turtle, is eleven years old and lives in Key West, Florida during the Great Depression.[2]
Plot
Turtle is an eleven-year-old girl who is sent to live with her aunt and cousins in Key West, Florida because Turtle's mother's boss refuses to let Turtle stay in her house, including her cat, Smokey. When Turtle first arrives, her Aunt Minnie is distraught because she didn't receive her sister's letter about Turtle coming and living with her. Turtle's cousins, Beans the eldest gives a cold welcome to Turtle; Kermit has a heart-defect and must take naps in the middle of the day and must not partake in overwhelming activities such as running and Buddy the youngest is prone to having accidents in his pants. Aunt Minnie eventually lets Turtle stay, but takes residence in Beans' room, causing him to hate her more.
The boys are known as the Diaper Gang in the town because they care for babies, along with their friend Pork-Chop and Ira have a 'secret formula' for baby butts which turns out to be Cornstarch. Turtle gets hired by a fisherman Slow Poke, who turns out to be the father her mother didn't really talk about, and she also meets her grandmother, who had an argument with Turtle's mother, Sadie Belle, making Sadie Belle tell Turtle that her grandmother was dead. Turtle's mother, Sadie Belle is dating a salesman named Archie and she is planning to marry him and move into a suburban house, and to do so she saves up from her job as a maid in rich people's homes. Turtle later learns a rumor of buried pirate treasure somewhere in the Keys and hopes to find it and use it to purchase a house for her mother. She and the Diaper Gang steal a boat and head out to the Keys to find it. They find the treasure, but forget to anchor the boat and it floats off, leaving them stranded. Soon, there is a hurricane, during which, the kids hide inside an old shack. They are later rescued by Slow Poke and the rest of the town. Buddy starts getting worried about his father until he learns that they saved him and that the hurricane was one of the dangerous hurricanes of the century. Sadie Belle and Archie, arrive in Key West, announcing that they are married. However, Archie soon steals the money and leaves for Cuba. Turtle stays in Key West with the rest of her family. Aunt Minnie allows Turtle and Sadie Belle to stay with them until they get a house Beans allows Turtle to stay in his room, which Turtle appreciates. Turtle in Paradise takes place during The Great Depression in 1935.
References
- ^ "2011 Newbery Medal and Honor Books". Association for Library Service to Children. Retrieved 31 January 2011.
- ^ "jenniferholm.com". Retrieved 31 January 2011.
External links
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