Turtle in Paradise facts for kids
First edition
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| Author | Jennifer L. Holm |
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| Country | United States |
| Language | English |
| Genre | Children's literature |
| Publisher | Random House Children's Books |
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Publication date
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December 27, 2010 |
| Pages | 208 224 (paperback) |
| Awards | 2011 Newbery Honor Book |
| ISBN | 9780375836909 |
Turtle in Paradise is an exciting children's novel by Jennifer L. Holm, published in 2010. This book earned a Newbery Honor Book award in 2011 and also won the Golden Kite Award. It tells the story of an eleven-year-old girl named Turtle. She lives in Key West, Florida, during a tough time in history called the Great Depression.
Contents
Exploring the Story of Turtle
Turtle's New Life in Key West
The story begins with eleven-year-old Turtle Curry. She lives in New Jersey with her mother, Sadiebelle, and her cat, Smokey. Turtle is sad because her mother's new job means they can't stay together. Turtle must leave her home and travel to Key West, Florida. She goes with Mr. Lyle Edgit, a kind family friend.
When Turtle arrives, her Aunt Minerva, also known as Minnie, is surprised. She didn't know Turtle was coming to live with her! Aunt Minnie introduces Turtle to her three cousins. There's Beans, the oldest, who seems a bit distant. Kermit has a serious illness that means he needs lots of rest. Then there's Buddy, the youngest, who sometimes has little accidents. Beans is not happy about sharing his room with Turtle at first.
The Diaper Gang and Family Secrets
Turtle soon meets the boys' friends, Pork Chop, Jelly, and Ira. Together, they are known as 'The Diaper Gang'. Their special job is to look after the babies in town. They even have a secret recipe for diaper rash! Turtle slowly gets used to her new home and the people there. She discovers that her grandmother is still alive. However, her grandmother doesn't seem to like the people of Key West, and they don't like her much either. Turtle tries her best to win her grandmother's affection, and she eventually succeeds.
The Search for Treasure and a Hurricane
As summer nears its end, Turtle and the boys hear exciting rumors. People are talking about buried pirate treasure hidden somewhere in the Florida Keys! They believe finding this treasure could make their lives much better. So, Turtle and the gang decide to search for it.
Their adventure takes an unexpected turn when a powerful hurricane strikes the Keys. They have to quickly find shelter in a small shack to stay safe. After the storm passes, they find some interesting items. They take their discoveries and head back home. There, Turtle finds her mother and Archie Meeks waiting. Archie is a clever man who isn't always honest.
Turtle and her mother dream of a new life with the treasure. They plan to return to New Jersey. But they soon discover that Archie has tricked them. He has stolen their treasure and left for Cuba! Even with this disappointment, Turtle believes that she and her family will still find happiness in their own kind of paradise.
