Turtle in Paradise: Difference between revisions
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== Plot == |
== Plot == |
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Turtle Curry is an eleven-year-old girl living with her mother Sadiebelle and cat named Smokey in [[New Jersey]], who is upset that her mother's new employer refuses to let Turtle and her cat stay in her house. Turtle says goodbye and enters the front seat of Mr. Lyle Edgit, a family friend and a [[merchant]]. When Turtle arrives in [[Key West]], her Aunt Minerva "Minnie" is confused because she didn't receive a letter about Turtle coming to live with her. Aunt Minnie introduces her to their three cousins: Beans (the oldest cousin who is distant), Kermit (who has [[rheumatic fever]] and must nap in order to live), and Buddy (who is quick to [[Urination|pee]] in his pants). |
Turtle Curry is an eleven-year-old girl living with her mother Sadiebelle and cat named Smokey in [[New Jersey]], who is upset that her mother's new employer refuses to let Turtle and her cat stay in her house. Turtle says goodbye and enters the front seat of Mr. Lyle Edgit, a family friend and a [[merchant]]. When Turtle arrives in [[Key West]], her Aunt Minerva "Minnie" is confused because she didn't receive a letter about Turtle coming to live with her. Aunt Minnie introduces her to their three cousins: Beans (the oldest cousin who is distant), Kermit (who has [[rheumatic fever]] and must nap in order to live), and Buddy (who is quick to [[Urination|pee]] in his pants). Aunt Minnie forces Beans to share his room with Turtle, but he becomes irritated and resentful of his cousin. |
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The boys and their friends, Pork Chop, Jelly and Ira, are called 'The Diaper Gang' as they care for the babies in their town, using a 'secret recipe' to cure diaper rash. Turtle begins to grow accustomed to her new surroundings and its people. She later finds out her grandmother is still alive, but she dislikes the people living in Key West and the people dislike her. Turtle does her best to win her grandmother's love and succeeds. |
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Pressured by the conflict, Aunt Minnie forces them outside and continues housework. Then, a friend nicknamed Pork Chop greets them, followed by a cousin named Jelly greeting the boys before handing an envelope to Turtle, claiming that it was given to him by mistake. At a later time, the boys, who are affiliated with the "Diaper Gang," come to collect the crying babies to cure them. The next day, Pork Chop and Turtle visit the waterfront where they befriend a man named Slow Poke, who watches the swimming [[Turtle|turtles]]. Subsequently, when an ice cream man named Jimmy yells (come get your ice cream) . Beans attempts to not pay for the ice cream, which goes wrong. Turtle then attempts and is successful. |
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As the summer begins to draw to a close, Turtle and the boys hear rumors of buried pirate treasure somewhere in the Keys. Believing that the treasure would improve their lifestyles, Turtle and the gang set to find it, but are caught off guard when a [[1935 Labor Day hurricane|hurricane]] hits the Keys and they are forced to take shelter in a shack. Once the hurricane passes, they take their discovered loot and head home where Turtle finds her mother and Archie Meeks, a cunning conman, are waiting for them. Sharing the treasure they found and dreaming of a new life, Turtle and her mother set off to go back to New Jersey, but only to discover that Archie has stolen the treasure and has headed off to Cuba. Despite this setback, Turtle comes to believe that she and her family will still find happiness in paradise. |
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Following, Turtle is sitting on Aunt Minnie's porch while she plays with dolls, Buddy playing with marbles. Aunt Minnie takes the dolls, realizing that it was hers, and continues inside. At night, Turtle finally calls her mother, but is saddened that Mrs. Budnick, Sadie Belle's employer, prohibits her from using her telephone. |
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The next day, Kermit and Turtle take a walk on [[Duval Street]], in which Turtle describes, "Duval Street's like a different Key West. It's nicer." At a [[coffeehouse]], Turtle befriends a man named Johnny Cakes, who is a businessman. Suddenly, Slow Poke appears and hands an envelope to Johnny Cakes. He and Turtle agree to visit his boat, which is called "''The Lost Love''." |
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At the agreed time, the next day, Turtle accompanies Slow Poke and befriends Ollie, one of Slow Poke's assistants. In an attempt to earn their impression, Turtle lies about swimming professionally, but it backfires as she almost drowns. She is saved by Slow Poke, who subsequently chides her. |
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The next day, the gang visits Mrs. Soldano, a chef who makes [[Bollo|bollos]]. She then talks about accomplishing her dreams of winning the [[bolita]], [[Cuba|Cuban]] lottery. Then, Mrs. Soldano requests for the gang to give a pack of bollos to an elderly lady named Miss Philomena, or "Nana Philly." |
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== Back Cover Summary == |
== Back Cover Summary == |
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Revision as of 23:31, 19 August 2023
 | This article needs additional citations for verification. (September 2016) |
 First edition | |
| Author | Jennifer L. Holm |
|---|---|
| Language | English |
| Genre | Children's literature |
| Publisher | Random House Children's Books |
Publication date | December 27, 2010 |
| Publication place | United States |
| Pages | 208 224 (paperback) |
| Awards | 2011 Newbery Honor Book |
| ISBN | 9780375836909 |
Turtle in Paradise is a 2010 children's novel written by Jennifer L. Holm.[1] The book is a 2011 Newbery Honor Book and also won the Golden Kite Award. The main character, Turtle, is eleven years old and lives in Key West, Florida during the Great Depression.[2] The Labor Day Hurricane of 1935 is also mentioned in this book.
Plot
Turtle Curry is an eleven-year-old girl living with her mother Sadiebelle and cat named Smokey in New Jersey, who is upset that her mother's new employer refuses to let Turtle and her cat stay in her house. Turtle says goodbye and enters the front seat of Mr. Lyle Edgit, a family friend and a merchant. When Turtle arrives in Key West, her Aunt Minerva "Minnie" is confused because she didn't receive a letter about Turtle coming to live with her. Aunt Minnie introduces her to their three cousins: Beans (the oldest cousin who is distant), Kermit (who has rheumatic fever and must nap in order to live), and Buddy (who is quick to pee in his pants). Aunt Minnie forces Beans to share his room with Turtle, but he becomes irritated and resentful of his cousin.
The boys and their friends, Pork Chop, Jelly and Ira, are called 'The Diaper Gang' as they care for the babies in their town, using a 'secret recipe' to cure diaper rash. Turtle begins to grow accustomed to her new surroundings and its people. She later finds out her grandmother is still alive, but she dislikes the people living in Key West and the people dislike her. Turtle does her best to win her grandmother's love and succeeds.
As the summer begins to draw to a close, Turtle and the boys hear rumors of buried pirate treasure somewhere in the Keys. Believing that the treasure would improve their lifestyles, Turtle and the gang set to find it, but are caught off guard when a hurricane hits the Keys and they are forced to take shelter in a shack. Once the hurricane passes, they take their discovered loot and head home where Turtle finds her mother and Archie Meeks, a cunning conman, are waiting for them. Sharing the treasure they found and dreaming of a new life, Turtle and her mother set off to go back to New Jersey, but only to discover that Archie has stolen the treasure and has headed off to Cuba. Despite this setback, Turtle comes to believe that she and her family will still find happiness in paradise.
Back Cover Summary
Life's nothing like the movies, and Turtle knows enough not to expect a Hollywood ending. After all, it's 1935, the Depression. Jobs, money, and sometimes even dreams are scarce. So when Turtle is sent off to Key West, Florida, to live with relatives she's never met, she doesn't even shed a tear. Florida's hot and strange, full of ragtag boy cousins, family secrets, and even buried treasure! Before she knows what's happened, Turtle comes out of the shell she's spent her life building, and discovers a world that's more exciting than any Hollywood blockbuster.
Description
Turtle in Paradise is a small format book measuring 5.2 x 0.5 x 7.6 inches. This small book is for children ages 9 to 12 years. The grade level for this book is 3 to 7. The Lexile for this book is 610L. The sales rank 96,734 in 6 months
Reception
Reed Elsevier in Publishers Weekly in 2010 states "Turtle, the witty 11-year-old narrator of this standout historical novel, is a straight shooter. 'Everyone thinks children are sweet as Necco Wafers, but I've lived long enough to know the truth: kids are rotten.' When her romantic and unrealistic mother, who's always falling in and out of love, gets a housekeeping job that won't allow children, she sends Turtle to her estranged family in Depression-era Key West"[3] According to Horn Book Magazine, "It's 1935, and narrator Turtle is sent to live in Key West. With her stoic nature and quick wits, she's able to fit in with her boy cousins. Turtle's voice is tart and world-weary. Though her narrative is peppered with references from the time, modern-day readers will have no trouble relating, and the fast-moving plot will keep them interested to the end."[4]
- ^ "2011 Newbery Medal and Honor Books". Association for Library Service to Children. 1999-11-30. Retrieved 31 January 2011.
- ^ "jenniferholm.com". Retrieved 31 January 2011.
- ^ "Turtle In Paradise". Publishers Weekly. 257 (18): 52. 2010. Retrieved 21 Jan 2016. (alternative link: PW)
- ^ "2011 Award Winners". Horn Book Magazine. 87 (4). 2011. Retrieved 21 Jan 2016. pp. 178-180
