Jennifer L. Holm
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This book, Turtle in Paradise, started with a story my mom liked to tell about her childhood. During the summers, her grandmother would take her to Key West to visit her relatives. Her mother made her promise to “shake her shoes out.” My mom didn’t know why her mother wanted her to do this, but she did it anyway. And then one hot day, she shook her shoes and out popped . . . a scorpion!
Writing Turtle in Paradise was a wonderful way to re-connect with my Key West heritage. My great-grandmother, Jennie Lewin Peck, emigrated from the Bahamas to Key West at the turn of the century. She considered herself a “Conch,” what the local Key West folks called themselves, after the native mollusk that so many fished for in the Bahamas. Nana was always talking about how she missed sugar apple ice cream and Spanish limes. When my editor, Shana Corey, started asking me about Nana and my Key West family, I just knew that there was a story somewhere in there.
Researching this book was also an interesting way to experience a different side of living through the Great Depression. While Key West suffered significant economic hardship (the town went bankrupt and the majority of the citizens were on economic relief), it didn’t have the same sort of feel as most of the depression stories I was used to hearing—soup lines, tent cities, and the Dust Bowl. Key West was warm for one thing, and there was plenty of free food, courtesy of the sea. One man told me, he ate lobster during the Depression! Key West was a freewheeling town full of characters and bygone industries—sponge fishing, rumrunners, and, of course, pirates! It had all the ingredients for a fabulous setting.
I hope you enjoy reading Turtle in Paradise as much as I enjoyed writing it. And if you ever go to Key West, be sure to shake out your shoes!
Author Bookshelf
Boston Jane: An Adventure
1855. The unknown wilds of the Pacific Northwest—a land not yet tamed, and certainly not fitting for a proper young lady! Yet that’s just where Miss Jane Peck finds herself. After a tumultuous...
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Turtle in Paradise
Inspired by family stories, two-time Newbery Honor winner and New York Times bestselling author Jennifer L. Holm beautifully blends family lore with America's past in this charming gem of a novel, rich...
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- Hardcover
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- Hardcover Library Binding
Babymouse #17: Extreme Babymouse
Grab your board! The powder's fresh and Babymouse is hitting the slopes in the 17th installment of the popular, award-winning graphic novel series by Matthew Holm and three-time Newbery Honor winner Jennifer...
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- Trade Paperback
- Trade Paperback
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- Hardcover Library Binding
The Trouble with May Amelia
May Amelia Jackson lives in Washington State in 1900, but she just can’t act the part of a proper young lady. Working a muddy farm on the rainy Nasel River isn’t easy—especially when...
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Babymouse #1: Queen of the World!
It’s the same thing every day for Babymouse. Where is the glamour? The excitement? The adventure? Nothing ever changes, until . . . Babymouse hears about Felicia Furrypaws’s exclusive slumber...
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- Trade Paperback
- Hardcover Library Binding
Babymouse #2: Our Hero
For Babymouse, school is a constant battle between good (Babymouse), evil (Felicia Furrpaws), and more evil (gym class!). Can things get any worse? Yup. Because it’s time for the annual dodgeball...
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Babymouse #3: Beach Babe
Grab your sunglasses! School’s out and Babymouse is headed to the beach for a week of sun, sand, surfing, snorkeling, and sharks! That’s right, folks . . . sharks! Looks like Babymouse’s...
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Babymouse #4: Rock Star
Move over Mozart! Babymouse has music in her soul...but sadly, not in her flute. Will Babymouse ever hit the right note? Will she be the star of the school concert, or is her musical career all washed...
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Penny from Heaven
It’s1953 and 11-year-old Penny dreams of a summer of butter pecan ice cream, swimming, and baseball. But nothing’s that easy in Penny’s family. For starters, she can’t go swimming...
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Babymouse #5: Heartbreaker
AHHH, VALENTINE'S DAY! Babymouse loves Valentines Day! A day for pink hearts! Flowers! Candy! School dances and romance . . . sweetromance! WAIT! Romance? Ew! And what's this about a school dance? Does...
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Babymouse #6: Camp Babymouse
Welcome to Camp Babymouse! Two weeks of fresh air, fun, and friendship! Babymouse can't wait for the adventures to start. All that she has to do is relax and make sure she doesn't get lost in the wilderness....
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Babymouse #7: Skater Girl
BEST GYMNAST. BEST speller. Best kazoo player. It seems everyone has a talent except Babymouse. That is, until Babymouse takes to the ice and surprises everyone with her spectacular spins and jubilant...
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Babymouse #8: Puppy Love
In the tradition of Snoopy, of Clifford, and of Lassie comes another great dog story for the ages . . . Babymouse: Puppy Love! Babymouse doesn’t exactly have a great history with pets–even...
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Babymouse #9: Monster Mash
IT WAS A dark and scary Halloween. . . .This year, Babymouse is determined to have the best Halloween costume and the best Halloween party ever. Will Babymouse be the monster of her dreams? Will Felicia...
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Babymouse #10: The Musical
Dust off your dancing shoes. Babymouse and the gang are taking center stage in the feel-good book of the season! Will Babymouse get the lead in the school musical or will Felicia Furrypaws steal the show?...
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- Trade Paperback
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Squish #1: Super Amoeba
Introducing SQUISH—a new graphic novel series about a comic book-loving, twinkie-eating grade school AMOEBA trying to find his place in the world (or at least trying to make it through a school day)....
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Squish #2: Brave New Pond
He's baa-ack! It's a brand new school year for everyone's favorite AMOEBA! Will Squish finally get to sit with the cool kids at lunch? Will Pod stop the giant asteroid from destroying the world?...
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- Hardcover Library Binding
Squish #3: The Power of the Parasite
School's out! Everyone's favorite amoeba is headed to summer camp! But instead of SUPER AWESOME FUN, Squish's summer is turning out to be SUPER AWESOME TERRIFYING! For one thing, Squish can't swim. And...
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- Trade Paperback
- Hardcover Library Binding
- Hardcover Library Binding
Squish #4: Captain Disaster
It's soccer season! But the Waterfleas (hey, it could be worse--Okay, maybe it couldn't) are getting pummelled game after game. Squish knows winning isn't everything, but it's something right? Can Squish...
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- Trade Paperback
- Trade Paperback
- Hardcover Library Binding
- Hardcover Library Binding
Babymouse #11: Dragonslayer
Get ready for the next big epic fantasy . . .In a distant kingdom a growing darkness falls over the land. One is called to defend . . . to bring hope . . . to slay the Mighty Dragon. . . .Could it be ....
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- Trade Paperback
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Babymouse #12: Burns Rubber
Babymouse's big dreams of becoming a race car driver come true when she and her best pal, Wilson, enter the Race of the Century (or at least the school year). But will she and Wilson crash and burn? Or...
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- Trade Paperback
- Trade Paperback
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- Hardcover Library Binding
Boston Jane: Wilderness Days
Girls looking for adventure, romance, and a strong heroine will love the second book in this action-packed historical trilogy by two-time Newbery Honor winner and New York Times bestselling author Jennifer...
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Boston Jane: The Claim
Fans of Boston Jane: An Adventure and Boston Jane: Wilderness Days will revel in the rip-roaring adventure, romance, and humor of this spectacularly spirited and satisfying conclusion to New York Times...
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Babymouse #13: Cupcake Tycoon
The word is out. Kids love Babymouse—star of the popular, award-winning, hilarious, PINK graphic-novel series showcasing the trials and tribulations of elementary school. The sassy mouse with attitude...
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- Trade Paperback
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Babymouse #14: Mad Scientist
The greatest scientific discovery of the 21st century is about to be revealed . . . when Babymouse enters the school science fair! Will her amazing discovery win 1st place? Will it become a successful...
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- Trade Paperback
- Trade Paperback
- Hardcover Library Binding
- Hardcover Library Binding
Babymouse #15: A Very Babymouse Christmas
'Twas the night before Christmas and all through the house, not a creature was stirring, except for . . . Babymouse. The holidays are here and everyone's enjoying their favorite traditions—eating...
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- Trade Paperback
- Trade Paperback
- Hardcover Library Binding
- Hardcover Library Binding
Babymouse #16: Babymouse for President
A Cupcake in every locker! It's election season and if anyone knows what this country . . . er, what the student council needs, it's Babymouse. The only trouble is, everyone else is running for President,...
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- Trade Paperback
- Trade Paperback
- Hardcover Library Binding
- Hardcover Library Binding
Eighth Grade Is Making Me Sick
Ginny has big plans for eighth grade. She's going to try out for cheerleading, join Virtual Vampire Vixens, and maybe even fall in love. But middle school is more of a roller-coaster ride than Ginny could...
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- Hardcover
- Hardcover Library Binding
Our Only May Amelia
She may be a miracle, but she’s no Proper Young Lady!It isn’t easy being a pioneer in the state of Washington in 1899, but it’s particularly hard when you are the only girl ever born...
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