Lovely middle grade story of ‘Turtle in Paradise: The Graphic Novel’ by Jennifer L. Holm, Savanna Ganucheau
Turtle in Paradise was lovely historical fiction graphic novel of 11 year old girl, Turtle, who was sent to Key West to live with her aunt she never knew and found much more precious than real treasure at the end.
Turtle in Paradise: The Graphic Novel by Jennifer L. Holm, Savanna Ganucheau
Publication Date : June 29th 2021
Publisher : Random House Graphic
Pages : 256
Genre : Historical Fiction / Middle Grade / Graphic Novel
Disclaimer : I received e-copy of this book from the PRH International via NetGalley, in exchange for an honest review.
This post contains affiliate links.
Synopsis
Life isn’t like the movies. But then again, 11-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 live with relatives she’s never met. Florida’s like nothing Turtle’s ever seen before though. It’s hot and strange, full of ragtag boy cousins, family secrets, scams, and even buried pirate treasure! Before she knows what’s happened, Turtle finds herself coming out of the shell she’s spent her life building, and as she does, her world opens up in the most unexpected ways. Filled with adventure, humor and heart, Turtle in Paradise is an instant classic both boys and girls will love.
Review of Turtle in Paradise
Turtle in Paradise was heart warming and fun historical fiction graphic novel that revolved around Turtle who was sent to Key West to live with her aunt where she found treasure and much more. The story was about family, secrets, adventure, coming out of shell, love and friendship.
Turtle in Paradise was originally a novel written by author a decade ago. I haven’t read it so I cannot compare but that worked in my favour as I really enjoyed this story. Now I wish to read that original and other books by author.
Writing was easy to follow along with illustrations. It was told from Turtle’s POV. Her monologues in box separating the dialogues and conversations were fun to read. Illustrations were beautiful. I loved colour palate and art.
It started with Turtle was moving from Florida to Key West with her cat, Smokey, to live with an aunt she never met before when her mother got job as housekeeper and employer refused to have Turtle along with her. Her mother was dreamy, she fell in love with salesman wished to marry him soon, and believed in happy ending but Turtle was hard kid and she knew better than to believe in Hollywood kind ending. On arriving Key West, she soon figured it was nothing like Florida. There was hot weather, harrid aunt, three cousins, Pirate stories and she learned more about her family. It was fun to see where the story was going and how it will end.
Turtle was amazing 11 years old kid. She believed all kids and sometimes adults are rotten and she had reason to believe so. From what she experienced in life she hardened herself against the world who has been mean and horrible. I was surprised this young kid didn’t believe in happiness or hope. When she had to move to Key West she felt sad but didn’t even make any fuss. She was curious, smart, hardworking, logical, selfless kid and so mature for her age. It was amazing to see how slowly she came out of the shell she created around her and started enjoying her time in Key West, and how her thoughts changed by the end. I loved her for sharing what she found with her cousins even though they didn’t welcome her easily in their gang.
All secondary characters and adults were interesting to read. Family dynamic was great. I enjoyed reading about Turtles’ family, their background and even those she never knew existed. Diaper gang was fun to read. Turtle’s cousins ran this gang with their friends. It was amazing to see these kids taking care of fussing crying babies in exchange for candies or whatever moms made. I honestly couldn’t figure their secret formula for diaper rash. Their pranks were funny.
Setting of Key West and timeline of 1935 during great depression and time of Shirley Temple was well presented. It was fun to read how everyone in Key West had weird nicknames and everyone wanted some kind of job, even kids. The Pirate story, kids’ adventure and Labour day Hurricane made it even more interesting.
Climax was both fun and tense at the same time. I enjoyed every moment of Kid’s adventure, how they all stayed together, and faced tough time. What happened at the end was so sad. I could see it coming and yet felt disbelief and anger. How could someone do this to kid! and yet even with shattered dream, Turtle and her family found something much more precious than treasure.
Overall, Turtle in Paradise was lovely, heart warming, and entertaining graphic novel with amazing characters and setting. If you enjoy stories set in Key West, great depression timeline, kids and their pranks and adventure, I highly recommend this.
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19 Comments
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Lashaan Balasingam @ Bookidote
So cool to see you review graphic novels! Glad you enjoyed this so much, Yesha. 😀
Books Teacup and Reviews
Thank you, Lashaan! This was interesting and lovely. I would have liked it more in physical copy. It was pain to scroll e-copy.
Kal @ Reader Voracious
This looks like a delightful graphic novel, lovely review!
Books Teacup and Reviews
Thank you, Kal! It was lovely and fun.
Jessica @ The Awkward Book Blogger
Love this review! I’m a sucker for graphic novels, so I’ll have to check this one out!
Books Teacup and Reviews
Thank you1 I hope you get it soon and enjoy it.
debjani6ghosh
Great review, Yesha! Glad to know Turtle comes out of her shell and finds happiness at Key West. Thanks for sharing.
Books Teacup and Reviews
Thank you, Debjani! Glad you found this interesting.
happytonic
I’m glad you’re enjoying reading more graphic novels. This book sounds fun…how can I not be intrigued when it features Diaper Gang?!? Great review, Yesha!
Books Teacup and Reviews
Thank you, Toni! you would like this one.
ritecontent
I’ve never read a graphic novel! This one sounds ideal to start myself off with – thanks for bringing my attention to it – it sounds different. I shall introduce it to my grandson too.
Books Teacup and Reviews
Thank you! I hope you and your grandson enjoy this.
ritecontent
I’m so looking forward to reading to with him!
Teri Polen
Turtle sounds like an old soul and no mature for her age. I like the setting of this book – can’t say I’ve ever read anything similar. Glad you enjoyed it – great review, Yesha!
Books Teacup and Reviews
Thank you, Teri! It was lovely. Author’s family is from Key West and same lane character’s aunt was living in book. I liked bit of facts at the end of the story along with photo of real characters and their pranks based on which the characters in story were written. I wish to read author’s published novels now.