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becca_g_powell's review
5.0
Great kid's book. Literally the only thing I didn't like is that the foreshadowing was a bit heavy handed - there are a couple of big "surprises" that were revealed at the end, but for an adult reader, it was pretty obvious what the twist was going to be at the very first dropped clue. Might not be so clear for middle-graders, though.
blogginboutbooks's review
4.0
I enjoy Holm's books and this one is no exception. It's very atmospheric, bringing Key West alive in all its quirkiness (I had no idea!). The historic background also comes to life in a way that feels natural. Turtle and the other characters are warm, colorful, and interesting. Our heroine is the perfect blend of sweet and sassy. You can't not like her. She and her buddies speak and act like real kids, which is always a bonus since that's not always the case, even in middle grade novels. Plot-wise, TURTLE IN PARADISE is more episodic than focused, but that's okay—it was fun reading about all of Turtle's adventures. They kept me entertained. All in all, this is a quick, engrossing read that has heart as well as humor, adventure, historical details, etc. It's a fun, engaging book that kids and adults alike will enjoy.
brandypainter's review
2.0
Told in first person by the main character, Turtle, the prose is amusing and concise. It did seem a bit too sarcastic and cynical for a child but it was the Depression and her mother was the type to need her child to be mature, so it does fit the situation. Despite the amusing tone in which it was written I didn't enjoy it much at all. Reading of the antics of Turtle and her cousins reminded me of watching an episode of The Little Rascals, which I have always loathed. Then there was a reveal at the end that made little sense to me in comparison with the rest of the story and the resolution, if one could call it that, was abrupt and left me unfulfilled.
yungokssss's review
4.0
I enjoyed this book a lot. Which surprised me, really. After reading a lot of that YA trash, I sorta forgot what good books were all about. I thought this was an honest and amazingly told story.
What I loved about Turtle:
1.WE BOTH DON'T LIKE SHIRLEY TEMPLE! You know how hard it is to find someone like that? I love the story "A Little Princess". It's an amazing classic! So I bought the movie... In which Shirley Temple starred in. First thing first: I actually wasn't very educated on Miss Temple, but I know that I really didn't like the way she looked. Little curls and that snotty little face and that saccharine voice... *shivers* Never again. Anyway, the movie had me with my mouth open through most of it, and it wasn't in adoration, etc., or any of that crap. I HATED IT!!! That day, Miss Shirley had killed a small part of me, and I wasn't THAT ready to forgive her. That's why I really loved Turtle. She has good taste! O.o
2.Turtle isn't a little simpering girl and speaks her mind. Example from text: "I'm not sweet," I said. "I slugged Ronald Caruthers when he tried to throw my cat in the well, and I'd do it again."
and "Which lady?" I asked. "The ugly one or the pretty one?" I don't know - I just really loved Turtle. She wasn't snotty. At least not on purpose :) She just spoke her mind. And I loved watching her interactions with the characters. It was very easy to love her.
There was only one teeny tiny thing that I absolutely positively hated:
The story ended with Archie breaking Turtle's mom's heart, and Turtle's real dad getting HIS heart broken before when he found out Turtle's mom was married to Archie.
Yes, Bob (^), I understand your feelings, because mine are exactly the same. It was awesome how Turtle got to stay with her relatives in Florida, but WHY NO HAPPY ENDING??
In any case, I also enjoyed this book a lot because of Holm's writing style, so you can bet I'll be reading more of her books! :D
What I loved about Turtle:
1.WE BOTH DON'T LIKE SHIRLEY TEMPLE! You know how hard it is to find someone like that? I love the story "A Little Princess". It's an amazing classic! So I bought the movie... In which Shirley Temple starred in. First thing first: I actually wasn't very educated on Miss Temple, but I know that I really didn't like the way she looked. Little curls and that snotty little face and that saccharine voice... *shivers* Never again. Anyway, the movie had me with my mouth open through most of it, and it wasn't in adoration, etc., or any of that crap. I HATED IT!!! That day, Miss Shirley had killed a small part of me, and I wasn't THAT ready to forgive her. That's why I really loved Turtle. She has good taste! O.o
2.Turtle isn't a little simpering girl and speaks her mind. Example from text: "I'm not sweet," I said. "I slugged Ronald Caruthers when he tried to throw my cat in the well, and I'd do it again."
and "Which lady?" I asked. "The ugly one or the pretty one?" I don't know - I just really loved Turtle. She wasn't snotty. At least not on purpose :) She just spoke her mind. And I loved watching her interactions with the characters. It was very easy to love her.
There was only one teeny tiny thing that I absolutely positively hated:
The story ended with Archie breaking Turtle's mom's heart, and Turtle's real dad getting HIS heart broken before when he found out Turtle's mom was married to Archie.
Yes, Bob (^), I understand your feelings, because mine are exactly the same. It was awesome how Turtle got to stay with her relatives in Florida, but WHY NO HAPPY ENDING??
In any case, I also enjoyed this book a lot because of Holm's writing style, so you can bet I'll be reading more of her books! :D
andrea26's review
4.0
During the depression in Florida, girl's name is Turtle. Dropped off with obscure relative while mother finds work. Becomes part of the 'diaper gang' a group of friends that go around town with a wagon looking after babies.
beths0103's review
5.0
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 a falling out with her mother.
As Turtle gets to know the family she's never met, she comes to grow an affection for them - even her cousin Beans who does not appreciate having to give up his room for this surprise familial intruder.
While Turtle in Paradise is not a book with an exciting story arc and/or lots of edge-of-your-seat drama, there is a quiet beauty to it. It's one of those books where you just want to sit down on the porch swing with a glass of lemonade and visit with the characters for a while - and it is an additional reminder as to why I will forever prefer character-driven novels to plot-driven ones. In Turtle in Paradise, Jennifer Holm weaves family stories into something magical. I highly recommend reading the author's note at the end. It's a great way to show students and aspiring writers alike how to take inspiration from all around you.
I finished the audiobook of Turtle in Paradise in less than 24 hours while I was recovering from LASIK surgery thanks in part to the soothing voice of the narrator, Becca Battoe. It's one of those audiobooks that makes you enjoy the listening experience just as much, if not more so than than the reading experience.
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 a falling out with her mother.
As Turtle gets to know the family she's never met, she comes to grow an affection for them - even her cousin Beans who does not appreciate having to give up his room for this surprise familial intruder.
While Turtle in Paradise is not a book with an exciting story arc and/or lots of edge-of-your-seat drama, there is a quiet beauty to it. It's one of those books where you just want to sit down on the porch swing with a glass of lemonade and visit with the characters for a while - and it is an additional reminder as to why I will forever prefer character-driven novels to plot-driven ones. In Turtle in Paradise, Jennifer Holm weaves family stories into something magical. I highly recommend reading the author's note at the end. It's a great way to show students and aspiring writers alike how to take inspiration from all around you.
I finished the audiobook of Turtle in Paradise in less than 24 hours while I was recovering from LASIK surgery thanks in part to the soothing voice of the narrator, Becca Battoe. It's one of those audiobooks that makes you enjoy the listening experience just as much, if not more so than than the reading experience.
alexandradk3's review
4.0
Another great selection from the Arrow Brave Writer! Celeste and I loved this one.
librariandest's review
4.0
A really cute story loosely based on the author's own family history in 1935 Key West, Florida. There's a rag tag group of boys called the Diaper Gang (they're like a dirty male babysitters' club), a Shirley Temple-hating smart-mouthed narrator, lots of wonky nicknames (Turtle, Pork Chop, Pudding, Too Bad, Killie the Horse, etc, etc), and a hunt for pirate treasure! What more could you want?
The story is mostly about a New Jersey girl adapting to life with her rapscallion Southern relatives. Turtle's the kind of girl who's more responsible than her parent, and she's always rolling her eyes at the world. I liked her as a narrator because she's shrewd (though not, as we see, immune to cons). Of course, her relatives worm their way into her heart (and the readers' hearts) and the story is ultimately about the importance of family and belonging.
I only wish Jennifer Holm hadn't wrapped it all up so suddenly. The ending to me felt like the author saying, "Well, we've all seen this kind of ending before, so I'm going to make it quick." I thought the ending was actually a little shocking, and I wish she'd given it a few more pages at least.
The story is mostly about a New Jersey girl adapting to life with her rapscallion Southern relatives. Turtle's the kind of girl who's more responsible than her parent, and she's always rolling her eyes at the world. I liked her as a narrator because she's shrewd (though not, as we see, immune to cons). Of course, her relatives worm their way into her heart (and the readers' hearts) and the story is ultimately about the importance of family and belonging.
I only wish Jennifer Holm hadn't wrapped it all up so suddenly. The ending to me felt like the author saying, "Well, we've all seen this kind of ending before, so I'm going to make it quick." I thought the ending was actually a little shocking, and I wish she'd given it a few more pages at least.