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A review by mat_tobin
Turtle in Paradise by Jennifer L. Holm
4.0
Inspired by her Conch great-grandmother, who emigrated to Key West in the late 1800s, Holm's Newbery Honor book takes place during the Great Depression as seen through the eyes of a very keen-minded and sharp Turtle whose mother is forced to send her only daughter to live with her sister and nephews whilst she works.
Upon a rather surprising and unwelcome arrival, Turtle encounters the Diaper Gang which consists of her male cousins who try and keep their stomachs happy by looking after the town's babies in return for food. The arrival of Turtle and her cat is not a welcome one - and not just because she's a girl but because it's another mouth to feed.
The setting itself is one of hardship and little money - but Holm keeps it at bay enough that the reading isn't too, well, 'depressing'. Instead, she focuses - mainly through dialogue - on the friendship between the Diaper Gang and Turtle's gradual unravelling of her mother's past.
Although reviews here speak of Turtle's voice and wit being out of turn within a historical framework, I have to say that it was her voice that I loved the most. She's as sharp as a pin and sees the truth for what it is better than most adults. Her relationship with Nana Philly is just lovely.
A sweet, funny story. I imagine in a small reading group in class, it'd be lovely for separate readers to 'do the voices' for different characters.
Upon a rather surprising and unwelcome arrival, Turtle encounters the Diaper Gang which consists of her male cousins who try and keep their stomachs happy by looking after the town's babies in return for food. The arrival of Turtle and her cat is not a welcome one - and not just because she's a girl but because it's another mouth to feed.
The setting itself is one of hardship and little money - but Holm keeps it at bay enough that the reading isn't too, well, 'depressing'. Instead, she focuses - mainly through dialogue - on the friendship between the Diaper Gang and Turtle's gradual unravelling of her mother's past.
Although reviews here speak of Turtle's voice and wit being out of turn within a historical framework, I have to say that it was her voice that I loved the most. She's as sharp as a pin and sees the truth for what it is better than most adults. Her relationship with Nana Philly is just lovely.
A sweet, funny story. I imagine in a small reading group in class, it'd be lovely for separate readers to 'do the voices' for different characters.