PLOT SUMMARY
Turtle mother gets a job as a housekeeper for a woman who does not like kids, and she is sent to live with her conch relations in Key West during the 1930’s. Turtle is used to taking care of herself and knows that the real world is not like the Shirley Temple movies with Hollywood endings. Florida is unlike anywhere she has ever seen, and Turtle learns that she has more family than she ever knew. Adventures abound with her boy cousins and a search for secret treasure. Turtle learns that she doesn’t always need that hard shell exterior and that life can have some unexpected, good surprises.

CRITICAL ANALYSIS
Holm has taken family stories and created a humorous tale of childhood in 1930’s Key West. I chose to read and compare the book in print, the audiobook, and the graphic novel for this selection. Turtle is a no-nonsense girl who has been sent to an unknown situation and discovering Key West and its people through her eyes is an enjoyable experience. The people all have nicknames like Beans, Too Bad, and Turtle even meets one named Papa, who is a writer…can you guess who? 

The children take care of babies, play pranks, and even go on an adventure to look for treasure. If you have seen “The Little Rascals”, this story has a similar feel to it.  I enjoyed Turtle’s growth through the book as she loses a little of that hard outer shell and let’s her cousins get to know her, and she learns more about her family. 

Holm includes pictures of the real people who inspired the story in her author’s note, as well as background on events and places in the story, i.e. the Labor Day Hurricane, Pepe’s Café, the sponging industry, and Black Caesar’s treasure.

Battoe’s narration captures Turtle’s no-nonsense attitude and Beans’ wry humor perfectly. The audiobook is a wonderful companion to the novel. 

Ganucheau’s illustrations in the graphic novel are colorful and help the reader see the beauty of the Keys. While the graphic novel captures the main parts of the story, this adaptation misses out on the little nuances, like Turtle’s conversation with Papa (left out), and the full conversations between characters. However, if you have a reluctant reader, this adaptation would be a good alternative to the novel. Ganucheau includes a note detailing how she researched the historical location of Key West so that she could visually represent it accurately. The book also includes “Making the Art of Turtle in Paradise” with Savanna Ganucheau showing the process of how the book came together.

REVIEW EXCERPT(S)
SCHOOL LIBRARY JOURNAL: “This richly detailed novel was inspired by Holm’s great-grandmother’s stories. Readers who enjoy melodic, humorous tales of the past won’t want to miss it.”

BOOKLIST: ” “Turtle is just the right mixture of knowingness and hope; the plot is a hilarious blend of family dramas seasoned with a dollop of adventure.”

CONNECTIONS 
*This is a book that will prompt discussion about the Depression Era.  
*Look for these other works about youth during 1930’s America:
Holm, J.L. FULL OF BEANS. Yearling, 2018. ISBN: 9780553510386
Wolk, L. ECHO MOUNTAIN. Dutton Books for Young Readers, 2020. ISBN: 978-0525555568