Book details
Jennifer L. Holm - Author
Turtle’s new life brings family secrets, scams and a treasure hunt into an adventure set against hard times in 1930s Florida.
Inspired by family stories, two-time Newbery Honor winner and New York Times bestselling author Jennifer L. Holm beautifully blends family lore with America's past in this charming gem of a novel, rich in historical detail, humor, and the unique flavors of Key West.Life isn't like the movies, and eleven-year-old Turtle is no Shirley Temple. She's smart and tough and has seen enough of the world not to expect a Hollywood ending. After all, it's 1935, and jobs and money and sometimes even dreams are scarce. So when Turtle's mama gets a job housekeeping for a lady who doesn't like kids, Turtle says goodbye without a tear and heads off to Key West, Florida, to stay with relatives she's never met.Florida's like nothing Turtle has ever seen. It's hot and strange, full of wild green peeping out between houses, ragtag boy cousins, and secret treasure. Before she knows what's happened, Turtle finds herself coming out of the shell she has spent her life building, and as she does, her world opens up in the most unexpected ways.From the Hardcover edition.
Book Analysis
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Sign in for personalised guidanceTalk about: What helps Turtle feel more at home, if anything?
How the book presents it: The historical note gives context beyond the fictional adventure, including photographs and background about the period.
Talk about: What details in the note help explain how the historical setting shaped everyday life?
The story pairs adventure and humour with a child’s changed family circumstances, while its historical setting offers a way to talk about life during the Depression.
Turtle is separated from her mother when sent to live with unfamiliar relatives. The book also places the family in a time when jobs and money are scarce.
What do you think Turtle expects from her new relatives, and whether those expectations change as she gets to know them?
Read together or check in after the opening chapters if the separation or the family’s financial circumstances feel close to home; the author’s note can extend the historical conversation.
Theme indicators describe how the book presents a topic; they are not a verdict on the whole book or your family's values. Confidence reflects how much book-specific material was checked. Only part of the book information was available, so some details remain unconfirmed.
Turtle in Paradise - Jennifer L. Holm - Google Books
Limited information
Checked: 2 October 2026.
Relevant to: A new family setting; Historical context
Turtle in paradise by Jennifer L. Holm | Open Library
Limited information
Checked: 2 October 2026.
Relevant to: A new family setting; Historical context
Benefits, discussion questions and reading approaches are suggestions. Your knowledge of your child remains part of the decision.
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