Book Review: Turtle in Paradise

Turtle in Paradise
By Jennifer L. Holm
Random House Books for Young Readers
Publication Date: May 11, 2010
ISBN: 978-0375836886

Earlier this week, I started to work on a heritage piece for the magazine about the Conch Republic (otherwise known as the Florida Keys). The same day I typed up the first paragraph, we received a copy of Turtle in Paradise, which takes place in the Florida Keys, by Jennifer L. Holm in the mail to review. Fate or not, I picked up the kids book, initially attracted to it because of the collage-looking cover (see below), and started reading it the following day during lunch break. I'm glad I did - having never read Holm before, I'm happy to see another strong voice in the children's literature world.

Although brought up with Little Orphan Annie and Shirley Temple, Turtle knows life isn't that easy - it isn't full of song numbers and happy endings. As a housekeeper with her mom, she's constantly moving from house to house. That is, until her mom gets hired by a woman who hates kids. So it's off to Key West for Turtle, where she's to live with her Aunt, Uncle and three male cousins - all of whom she's never met. But Turtle is tough, she's not afraid.

Once there, she realizes that Key West is quite like another world. It's beyond hot, no one wears shoes, and everyone is seemingly related. But soon enough, she swept up with the tide of things, ditches her shoes, becomes one of the infamous Diaper Baby Gang, learns of secret buried treasure, and slowly comes out of her shell. Turtle learns what's really important, and how sometimes what you really want may be right in front of you.

Holm wrote a great book for kids, one full of adventure, mystery and growth (and even a little bit of history). Every little girl will want to be 11-year-old Turtle, who's sharp, witty, observant and smart. And every boy can identify with her cousins, the Diaper Baby Gang, who pull pranks, are exclusive about the company they keep and may even have their own weak spots. Then there are the adults, who, although air-headed at times, or bossy and mean at others, truly care.

The book has an incredibly amount of detail that's accurate to the time period. From old writers sitting in the pub (Hemingway), to sponge diving to make a living, the Great Depression is a great background. I especially like that it's mentioned, however not made into a brutal plot point. Although lack of money keeps Turtle and her mom apart, it's not because of stock markets or dust bowls. I also enjoyed the detail given to the scenery. Having been to Key West, I delighted in reading about the island during the early 1900s. From the scorpions to the ice cream, everything put you in that tropical state of mind. The book wonderfully culminates with an action-packed ending which invigorates and excites the reader. It's actually a bit scary, but you never lose hope.

Turtle in Paradise is a fast paced read that keeps you on your toes. Whether young or old, the book, along with Turtle's strength and heart, with intrigue, entertain, and thoroughly delight you.

(As a side note, here's the cover of the advanced copy I have. I'm not sure why they're changing it for the release. The new one - seen at the top of this post - is adorable, definitely, and kind of reminds me of a Sarah Dessen book, but a adore this one. It's so perfect for the time period and definitely stands out. What do you think?)