A review by swinchester234
Turtle in Paradise by Jennifer L. Holm

4.0

Turtle in Paradise is a book written by Jennifer Holm. This book revolves around an 11 year old girl named Turtle. Turtle’s mom is forced to send her to her aunt’s house in the Key West because of receiving a job as a housekeeper. Once there, Turtle meets her three cousins and the Diaper Gang; a group of boys that babysit babies for candy during the Great Depression. Turtle finds a treasure map in her grandmother’s piano and the children go on an adventure to find the treasure. In the process, they steal a boat, forget to anchor said boat, and then get trapped on a small island during a storm. They are rescued by a man named Slow Poke and they come back to find Turtle’s mom and new husband waiting for them. Her mom’s new husband ends up stealing the treasure they find and flees to Cuba. Turtle and her mom end up staying in the Key West with their extended family.

This is a heartwarming story about a young girl’s experience during the Great Depression. This book brings laughter, sadness, and a bit of loss. As a future educator, I do not believe I would use this for any lesson. However, I do believe that I would have it available in my classroom library.