Turtle in Paradise

Holm, J. (2010). Turtle in Paradise. New York: Random House. 

Set during the depression, a story about a young girl, named Turtle, who is sent to live with her aunt in the Florida keys.  Throughout the story Turtle is insistent that kids are worse than adults, kids are no-good and don’t get what they deserve.  However, through Holm’s writing, it is clear that it is the adults in the story who aren’t always what they seem and perhaps could do with a little more kindness.  This is a story about growing up during the depression and being willing to do just about anything to make a nickel, including a band of boys who run the diaper club and Turtle who finds work on a sponging boat.  The story evolves into an adventure, resulting in Turtle’s questioning all she knows and loves and making a strengthening conclusion.  (Grade 3 and up).