书名：Turtle in Paradise 天堂里的海龟
读者对象：8-12岁
难度：Lexile蓝思阅读指数610L
作者：Jennifer L. Holm
出版社名称：Yearling
出版时间：2011
语种：英文
ISBN：9780375836909
商品尺寸：13.3 x 1.4 x 19.4 cm
包装：平装
页数：224

Turtle in Paradise《天堂里的海龟》为2011年美国纽伯瑞儿童文学奖银奖作品。故作坚强成熟的孩子，对单亲妈妈的呵护和爱，充满嘲讽、温情的叙述，让人笑，让人哭。孩子对妈妈的爱，一样毫无条件，毫无保留。

推荐理由：
1.美国纽伯瑞奖、金风筝童书奖获奖作品；
2.故事吸引人，极具启发性，文字难度不大；
3.英文原版，印刷清晰，纸质护眼。

媒体评论
“十一岁的海龟就是个矛盾体，既世故，不相信好莱坞式的结局，但又对生活抱有期望。故事在令人啼笑皆非的一幕幕家庭剧中，在孩子们惊险刺激的冒险中，一步步推向高潮，迎来急转直下的结局。”——美国图书馆协会《书单》杂志
“也许因为有作者外祖母的故事做基础，这部风格独特、语言犀利的小说，更是一部以细节取胜的小说。”——《学校图书馆期刊》
In Jennifer L. Holm’s New York Times bestselling, Newbery Honor winning middle grade historical fiction novel, 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 rag tag 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 Paradiseis an instant classic both boys and girls with love.
Includes an Author’s Note with photographs and further background on the Great Depression, as well as additional resources and websites.
Starred Review, Kirkus Reviews:
“Sweet, funny and superb.”
Starred Review, Booklist:
“Just the right mixture of knowingness and hope . . . a hilarious blend of family drama seasoned with a dollop of adventure.”

1935年，自小随做帮佣的妈妈生活在大城市的女孩“小龟”，因为新雇主的排斥，被妈妈送回了故乡——佛罗里达的基维斯特。
基维斯特并不是妈妈口中的天堂，反而是个又脏又破的穷地方。小龟最初对这个陌生的故乡充满了抵触，但是随着接触到越来越多的人，事情开始改变。友好的表兄弟、可爱的男孩帮、她从没见过面的爸爸、刻薄却有趣的外婆……与亲人朋友朝夕相处，经历过欺骗但也得到了更多温暖，小龟心中那如名字般坚硬的外壳终于融化，她明白了美丽的家一直就在身边，有爱你的人的地方，就是天堂。
Life isn’t like the movies and 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 money and sometimes even dreams are a scarce. So when Turtle’s Mother gets a job housekeeping for a lady who doesn’t like kids, Turtle says goodbye and heads off to Florida to live with relatives. Florida’s like nothing Turtle’s ever seen before though. It’s full of rag tag 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, two-time Newbery Honor winner Jennifer L. Holm blends family lore with America’s past, in this charming, gem of a novel rich in history, humor and the unique flavors of Key West.

詹妮弗·L·霍尔姆，出生于美国宾夕法尼亚州的奥杜邦，自2000年出版首部小说以来，这已是詹妮弗第三次获得美国纽伯瑞儿童文学奖。她还写过另外几本获得很高赞誉的书，包括《中学比肉饼还糟糕》，以及和她弟弟马修·霍尔姆合作的“鼠宝宝系列”。詹妮弗和丈夫及两个孩子住在加利福尼亚。
JENNIFER L. HOLMis theNew York Timesbestselling author of three Newbery Honor Books, as well as the co-creator of the Babymouse and Squish series which she collaborates on with her brother Matthew Holm.

Everyone thinks children are sweet as Necco Wafers, but I’ve lived long enough to know the truth: kids are rotten. The only difference between grown-ups and kids is that grown-ups go to jail for murder. Kids get away with it.  
I stare out the window as Mr. Edgit’s Ford Model A rumbles along the road, kicking up clouds of dust. It’s so hot that the backs of my legs feel like melted gum, only stickier. We’ve been driving for days now; it feels like eternity.   In front of us is a rusty pickup truck with a gang of dirty-looking kids in the back sandwiched between furniture—an iron bed, a rocking chair, battered pots—all tied up with little bits of fraying rope like a spiderweb. A girl my age is holding a baby that’s got a pair of ladies’ bloomers tied on its head to keep the sun out of its eyes. The boy sitting next to her has a gap between his two front teeth. Not that this stops him from blowing spitballs at us through a straw. We’ve been stuck behind this truckfor the last few miles, and our windshield is covered with wadded bits of wet newspaper.
A spitball smacks the window and Mr. Edgit hammers the horn with the palm of his hand. The no-good boy just laughs and sticks out his tongue.  
“There oughta be a law. No wonder this country’s going to the dogs,” Mr. Edgit grumbles.  
Mr. Edgit (“You can call me Lyle”) has a lot of opinions. He says folks in the Dust Bowl wouldn’t be having so much trouble if they’d just move near some water. He says he doesn’t think President Roosevelt will get us out of this Depression and that if you give someone money for not working why would they ever bother to get a job? But mostly Mr. Edgit talks about a new hair serum he’s selling that’s going to make him rich. It’s called Hair Today, and he’s a believer. He’s used the product himself.  
“Can you see the new hair, Turtle?” he asks, pointing at his shiny bald head.  
I don’t see anything. It must grow invisible hair.  
Maybe Archie should start selling hair serum. If his pal Mr. Edgit’s anything to go by, most men would rather have hair than be smart. Archie’s a traveling salesman. He’s sold everything—brushes, gadgets, Bibles, you name it. Right now he’s peddling encyclopedias.  
“I could sell a trap to a mouse,” Archie likes to say, and it’s the truth. Housewives can’t resist him. I know Mama couldn’t.  
It was last May, one day after my tenth birthday, when I opened the door of Mrs. Grant’s house and saw Archie standing there. He had dark brown eyes and thick black hair brushed back with lemon pomade.  
“Well, hello there,” Archie said to me, tipping his Panama hat. “Is the lady of the house at home?”  
“Which lady?” I asked. “The ugly one or the pretty one?”  
He laughed. “Why, ain’t you a sweet little thing.”  
“I’m not sweet,” I said. “I slugged Ronald Caruthers when he tried to throw my cat in the well, and I’d do it again.” Archie roared with laughter. “I’ll bet you would! What’s your name, princess?”  
“Turtle,” I said.  
“Turtle, huh?” he mused, stroking his chin. “I can see why. Got a little snap to you, don’t ya?”  
“Who’s that you’re talking to, Turtle?” my mother called, coming to the door.  
Archie smiled at Mama. “You must be the pretty lady.”  
Mama put her hand over her heart. Otherwise it would have leaped right out of her chest. She fell so hard for Archie she left a dent in the floor.  
Mama’s always falling in love, and the fellas she picks are like dandelions. One day they’re there, bright as sunshine—charming Mama, buying me presents—and the next they’re gone, scattered to the wind, leaving weeds everywhere and Mama crying.  
But Mama says Archie’s different, and I’m starting to think she may be right. He keeps his promises, and he hasn’t disappeared yet. Even Smokey likes him, which is saying something, considering she bit the last fella Mama dated. Also, he’s got big dreams, which is more than I can say for most of them.  
“Mark my words, princess,” Archie told me. “We’ll be living on Easy Street someday.”