Ratings3
Average rating4.3
Winner of the Scott O'Dell Award Five Starred Reviews! A New York Public Library Best Book for Kids, 2016 Grown-ups lie. That’s one truth Beans knows for sure. He and his gang know how to spot a whopper a mile away, because they are the savviest bunch of barefoot conchs (that means “locals”) in all of Key West. Not that Beans really minds; it’s 1934, the middle of the Great Depression. With no jobs on the island, and no money anywhere, who can really blame the grown-ups for telling a few tales? Besides, Beans isn’t anyone’s fool. In fact, he has plans. Big plans. And the consequences might surprise even Beans himself. Return to the wonderful world of Newbery Honor Book Turtle in Paradise through the eyes of Turtle’s cousin Beans! "A surprising coming-of-age story with a remarkably honest message." —The New York Times "[Holm] captures this colorful slice of Depression history with her usual vivacious wit. . . . Children will love Beans." —Shelf Awareness, Starred "A novel as entertaining as the motion pictures [Beans] loves to see."—The Horn Book Magazine, Starred “Inspired by actual events, Holm’s talent for writing historical fiction is on full display. . . . Interesting family and small-town dynamics further enrich this fascinating account of a young boy’s life in Florida’s ‘Recovery Key.’” —Booklist, Starred "Filled with humor, heart, and warmth." —Kirkus Review, Starred "Entertaining and illuminating historical fiction." —Publishers Weekly, Starred
Featured Series
2 released booksTurtle in Paradise is a 2-book series first released in 2010 with contributions by Jennifer L. Holm.
Reviews with the most likes.
Read w/Sophia for Book Club in June, 2020.
Sophia rating - 4/5
Mom rating - 4/5
I'm moving the middle grade book section around at my work and it occurred to me that I have read so few of these titles. I read some every year, but not as many as a I should. So I gave this month (April) over to reading as many as I can. The goal is 10, this one is number 3.
So, I absolutely loved this book. I'm not kidding. I had NO idea about the evolution of Key West and I have been there. I am mighty ashamed.
It's a slice of American history with kids who use the best slang ever who save the day in a world unlike most. Yup, it's friggin amazing. I had no idea what it was about when I saw it on a best of list and grabbed it.
If I ever do a book club for this age group, I'm starting with this one.