They say you can pick your friends, but you can't pick your family, and no one knows that better than Turtle in Turtle in Paradise. Sure her mom means well, but she's not exactly the best role model for our young heroine—she's a little naive, always trusting, and wears rose-colored glasses even when things aren't so peachy. Still, when push comes to shove, Turtle's mom works hard to provide for her, and definitely has her back.
When Turtle goes to live with Aunt Minnie, she learns her family doesn't stop with her mom. In fact, she likes learning about her grandma and cousins, even if they aren't the most welcoming people in the world. Like we said, you can't pick your family… but you can sometimes be pleasantly surprised by how much you like them.
Questions About Family
- How does Turtle feel about her extended family when she first meets them? Why does her opinion change?
- Why is family so important to Turtle? Why is she so excited when Archie marries her mom and promises her a perfect family?
- Who is your favorite member of Turtle's family? Why?
- What does Turtle learn about family throughout her journey?
Chew on This
At first Turtle thinks family is just like a Hollywood movie, but she quickly learns that it's messier, complicated, and way better than on film.
Archie is successful at duping Turtle and her mom because they want a family more than anything else.