Turtle in Paradise by Jennifer L. Holm

Turtle in Paradise by Jennifer L. Holm takes place during 1935 when jobs are hard to come by and and money is even scarcer. Turtle is an 11 year old girl who's life is turned upside down when her mother takes a job as a housekeeper for a woman who refuses to have children in her home. Turtle is sent to live in Key West, Florida with her aunt and cousins who she barely knows. Turtle, like her namesake, has a hard shell and makes do in just about any situation... even when she finds a mysterious treasure map leading to Black Caesar's pirate gold. A series of strange events eventually lead up to Turtle's mother returning, a sudden knowledge of who her long-lost father really is, and a happiness no one thought imaginable during such tough times.

This was a really cute story. I found myself really admiring Turtle's resiliency through the various situations and predicaments she gets into. The story revolves around several real events, including the hurricane of 1935, chasing Black Caesar's treasure, rum runners, and even Little Orphan Annie and Shirley Temple!