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Turtle in Paradise
Full of Beans
Winner of the Scott O'Dell Award Five Starred Reviews!A New York Public Library Best Book for Kids, 2016Grown-ups lie. That’s one truth Beans knows for sure. He and his gang know how to spot a whopper a mile away, because they are the savviest bunch of barefoot conchs (that means “locals”) in all of Key West. Not that Beans really minds; it’s 1934, the middle of the Great Depression. With no jobs on the island, and no money anywhere, who can really blame the grown-ups for telling a few tales? Besides, Beans isn’t anyone’s fool. In fact, he has plans. Big plans. And the consequences might surprise even Beans himself.Return to the wonderful world of Newbery Honor Book Turtle in Paradise through the eyes of Turtle’s cousin Beans!"A surprising coming-of-age story with a remarkably honest message." —The New York Times"[Holm] captures this colorful slice of Depression history with her usual vivacious wit. . . . Children will love Beans." —Shelf Awareness, Starred"A novel as entertaining as the motion pictures [Beans] loves to see."—The Horn Book Magazine, Starred“Inspired by actual events, Holm’s talent for writing historical fiction is on full display. . . . Interesting family and small-town dynamics further enrich this fascinating account of a young boy’s life in Florida’s ‘Recovery Key.’” —Booklist, Starred"Filled with humor, heart, and warmth." —Kirkus Review, Starred"Entertaining and illuminating historical fiction." —Publishers Weekly, Starred
200 pages, Kindle Edition
First published January 1, 2016
238 people are currently reading
2187 people want to read
About the author
Jennifer L. Holm
121 books1,722 followersJennifer L. Holm is a USA TODAY and NEW YORK TIMES-bestselling children's author with more than 9.8 million books in print She is the recipient of three Newbery Honors for her novels OUR ONLY MAY AMELIA, PENNY FROM HEAVEN, and TURTLE IN PARADISE and a Scott O'Dell Award for her novel FULL OF BEANS.
Jennifer collaborates with her brother, Matthew Holm, on three bestselling graphic novel series -- the Eisner Award-winning Babymouse series, the SUNNY series, and the Squish series. SQUISH is now an animated tv series on YouTube!
For more information, visit her website at www.jenniferholm.com.
Jennifer collaborates with her brother, Matthew Holm, on three bestselling graphic novel series -- the Eisner Award-winning Babymouse series, the SUNNY series, and the Squish series. SQUISH is now an animated tv series on YouTube!
For more information, visit her website at www.jenniferholm.com.
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 633 reviews
August 2, 2016
Summary: Strongly voiced male protagonist in depression-era historical fiction, ideal for whole class reading or book clubs for grades 4-5 and for readers who have already read Turtle in Paradise. Students might need some background knowledge on the Great Depression and the New Deal.
Disclaimer: Review from ARC on behalf of a reader advisory program.
Review: At the not-so tender age of eleven, Beans Curry has learned a hard truth: adults lie.
Beans’s mother lies when she says everything’s going to be all right even though his father can’t find a job. His employer, Winky, lies when he says he’s going to pay a dime for used cans and then doesn’t. His teacher lies when she says all he needs to become better at mathematics is more practice.
Beans lives a shoeless existence in Key West. Key West is so poor that garbage gathers on the streets without anybody to clean it up. Dilapidated houses are made of wood and are infested with termites and scorpions. Some have to resort to illegal means just to make ends meet.
Beans’s voice, a combination of swagger and desperation, carries this story. Some examples (quotes from ARC):
“The ringing bell on the door of Gardner’s Pharmacy sounded like money disappearing from my pocket.”
“If I was a ghost, I wouldn’t haunt these shabby little houses. I’d haunt somewhere nice, like a mansion. But maybe ghosts were like the living and down on their luck.”
“I’d been practicing arithmetic since I’d first stepped into the school, and I never got better at it. Besides, I wasn’t the only one who was bad at arithmetic. President Roosevelt wasn’t much of a whiz, seeing how the country was still in a depression.”
Amidst this desperation is a solution. One day, a Bermuda shorts-clad Mr. Stone arrives, bent on transforming Key West into a tourist destination. Houses get painted and refurbished. The garbage gets cleaned up. A playground is created.
Beans isn’t sure he is on board with all of these changes, however. He’s not sure how he feels about the stray dogs being taken away, and he isn’t a fan of the New Dealers’ desire to crack down on the ever-popular Bolita gambling game.
This transformation of the island takes place amidst a backdrop of other vignettes: there’s Dot, the girl he refuses to play marbles with; there’s Termite, the dog who won’t stop following him until he makes him his own; there’s Beans’s “secret” cure for diaper rash, and at the center of Beans’s emotional life is a pit of guilt he promises himself never to throw himself into again.
This is a book that’s easy for adults to fall in love with. It has everything we like, coupled with just enough moral ambiguity to keep us intrigued and a happy ending.
However, I’m not yet convinced that younger or less experienced readers will fall in love with this book the same way adults will. Less experienced readers might find this book “slow” and may not have enough background knowledge to make connections to the past. That’s why I think this book is best for younger readers if it’s paired with some intentional teaching.
Younger readers can use this book to learn to ask questions about a setting: they can ask questions about why Beans is so excited to make a dime, why he has to go to a neighbor’s house to make a phone call, and why he and his friends play marbles in the street. More experienced readers can make historical connections to Roosevelt and the New Deal and contemplate themes of heroism, the value of telling the truth, and when it is and isn’t okay to lie.
Having not read Turtle in Paradise, I’m not sure how the two compare side-to-side. However, I’m floored that this strongly voiced and punchy historical fiction piece came out of the same person who did the ever-popular graphics Babymouse, Sunny Side Up and the thoughtful if quirky Fourteenth Goldfish.
Disclaimer: Review from ARC on behalf of a reader advisory program.
Review: At the not-so tender age of eleven, Beans Curry has learned a hard truth: adults lie.
Beans’s mother lies when she says everything’s going to be all right even though his father can’t find a job. His employer, Winky, lies when he says he’s going to pay a dime for used cans and then doesn’t. His teacher lies when she says all he needs to become better at mathematics is more practice.
Beans lives a shoeless existence in Key West. Key West is so poor that garbage gathers on the streets without anybody to clean it up. Dilapidated houses are made of wood and are infested with termites and scorpions. Some have to resort to illegal means just to make ends meet.
Beans’s voice, a combination of swagger and desperation, carries this story. Some examples (quotes from ARC):
“The ringing bell on the door of Gardner’s Pharmacy sounded like money disappearing from my pocket.”
“If I was a ghost, I wouldn’t haunt these shabby little houses. I’d haunt somewhere nice, like a mansion. But maybe ghosts were like the living and down on their luck.”
“I’d been practicing arithmetic since I’d first stepped into the school, and I never got better at it. Besides, I wasn’t the only one who was bad at arithmetic. President Roosevelt wasn’t much of a whiz, seeing how the country was still in a depression.”
Amidst this desperation is a solution. One day, a Bermuda shorts-clad Mr. Stone arrives, bent on transforming Key West into a tourist destination. Houses get painted and refurbished. The garbage gets cleaned up. A playground is created.
Beans isn’t sure he is on board with all of these changes, however. He’s not sure how he feels about the stray dogs being taken away, and he isn’t a fan of the New Dealers’ desire to crack down on the ever-popular Bolita gambling game.
This transformation of the island takes place amidst a backdrop of other vignettes: there’s Dot, the girl he refuses to play marbles with; there’s Termite, the dog who won’t stop following him until he makes him his own; there’s Beans’s “secret” cure for diaper rash, and at the center of Beans’s emotional life is a pit of guilt he promises himself never to throw himself into again.
This is a book that’s easy for adults to fall in love with. It has everything we like, coupled with just enough moral ambiguity to keep us intrigued and a happy ending.
However, I’m not yet convinced that younger or less experienced readers will fall in love with this book the same way adults will. Less experienced readers might find this book “slow” and may not have enough background knowledge to make connections to the past. That’s why I think this book is best for younger readers if it’s paired with some intentional teaching.
Younger readers can use this book to learn to ask questions about a setting: they can ask questions about why Beans is so excited to make a dime, why he has to go to a neighbor’s house to make a phone call, and why he and his friends play marbles in the street. More experienced readers can make historical connections to Roosevelt and the New Deal and contemplate themes of heroism, the value of telling the truth, and when it is and isn’t okay to lie.
Having not read Turtle in Paradise, I’m not sure how the two compare side-to-side. However, I’m floored that this strongly voiced and punchy historical fiction piece came out of the same person who did the ever-popular graphics Babymouse, Sunny Side Up and the thoughtful if quirky Fourteenth Goldfish.
August 29, 2016
Does building resilience in kids mean they have to be able to handle everything by themselves? Or that they can weather the hard times, with their sense of self intact? I adore Jennifer Holm's newest novel Full of Beans precisely for the way that Beans struggles through hard times, learning about the consequences of his decisions, yet never losing his sense of humor or his loyalty to his family and friends. It is both delightful to read and wonderful to reflect upon.
Read my full review at Great Kid Books blog.
Read my full review at Great Kid Books blog.
March 7, 2017
This book gets to some big issues in a way that is fun! It's also a very quick read. :) I won't spoil it, but I think this is a GREAT choice if you were interested in the historical period of Bud, Not Buddy.
June 23, 2016
Lively middle grade historical fiction, set during the Great Depression on Key West. I never knew that the New Deal was responsible for making Key West the tourist destination/artists' colony it is today, so there's some fascinating and unusual history at play here. Beans, the main character, has an engaging and quirky voice, but Holm introduces a lot of characters and plot threads, and some don't go anywhere, while others are resolved a bit too abruptly. But I think kids will be pulled along by this story, as happy as babies in a wagon. (It's a thing: just ask Beans.)
October 24, 2016
A charming companion story to TURTLE IN PARADISE!
April 17, 2021
Not as good as Turtle In Paradise, but still quite good!
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September 8, 2025It's my first day of 6th grade today 😧
March 13, 2017
It's July 1934, and times are hard for the Curry family. Poppy's out of work and in New Jersey looking for a job, and mom is taking in laundry, so son Beans Curry does what he can to help out. But after sifting through garbage, collecting empty cans and expecting to get 10¢ for every twenty cans, he is cheated out of 5¢ by the wily Winky, who now claims he said 50 cans per 10¢. One thing that Beans knows for sure is that grown-ups lie and Winky is a good example of that. Angered, Beans is determined to find another way to help his family out. Luckily, "businessman" Johnny Cakes happens to be looking for Beans with a job proposition.
Turns out, Johnny Cakes is a rum runner, and Beans's job is to help him get the illegally gotten Cuban rum off ships in the middle of the night. All Beans has to do is set off the fire alarm to divert any possible attention from the docks. It job pays good money and Beans doesn't mind doing it, but after so many false alarms, the fire department stops responding to them.Which is too bad, since one night there is a real fire, destroying the house of one of Beans's best friends. Racked with guilt, Beans never confesses his part in the fire, but he does stop working for Johnny Cakes and turns his sights toward more positive work trying to assuage his guilt.
At the same time, the federal government has sent down some New Dealers to decide whether to simply evacuate Key West, or clean it up and turn it into a warm, sunny tourist attraction. As the transformation of Key West begins, and houses get painted, a playground gets built, and stray dogs are rounded up, Beans manages to find a way to help in the beautification of Key West rounding up his gang of friends to collect garbage and rake seaweed.
But perhaps Beans's real saving grace will be his uncanny ability to take care of babies, after all, he certainly has a way with them.
Jennifer Holm returns to depression-era Key West, Florida in this fun prequel to Turtle in Paradise. It's a place she is familiar with, since her family had lived there since the late 1800s. The story is told in the first person by Beans, who draws the reader right in the midst of the sights, sounds and smells of 1934 Key West.
I thought Beans was a wonderful character. He's got a great sense of humor, a deep sense of loyalty towards friends and family, and despite his brief foray into crime, he actually as a moral compass and conscience to go with it, and, amazingly, he never complains when he is asked to help out at home, no matter what is is asked to do.
I loved the historical references, the mention of movie stars and writers of the time - Ernest Hemingway is already a Key West resident, Robert Frost a visitor, and with money in his pocket, Beans escapes life for a little while at the local movie theater. As he tells readers, Shirley Temple is just beginning to make it big and he is sure she will be a star.
I thought it interesting that Holm mentions leprosy. Sitting in the dark theater at night, Beans notices a man who seems to vanish in thin air after each movie ends. It turns out that the man, named Murray, has leprosy, and can't go out during the day: "It's not safe...They'd send me to the leper hospital in Louisiana. Nobody ever comes back from that place." (pg 125) (as a middle grader, I had read a book called Miracle at Carville by Betty Martin. This is the hospital that Murray is referring to).
Since this novel is grounded in the real history of Key West during the Great Depression, Holm has included an extensive Author's Note, with a number of photographs, and there is even a list of Beans's Favorite Kid Actors and his friend's Pork Chop's Best Sayings.
All in all, Full of Beans is definitely full of fun.
This book is recommended for readers age 9+
This book was sent to my by the publisher, Random House BFYR
This review was originally posted on Randomly Reading
Turns out, Johnny Cakes is a rum runner, and Beans's job is to help him get the illegally gotten Cuban rum off ships in the middle of the night. All Beans has to do is set off the fire alarm to divert any possible attention from the docks. It job pays good money and Beans doesn't mind doing it, but after so many false alarms, the fire department stops responding to them.Which is too bad, since one night there is a real fire, destroying the house of one of Beans's best friends. Racked with guilt, Beans never confesses his part in the fire, but he does stop working for Johnny Cakes and turns his sights toward more positive work trying to assuage his guilt.
At the same time, the federal government has sent down some New Dealers to decide whether to simply evacuate Key West, or clean it up and turn it into a warm, sunny tourist attraction. As the transformation of Key West begins, and houses get painted, a playground gets built, and stray dogs are rounded up, Beans manages to find a way to help in the beautification of Key West rounding up his gang of friends to collect garbage and rake seaweed.
But perhaps Beans's real saving grace will be his uncanny ability to take care of babies, after all, he certainly has a way with them.
Jennifer Holm returns to depression-era Key West, Florida in this fun prequel to Turtle in Paradise. It's a place she is familiar with, since her family had lived there since the late 1800s. The story is told in the first person by Beans, who draws the reader right in the midst of the sights, sounds and smells of 1934 Key West.
I thought Beans was a wonderful character. He's got a great sense of humor, a deep sense of loyalty towards friends and family, and despite his brief foray into crime, he actually as a moral compass and conscience to go with it, and, amazingly, he never complains when he is asked to help out at home, no matter what is is asked to do.
I loved the historical references, the mention of movie stars and writers of the time - Ernest Hemingway is already a Key West resident, Robert Frost a visitor, and with money in his pocket, Beans escapes life for a little while at the local movie theater. As he tells readers, Shirley Temple is just beginning to make it big and he is sure she will be a star.
I thought it interesting that Holm mentions leprosy. Sitting in the dark theater at night, Beans notices a man who seems to vanish in thin air after each movie ends. It turns out that the man, named Murray, has leprosy, and can't go out during the day: "It's not safe...They'd send me to the leper hospital in Louisiana. Nobody ever comes back from that place." (pg 125) (as a middle grader, I had read a book called Miracle at Carville by Betty Martin. This is the hospital that Murray is referring to).
Since this novel is grounded in the real history of Key West during the Great Depression, Holm has included an extensive Author's Note, with a number of photographs, and there is even a list of Beans's Favorite Kid Actors and his friend's Pork Chop's Best Sayings.
All in all, Full of Beans is definitely full of fun.
This book is recommended for readers age 9+
This book was sent to my by the publisher, Random House BFYR
This review was originally posted on Randomly Reading
October 26, 2020
Richie’s Picks: FULL OF BEANS by Jennifer L. Holm, Random House, August 2016, 208p., ISBN: 978-0-553-51036-2
“White ones and red ones
And some you can’t disguise
Twisted truth and half the news
Can’t hide it in your eyes”
--Thompson Twins, “Lies” (1982)
“Everyone shouted, ‘Hip, hip, hooray for Beans!’
“Then people were congratulating me and slapping me on the back. The radio was turned up loud. Cuban music started playing, and someone brought out snacks. It was an impromptu celebration, and I was the guest of honor.
“One by one, people came up to compliment me. Winky pushed his way through the crowd and slapped me on the back.
“‘I hear that my favorite worker saved the day!’ he said. ‘How’s it feel to be a hero?’
“‘’Scuse me,’ I said, and fought my way outside. I walked behind the firehouse. And threw up.”
FULL OF BEANS is a prequel to Jennifer L. Holm’s Newbery Honor book TURTLE IN PARADISE. It’s a Great Depression-era tale about a kid in Key West who is the “man of the family,” now that his father has departed for New Jersey in search of work. The story is, in part, a retelling of the Aesop fable, “The Boy Who Cried Wolf.”
As with TURTLE IN PARADISE, FULL OF BEANS is full of laugh-out-loud situations. But there is an equally sobering side to the tale. Beans is contemptuous of the frequency with which adults lie to kids. But when he has an opportunity to make a lot of easy money, he too is deceitful, ignoring right and wrong in favor of grabbing for the almighty buck.
All of Key West might think Beans is a hero, but he knows that’s a big fat lie.
The story begins with Winky having offered Beans a way to earn money by collecting empty cans. But when Beans collects the cans, Winky pays less than he’d promised. Beans realizes that it’s every man for himself, and that making money can be really tough work.
Beans then falls into a well-paying but unethical job, as an accomplice to a local bootlegger. As with the boy in the Aesop fable, Beans’s deceits on behalf of the bootlegger lead to unforeseen tragedy. To his credit, Beans is horrified by his own short-sightedness and, throughout the remainder of the story, he successfully seeks ways to make amends.
FULL OF BEANS contains a fascinating slice of history: During the Great Depression, Key West went broke. FDR’s people decided that the solution was to transform the island into a tourist destination. The sprucing up of Key West--which really happened--underlies this story.
Because FULL OF BEANS takes place before TURTLE IN PARADISE, it makes sense to have readers read them in chronological order, based on the story: BEANS first, and TURTLE second. So the question is: Is FULL OF BEANS so good that readers will be motivated to continue on and read TURTLE IN PARADISE?
I believe it is.
Richie Partington, MLIS
Richie's Picks http://richiespicks.pbworks.com
BudNotBuddy@aol.com
https://www.facebook.com/richie.parti...
Moderator http://groups.yahoo.com/group/middle_...
“White ones and red ones
And some you can’t disguise
Twisted truth and half the news
Can’t hide it in your eyes”
--Thompson Twins, “Lies” (1982)
“Everyone shouted, ‘Hip, hip, hooray for Beans!’
“Then people were congratulating me and slapping me on the back. The radio was turned up loud. Cuban music started playing, and someone brought out snacks. It was an impromptu celebration, and I was the guest of honor.
“One by one, people came up to compliment me. Winky pushed his way through the crowd and slapped me on the back.
“‘I hear that my favorite worker saved the day!’ he said. ‘How’s it feel to be a hero?’
“‘’Scuse me,’ I said, and fought my way outside. I walked behind the firehouse. And threw up.”
FULL OF BEANS is a prequel to Jennifer L. Holm’s Newbery Honor book TURTLE IN PARADISE. It’s a Great Depression-era tale about a kid in Key West who is the “man of the family,” now that his father has departed for New Jersey in search of work. The story is, in part, a retelling of the Aesop fable, “The Boy Who Cried Wolf.”
As with TURTLE IN PARADISE, FULL OF BEANS is full of laugh-out-loud situations. But there is an equally sobering side to the tale. Beans is contemptuous of the frequency with which adults lie to kids. But when he has an opportunity to make a lot of easy money, he too is deceitful, ignoring right and wrong in favor of grabbing for the almighty buck.
All of Key West might think Beans is a hero, but he knows that’s a big fat lie.
The story begins with Winky having offered Beans a way to earn money by collecting empty cans. But when Beans collects the cans, Winky pays less than he’d promised. Beans realizes that it’s every man for himself, and that making money can be really tough work.
Beans then falls into a well-paying but unethical job, as an accomplice to a local bootlegger. As with the boy in the Aesop fable, Beans’s deceits on behalf of the bootlegger lead to unforeseen tragedy. To his credit, Beans is horrified by his own short-sightedness and, throughout the remainder of the story, he successfully seeks ways to make amends.
FULL OF BEANS contains a fascinating slice of history: During the Great Depression, Key West went broke. FDR’s people decided that the solution was to transform the island into a tourist destination. The sprucing up of Key West--which really happened--underlies this story.
Because FULL OF BEANS takes place before TURTLE IN PARADISE, it makes sense to have readers read them in chronological order, based on the story: BEANS first, and TURTLE second. So the question is: Is FULL OF BEANS so good that readers will be motivated to continue on and read TURTLE IN PARADISE?
I believe it is.
Richie Partington, MLIS
Richie's Picks http://richiespicks.pbworks.com
BudNotBuddy@aol.com
https://www.facebook.com/richie.parti...
Moderator http://groups.yahoo.com/group/middle_...
September 12, 2016
"I had never held so much money in my whole life. I felt like Daddy Warbucks. Except with hair."
Received from my blogger partner JT. He received it at ALA Orlando 2016!! Thanks!!
My first experience with Holm was with The Fourteenth Goldfish and it was so different and I was dying to read more of her work.
This might be one of the first Middle grade historical fiction that I have ever read and I can't say that I was disappointed, but I wasn't captured like I was with her other book.
1934 was a rough year for the United States and even worse for Key West, Florida. The Great Depression was in full swing and it was every man, woman and child for themselves. Roosevelt wasn't doing much to help out either.
Beans, best marble player in town and part of a gang that everyone wanted to be apart of must take in a full load. His dad leaves for Jersey as he looks for a job and makes him man of the house. Taking care of his two siblings and his mom.
He picks through trash for cand and even starts to do some underhanded stuff with his brother to help his family out.
Delivering alcohol to local businesses for a few pennies. Anything to help his family.
As the town starts to go downhill, Roosevelt sends some people down there to liven up the community and bring back booming business and tourists. Trying to save that entire community from despair.
Very historically profound and at times funny, this is a tale of growth and love.
These kids had to give up a lot in order to make it during that horrid time.
It was an okay story, but I felt that I was missing something. Pieces didn't connect very well and felt like it jumped too much and way too fast for my tastes. But this could also be from me having a book hangover thanks to SJM.
And let's not forget that Hemingway dig.
Received from my blogger partner JT. He received it at ALA Orlando 2016!! Thanks!!
My first experience with Holm was with The Fourteenth Goldfish and it was so different and I was dying to read more of her work.
This might be one of the first Middle grade historical fiction that I have ever read and I can't say that I was disappointed, but I wasn't captured like I was with her other book.
1934 was a rough year for the United States and even worse for Key West, Florida. The Great Depression was in full swing and it was every man, woman and child for themselves. Roosevelt wasn't doing much to help out either.
Beans, best marble player in town and part of a gang that everyone wanted to be apart of must take in a full load. His dad leaves for Jersey as he looks for a job and makes him man of the house. Taking care of his two siblings and his mom.
He picks through trash for cand and even starts to do some underhanded stuff with his brother to help his family out.
Delivering alcohol to local businesses for a few pennies. Anything to help his family.
As the town starts to go downhill, Roosevelt sends some people down there to liven up the community and bring back booming business and tourists. Trying to save that entire community from despair.
Very historically profound and at times funny, this is a tale of growth and love.
These kids had to give up a lot in order to make it during that horrid time.
It was an okay story, but I felt that I was missing something. Pieces didn't connect very well and felt like it jumped too much and way too fast for my tastes. But this could also be from me having a book hangover thanks to SJM.
And let's not forget that Hemingway dig.
October 16, 2016
There is much to love in this middle grade story about a time during the Great Depression and the re-making of a town about to die. Yes, it's historical fiction, and Jennifer Holm manages to weave a story about Key West, and a government program that helped it be re-born into a vibrant and successful tourist destination. But the real story is about Beans Curry and his buddies who lead different lives from children today. They are poor, shoeless, and spend a lot of time on the streets, trying to find ways to make a few pennies, and sometimes getting taken by crooked adults. Everyone in this time is desperate for a few cents, most adults too. The underlying thread connects to lying, and the sub-title on the cover tells it like it is: "Never tell a lie unless you have to." Beans tells the story, which involves playing marbles, going through trash for condensed milk tins, a girl he hates (maybe), an evil grandmother, a loving father and mother, a dark secret of hidden people, and some very good friends! Holm adds an author's note and pictures about this re-building of Key West, and added sources. It's a great story.
October 8, 2020
Beans and his gang live in Key West during the Great Depression. He's learned that adults lie. His unemployed father is often gone seeking work, and his mother takes in laundry to help make ends meet. Beans often works for "Winky" who always cheats him. The town's buildings are in need of facelifts, and the economy is so poor, garbage service is no longer available. There's just a bad-smelling garbage dump. One day a man saying he's working for the president rolls into town. He plans to turn Key West into a tourist destination. I'll leave the rest of the story for you to find out. It's a great piece of historical fiction for young readers. They'll enjoy the gang and their marble-playing and perhaps learn a little about the Great Depression and the Works Progress Administration in the process. I listened to the audiobook read by Kirby Heyborne and found it a perfect way to enjoy the book.
November 9, 2020
If you’ve read TURTLE IN PARADISE, you’re familiar with Turtle’s cousin Beans, the protagonist of this story. He and his family live in Key West during the Depression and times are tough. The town is going broke and the city is cutting back on services. Beans’ father has left town to try to find work and his mother does what she can to bring in some money. When “New Dealers” come in to try to save the town, Beans is skeptical but eventually comes around. I thought this middle grade historical fiction book was terrific! I loved the characters and learned as I was entertained. It’s not necessary to have read TURTLE IN PARADISE to enjoy this book.
August 25, 2016
Jennifer Holm yet again enchants us with humor, heart and historical mastery. I too wanted to know more about Beans and this book does not disappoint. Such fascinating facts about the new dealers, bermuda shorts and illnesses in Key West. Such great characters and one-liners. So happy that Beans is still not impressed by that writer fellow!
September 1, 2016
I had no idea what this book was about when I started it, and sometimes that is the best way to read a book. This book was a joy to read. I learned stuff that I didn't know...and it was cool stuff about Key West in the Great Depression. The characters are totally characters! The whole Nana Philly thing is a hoot! I think kids and adults alike are going to fall in love with this book.
May 1, 2019
So cute! So funny! I really loved it because it didn’t take the typical plot route I was expecting. Also I’ve been to Key West twice so I could picture it perfectly (even though it was set in the 30s) and pretend i was there. Then i had to read Turtle In Paradise.
February 3, 2019
Companion novel to Turtle in Paradise. This story about Beans and his money making schemes in depression era Key West, Florida had me laughing out loud more times than I could count on one hand (or two). Even though, it's geared towards kids; anyone who fondly remembers The Little Rascals
July 25, 2016
Turtle in Paradise is my favorite book by Jenni Holm! So I loved reading about Beans and The Diaper Gang again. A very enjoyable book!
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March 30, 2018Full of Beans by Jennifer L. Holm, is a captivating novel about a young boy named Beans who is trying to get by during The Great Depression in Key West. I really enjoy reading historical fiction novels and I without a doubt enjoyed reading this historical fiction novel as well. I have developed this love of historical fiction as a student in elementary school where I read several historical fiction novels about Titanic and World War II in Germany. It has been a long time since I have read any historical fiction novels, so it was great reading a new one.
Before reading Full of Beans, I just had the knowledge from previous history classes to add to my understanding of the book. I did not do any prior research to the novel; however, I did not have any problems following or understanding the history behind the story. This story made the historical part of it interesting and engaging and the story itself was enticing and exciting. Holm’s Full of Beans, was enticing enough because of this excellent balance between story and fascinating history. I was encouraged to study more about the history of The Great Depression because of this book and that I now have a story to relate to any additional history I learn. If this book were to be read in an elementary school classroom, a lesson about The Great Depression should definitely be taught prior to reading it.
Full of Beans by Jennifer L. Holm is an excellent book that can be enjoyed by audiences of all ages. I would recommend this for an upper elementary school classroom especially if the knowledge from history class can be transferred and related to the book. The book is filled with fun, exciting, and very easy to relate to characters. The main character Beans is a child and I believe young students would have an effortless time relating to and understanding his story. Although this story covers difficult topics including poverty, family issues, health scares, breaking societal norms, and crime, I believe this is a great book to help students face some difficult topics and discuss their own morals and values as well as compare society then to society now.
Before reading Full of Beans, I just had the knowledge from previous history classes to add to my understanding of the book. I did not do any prior research to the novel; however, I did not have any problems following or understanding the history behind the story. This story made the historical part of it interesting and engaging and the story itself was enticing and exciting. Holm’s Full of Beans, was enticing enough because of this excellent balance between story and fascinating history. I was encouraged to study more about the history of The Great Depression because of this book and that I now have a story to relate to any additional history I learn. If this book were to be read in an elementary school classroom, a lesson about The Great Depression should definitely be taught prior to reading it.
Full of Beans by Jennifer L. Holm is an excellent book that can be enjoyed by audiences of all ages. I would recommend this for an upper elementary school classroom especially if the knowledge from history class can be transferred and related to the book. The book is filled with fun, exciting, and very easy to relate to characters. The main character Beans is a child and I believe young students would have an effortless time relating to and understanding his story. Although this story covers difficult topics including poverty, family issues, health scares, breaking societal norms, and crime, I believe this is a great book to help students face some difficult topics and discuss their own morals and values as well as compare society then to society now.
August 15, 2016
Loved finding out pieces that connect this story to TURTLE IN PARADISE.
Loved the details of the setting.
Loved each and every character.
Loved the ending.
Loved the details of the setting.
Loved each and every character.
Loved the ending.
May 31, 2016
My favorite book of 2016. Such a wonderful joy to read. Beans stole my heart. And Jenni's storytelling, just wow!
September 17, 2016
A truly delightful children's book that was so enlightening! Little rascals meets historical fiction about the new deal and key west.
October 29, 2019
Beans Curry may only be 10 but he's wise to the way of the world. Beans knows grown-ups lie. They lie to kids by telling them everything is OK even though any kid in Key West in 1934 knows times are tough. Beans is a conch- born and bred in Key West and he has the tough street smarts to prove it. Since his dad is out of work and his mom takes in laundry, there's little money for extras like movies. Beans longs to be a Hollywood star like that Shirley Temple kid. Beans and his pals have a surefire plan for making money any way they can. Beans isn't afraid to do dirty work. Then some stranger from Washington DC comes to town in his underwear (he calls them Bermuda shorts) comes to town to try to turn Key West into a tourist destination and Beans is positive this man is crazy and lying. Will things ever look up? Beans has a surefire plan to help his mom and save a little for the pictures but it involves lying. Can he act grown-up enough to lie to everyone about what he's doing?
I wasn't as charmed by Beans as I was by Turtle. The local color is really interesting and I especially loved the underwear joke and the pop culture references. The humor is cute but the story fell flat for me. It's a prequel to Turtle in Paradise and moves very slowly towards the beginning of Turtle. I kept waiting for more plot in the beginning. I was uncomfortable with the job Beans has to do and how he lies to his mom. What he does is illegal and he kind of knows it too. He does it for the good of his family which is sweet and kind but it's not a good job. The men from Washington complicate the plot unnecessarily until it comes together at the end. My favorite part of the story involves the adventures of The Diaper Gang. I also loved them in Turtle.
When I read Turtle I loved the quirky kids and the aptly named Turtle. In this book I wasn't as enamored with the characters since the ones I liked best weren't even in this book much. I didn't like Beans all that much. He's a tough kid and kind of hard to like. He bullies an awkward boy who wants to be part of the gang and then uses the kid to get what he wants. I find that sort of thing incredibly mean. He's also mean to his little brother but that I understand! Kermit is rather whiny and annoying. On the positive side, he loves his family and wants to help out. However, part of his motivation to help is the fact is father has gone to New Jersey to look for work and Beans doesn't want to move. I felt really sorry for Too Bad because he was awkward and ostracized by other kids. In one instance he does deserve their anger but none of them really want to be friends with this kid. Dot is a bratty girl but she shows some depth of character when Beans really needs a friend, which is more than I can say for his gang.
The adults run the gambit from sympathetic to horrible. Mrs. Curry is trying to do her best to put food on the table and keep her family together. She has a hard task and my heart broke for her at one point even though I knew exactly what was going to happen. Nana Philly is a nasty, cranky old lady- the type boys usually label a witch. Winky is the liangist liar who lied. He makes Beans do literal dirty work and then screws the kid over. Kids take things adults say literally and it's not good to lie to them. Johnnycake isn't much better. He uses Beans for his own ends. The one adult I really liked was a surprise character. I never expected the "haint" plot to turn out like that. I also liked the artist because even though he depicted Key West as it would become, he never lies to Beans. Mr. Stone is awful and cranky. He barges into the community unannounced imposing a new way of life on the people who have lived a certain way forever. He doesn't bother to work with the community or help them really understand what is happening and why. Stone is pretty rude to the kids too. There's a cute cameo from Robert Frost and a joke throwing shade at Ernest Hemingway.
This book includes an extensive author's note including photos in the print edition and an anecdote from the author's own family and other primary sources. There's also a list of Beans' favorite kid actors, PorkChop's best sayings and official rules of the Diaper Gang.
I did not enjoy the narrator. I am used to him as Moose in Al Capone Does My Shirts. I think he's great as Moose but with this book he doesn't do enough voices and his reading is pretty flat. I'd like to hear this read with a conch accent. I'm sure there is one. I imagine Beans having a country folksy way of talking. At least this book needs a reader with more animation in his voice.
The author herself reads her historical note. That was fun to hear what she sounds like.
I would recommend this book to tween boys who may find it funny and learn a little something.
I wasn't as charmed by Beans as I was by Turtle. The local color is really interesting and I especially loved the underwear joke and the pop culture references. The humor is cute but the story fell flat for me. It's a prequel to Turtle in Paradise and moves very slowly towards the beginning of Turtle. I kept waiting for more plot in the beginning. I was uncomfortable with the job Beans has to do and how he lies to his mom. What he does is illegal and he kind of knows it too. He does it for the good of his family which is sweet and kind but it's not a good job. The men from Washington complicate the plot unnecessarily until it comes together at the end. My favorite part of the story involves the adventures of The Diaper Gang. I also loved them in Turtle.
When I read Turtle I loved the quirky kids and the aptly named Turtle. In this book I wasn't as enamored with the characters since the ones I liked best weren't even in this book much. I didn't like Beans all that much. He's a tough kid and kind of hard to like. He bullies an awkward boy who wants to be part of the gang and then uses the kid to get what he wants. I find that sort of thing incredibly mean. He's also mean to his little brother but that I understand! Kermit is rather whiny and annoying. On the positive side, he loves his family and wants to help out. However, part of his motivation to help is the fact is father has gone to New Jersey to look for work and Beans doesn't want to move. I felt really sorry for Too Bad because he was awkward and ostracized by other kids. In one instance he does deserve their anger but none of them really want to be friends with this kid. Dot is a bratty girl but she shows some depth of character when Beans really needs a friend, which is more than I can say for his gang.
The adults run the gambit from sympathetic to horrible. Mrs. Curry is trying to do her best to put food on the table and keep her family together. She has a hard task and my heart broke for her at one point even though I knew exactly what was going to happen. Nana Philly is a nasty, cranky old lady- the type boys usually label a witch. Winky is the liangist liar who lied. He makes Beans do literal dirty work and then screws the kid over. Kids take things adults say literally and it's not good to lie to them. Johnnycake isn't much better. He uses Beans for his own ends. The one adult I really liked was a surprise character. I never expected the "haint" plot to turn out like that. I also liked the artist because even though he depicted Key West as it would become, he never lies to Beans. Mr. Stone is awful and cranky. He barges into the community unannounced imposing a new way of life on the people who have lived a certain way forever. He doesn't bother to work with the community or help them really understand what is happening and why. Stone is pretty rude to the kids too. There's a cute cameo from Robert Frost and a joke throwing shade at Ernest Hemingway.
This book includes an extensive author's note including photos in the print edition and an anecdote from the author's own family and other primary sources. There's also a list of Beans' favorite kid actors, PorkChop's best sayings and official rules of the Diaper Gang.
I did not enjoy the narrator. I am used to him as Moose in Al Capone Does My Shirts. I think he's great as Moose but with this book he doesn't do enough voices and his reading is pretty flat. I'd like to hear this read with a conch accent. I'm sure there is one. I imagine Beans having a country folksy way of talking. At least this book needs a reader with more animation in his voice.
The author herself reads her historical note. That was fun to hear what she sounds like.
I would recommend this book to tween boys who may find it funny and learn a little something.
March 26, 2019
This story, set in the 1930s, is told from a young boy named Beans. Living in the Key West during the Great Depression brings a lot of challenges. His dad, also known as Poppy, has headed north to find work which means he has to pick up some responsibility for his little brothers. His mom works hard but they still just manage to get by, if that. Beans is resourceful and very observant. He knows every "conch" in town and is always looking to make a buck. But when opportunity knocks, will Beans go too far? How much is money really worth? I would definitely recommend reading this book and continue to ponder these questions.
Like many historical fiction stories, it weaves two plots into one. You are consistently following the events of the Great Depression while also following the life of Beans and his family. This historical fiction book brings you into the 1930s and emulates a feeling of empathy for the characters and the time period. The light-hearted and funny parts of the story don't mask the seriousness of the events but make this story child friendly. Through experiencing life in the Great Depression through Bean's eyes, I think readers, as young as 8 and as old as 12, will want to learn more about this tragic time in the history of the United States.
In the classroom, you can use this book to introduce a unit on the Great Depression. It would be fun to do like a read aloud "scavenger hunt" of certain things he talks about in the book that are connected to the Great Depression. This book has a strong sense of setting in the 1930s which can prompt a lot of discussions. It could also be used to compare and contrast people and families during different times in history. Students can read a variety of books in different literature circles and spend time discussing similaries and differences in people. They can also work together to create a timeline of how people and families have changed and evolved over time and what those major influences were!
Not only did I read this book, but I also listened to the audiobook version. I appreciated the way the narrator told the story but it did not offer the image of Beans that I got when reading the story. I pictured two different people which ultimately made it harder for me to comprehend. I think his ethnicity and voice was crucial to the development of this story and this was hard to tell in the audiobook version. I preferred to dive into the story and create these voices for myself.
Like many historical fiction stories, it weaves two plots into one. You are consistently following the events of the Great Depression while also following the life of Beans and his family. This historical fiction book brings you into the 1930s and emulates a feeling of empathy for the characters and the time period. The light-hearted and funny parts of the story don't mask the seriousness of the events but make this story child friendly. Through experiencing life in the Great Depression through Bean's eyes, I think readers, as young as 8 and as old as 12, will want to learn more about this tragic time in the history of the United States.
In the classroom, you can use this book to introduce a unit on the Great Depression. It would be fun to do like a read aloud "scavenger hunt" of certain things he talks about in the book that are connected to the Great Depression. This book has a strong sense of setting in the 1930s which can prompt a lot of discussions. It could also be used to compare and contrast people and families during different times in history. Students can read a variety of books in different literature circles and spend time discussing similaries and differences in people. They can also work together to create a timeline of how people and families have changed and evolved over time and what those major influences were!
Not only did I read this book, but I also listened to the audiobook version. I appreciated the way the narrator told the story but it did not offer the image of Beans that I got when reading the story. I pictured two different people which ultimately made it harder for me to comprehend. I think his ethnicity and voice was crucial to the development of this story and this was hard to tell in the audiobook version. I preferred to dive into the story and create these voices for myself.
April 2, 2018
When I looked at the cover of the book I initially thought that it would be about a boy who lost his parents during the great depression and all he had was his dog to accompany him while he collected garbage. The title seemed very interesting, and that is part of why I decided to read this book. I knew that this book was about the Great Depression and I remembered learning about it for the very first time in the third grade and being confused about what the stock market was. I later learned that it was not the whole cause of the Great Depression, but it was what made it worse. This book did not talk about the Great Depression in a historical way. It gave insight about the Great Depression through Beans life. Just as I imagine many children lived through seeing their parents struggle, and having to go out and find a way to have some money to get through the day like Beans. Beans was a child who saw the way his father left in search of a job, and how his mother washed neighbors laundry which caused him to find a way to help by entering a life style of crime. I liked how the author wrote this book in a way that would introduce the reader on what the Great Depression was without packing it with historical terms. This book can be used to teach kids about the Great Depression. It can be read before teaching about it to introduce students to it.
August 13, 2017
What fun it was to be back in Key West, Florida, this time with Turtle's cousin Bean and his friends and family. Key West during the Depression was definitely not the vacation paradise filled with multi-million dollar homes that it is today. Most houses were little more than unheated shacks and everyone was struggling to find enough work to put food on the table. I loved how Beans and his friends came up with some pretty savvy ways to make a little money-like freeing up the parents by carting their sleeping babies around town in a wagon. And Bean's recipe for diaper rash? Ingenious. Gotta love it. I love that so much of the time, place, events, and people in the story comes from the author's own family history in Key West during the Depression. And if I'm not mistaken, when the car pulls up in front of Bean's house in the last paragraph of the book, who do you think that girl is sitting in the car with the man behind the wheel? Turtle of course, and we know how that story goes. And if you don't, then definitely pick up a copy of Turtle in Paradise. You won't be disappointed.
December 22, 2021
This was a really amusing story taking place in the depression era of Key West. I learned something I'd never heard about.
Bean or "Peas" as the New Deal guy called him, has to be the man of the family while his dad is looking for work. He takes work to help his family survive. Collecting milk cans, turning on fire alarms so liquor can be delivered, babysitting, etc. He loves his mom, who takes in washing, to help them get by. He is part of a marble gang, winning marbles right and left. He has good pals, sees movies, and thinks like a kid.
At the end of the book, it tells the historical facts about Julius Stone's plan to make Key West a tourists destination. It also lists the kid actors in all the movies Bean watches. It also includes some of the kid lingo or the era.
I enjoyed this book immensely. It was recommended by Second Step curriculum. I'd like to read the second book, Turtles in Paradise. I wonder if it was recommended because it talks about lying. I'll have to look into that.
Bean or "Peas" as the New Deal guy called him, has to be the man of the family while his dad is looking for work. He takes work to help his family survive. Collecting milk cans, turning on fire alarms so liquor can be delivered, babysitting, etc. He loves his mom, who takes in washing, to help them get by. He is part of a marble gang, winning marbles right and left. He has good pals, sees movies, and thinks like a kid.
At the end of the book, it tells the historical facts about Julius Stone's plan to make Key West a tourists destination. It also lists the kid actors in all the movies Bean watches. It also includes some of the kid lingo or the era.
I enjoyed this book immensely. It was recommended by Second Step curriculum. I'd like to read the second book, Turtles in Paradise. I wonder if it was recommended because it talks about lying. I'll have to look into that.
August 25, 2017
Beans lives on Key West at the height of the Great Depression, and it is not a lovely tropical spot--its full of trash (they cannot afford to pay to haul it away), run down houses, rum runners and unemployed men. Beans is a hoot and spends his days watching his awful brother Kermit and trying to figure out how to make a buck. When some men come from President Roosevelt's "New Deal," Beans thinks they're nuts, but is impressed when their efforts to paint the houses pink and clean up the island actually start to work. This companion book to Turtle in Paradise is terrific with vivid characters and well-researched historical details. And its hysterical. Kids in grades 4 and up will love this one.
July 10, 2017
Another home run recommendation by my son. This is a prequel of sorts to Turtle in Paradise.
The year is 1934, and this is a Key West like no modern tourist would ever believe. Broken-down wooden shacks, rotting garbage in the streets, bankruptcy, shysters, smugglers, and barefoot kids abound when President Franklin D. Roosevelt’s New Deal comes to town.
Multifaceted supporting characters—a motley group of friends (all with nicknames such as Pork Chop and Too Bad), a fussy baby brother, a pushy girl nemesis, a mean grandmother, a Key West resident afflicted with leprosy—are all seen through Bean’s refreshingly honest eyes, create an entertaining novel with an historically accurate backdrop.
The year is 1934, and this is a Key West like no modern tourist would ever believe. Broken-down wooden shacks, rotting garbage in the streets, bankruptcy, shysters, smugglers, and barefoot kids abound when President Franklin D. Roosevelt’s New Deal comes to town.
Multifaceted supporting characters—a motley group of friends (all with nicknames such as Pork Chop and Too Bad), a fussy baby brother, a pushy girl nemesis, a mean grandmother, a Key West resident afflicted with leprosy—are all seen through Bean’s refreshingly honest eyes, create an entertaining novel with an historically accurate backdrop.
January 11, 2018
I had been skipping over this book because the cover made it look like a silly story. But when it kept appearing on award lists, I gave in and read it. It's set in Key West during the depression and ends up telling the story through a child's point of view of the clean up that led to Key West becoming a tourist destination spot instead of being given up on by the government and evacuated. Beans is a good main character and learned some important lessons. The "Author's Notes" explain more of some on the importance of the historical clean-up project. Very good story and another reminder to me not to judge a book by its cover!
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