Turtle in Paradise

by Jennifer L Holm (Author)

Reading Level: 4th − 5th Grade

A graphic novel adaptation of the beloved, bestselling Newbery Honor-winning novel.

Eleven-year-old Turtle is smart and tough and has seen enough of the world not to expect a Hollywood ending. After all, it's 1935 and money--and sometimes even dreams--is scarce. So when Turtle's mother gets a job housekeeping for a lady who doesn't like kids, Turtle heads off to Florida to live with relatives.

Florida's like nothing Turtle's ever seen before, though. It's full of ragtag boy cousins, family secrets to unravel . . . and even a little bit of fun. Before she knows what's happened, Turtle finds herself coming out of her shell. And as she does, her world opens up in the most unexpected ways.

Inspired by family stories, three-time Newbery Honor winner Jennifer L. Holm blends family lore with America's past in this charming gem of a novel, now adapted into graphic novel form by rising star Savanna Ganucheau.

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Paperback
$12.99

Kirkus Reviews

Sweet, funny and superb

ALA/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.

Publisher's Weekly

Starred Review
This humorous adventure effectively portrays Turtle as caught between her mother's Hollywood-inspired dreams and the very real family . . . that offer a different kind of paradise.

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.

Review quotes

Starred Review, Kirkus Reviews, April 15, 2010:
"Sweet, funny and superb"

Starred Review, Booklist, April 15, 2010:
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.

Starred Review, Publishers Weekly
This humorous adventure effectively portrays Turtle as caught between her mother's Hollywood-inspired dreams and the very real family . . . that offer a different kind of paradise.

Review, School Library Journal, April 2010:
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.
Jennifer L Holm
Jennifer L. Holm is the New York Times bestselling and three-time Newbery Honor-winning author of multiple novels for young readers. With her brother Matthew, Jennifer created the graphic novel series Babymouse and Squish. She lives in California.
Matthew Holm was born and raised in the suburbs of Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, and has been drawing comics since he was in middle school. With his sister, Jennifer, Matthew created the graphic novel series Babymouse and Squish. He lives in upstate New York.
Classification
Fiction
ISBN-13
9780593126318
Lexile Measure
940
Guided Reading Level
V
Publisher
Random House Graphic
Publication date
May 20, 2021
Series
-
BISAC categories
JUV019000 - Juvenile Fiction | Humorous Stories
JUV008000 - Juvenile Fiction | Comics & Graphic Novels | General
JUV016000 - Juvenile Fiction | Historical | General
JUV008110 - Juvenile Fiction | Comics & Graphic Novels | Humorous
JUV008090 - Juvenile Fiction | Comics & Graphic Novels | Historical
Library of Congress categories
History
20th century
Adventure and adventurers
Families
Family life
Depressions
1929
Cousins
Key West (Fla.)
Cartoons and comics
Comics (Graphic works)
Little Maverick Reading List
Selection 2022

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