Turtle in Paradise

Turtle in Paradise
By Jennifer L. Holm
andom House/Listening Library, 2010. 3.5 hours. Middle Grade Fiction

Turtle is sent to live with aunt and cousins in Key West after her mother gets a job as a housekeeper for a lady who doesn't like children. Turtle, who is sassy and has a shell built around her, finds that she has a lot to learn about Conchs (the Key West residents) and about letting go of her shell a little bit.

I really enjoyed this book. Holm's develops Key West during the Depression in a way that is completely accessible for readers, throws in characters who will have readers laughing out loud, and does it all with language with transports readers to a whole other place. I'd love to read more about Turtle and her Diaper Gang friends, so I'm really hoping this one turns out to be the first in a series.

4.5 stars.