Turtle in Paradise The Home Quotes

How we cite our quotes: (Chapter.Paragraph)

Quote #4

But it's the green peeping out everywhere that catches my eye—between the houses, in the yards and alleyways. Twining vines, strange umbrella-type trees with bright orangey-red blossoms, bushes with pink flowers, and palm trees. Like Mother Nature is trying to pretty up the place. She has a long way to go, though. (2.8)

When she first arrives in Florida, Turtle describes her new home to us. We'd be lying if she said it sounds like paradise. We'd also like to point out that she spends so much time giving us vivid details about her new home that we know it doesn't give her the comfort and solace like the places she's stayed with her mom have.

Quote #5

It's a tiny room, with an odd-looking shuttered window, like a hatch, set deep in the sloping roof. There's an iron bed and a small chest of drawers. (3.7)

Turtle finally has her own room (yay) but it smells funky and was decorated by a boy (bummer). As she settles into her new house, Turtle realizes that she felt more at home among the rich, spoiled brats who would tease her than she does in Key West with her family.

Quote #6

I look at the house. "Someone lives in there?"

"You mean the shutters?" Kermit asks. "They've been up for years. She put them up for a hurricane and won't let anyone take them down." (8.25-26)

An abandoned looking house is where her grandma lives, and Turtle can hardly believe it. She knows folks around Key West aren't rolling in the dough, but this is a low standard even for them. Likewise, inside the house Nana Philly has rickety old furniture and doesn't welcome anyone in with her attitude.