Turtle in Paradise by Jennifer L. Holm

Turtle is resigned to her fate as she travels to Key West, Florida to live with relatives she had never met.  She is, however, surprised to find out they weren't really expecting her.  Her mother's letter explaining about getting a housekeeping job where she couldn't keep Turtle with her didn't make it to Turtle's aunt before Turtle did.   And thus begins the adventure of trying to fit as the only girl in a group of boys, trying to find a way to help her mamma by making a little money, and discovering what it is like to have family around all the time. Add in finding a map to buried treasure, and  a famous author who doesn't write for the funny papers, and you have 

In Turtle in Paradise (Lexile: 610; Interest Level: Grades 3-6), Jennifer Holm paints a realistic picture of life in Key West during the 1930s, when the economic turnaround from the Great Depression is slow in coming and everyone focuses on the dream of getting to Easy Street.    This 185 page book ends with historical information from the author.

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