The students kept a literacy journal as I read and had to listen for a certain thing (Common Core related, of course) during my read aloud each day. you can even listen to the old Annie radio shows as there were many references to these two icons throughout the book. I thought it was interesting how many of my students had never seen Annie or Shirley Temple. You even fall in love with her rotten band of cousins. Everyone LOVED the book! Turtle had just enough 'snap' in her to make her relatable and funny. I read this historical novel set in Key West (year: 1935) with my class and my daughter. If you like middle grade books, be sure to pick this up! If not, consider getting it for the child in your life, they'll love it!įollow me on ♥ Facebook ♥ Blog ♥ Instagram ♥ Twitter ♥ I liked Turtle as a strong female protagonist who always had a smart reply and didn't let anything get past her. Her books are filled with humor and wit, touches of serious but not enough to traumatize the children who read her books. Jenny Holm is fast becoming one of my favorite children's authors.

The only difference between grown-ups and kids is that grown-ups go to jail for murder. “Everyone things children are sweet as Necco Wafers, but I've lived long enough to know the truth: kids are rotten. Stuck in a new, unfamiliar place with kids who don't seem to want her there, Turtle must come out of her own shell to make life better. When Turtle's mother gets a new job with a woman who doesn't like kids, she's sent to Key West Florida to live with her aunt and cousins.

Turtle is disillusioned by things most kids enjoy, she doesn't like Shirley Temple and she knows she's smarter than most people, adults included. I love this Key West setting with a group of kids in the 1930's. I'm reading a lot more middle grade books now for professional development, and since I had read Full of Beans and loved it a few years back, I thought I should read the book that came before it.

Turtle in paradise by jennifer l holm