Turtle in Paradise

The Diaper Gang is a group of boys who take care of babies in exchange for candy. Led by Beans, Turtle’s oldest cousin, the group initially includes his friends Pork Chop and Ira, as well as his younger brother, Kermit. The group has a clear hierarchy and adheres to a specific set of rules, which Kermit recites as follows: “No girls allowed. Keep your rag clean. Always duck. And never tell anyone the secret formula” for treating diaper rash (28). Under Beans’s tight-fisted influence, the Diaper Gang follows rigid rules and is initially hostile toward Turtle, whom Beans resents for disrupting his life. Kermit, by contrast, is more welcoming and friendly toward Turtle, though he lacks the influence to admit her to the group. Other boys sometimes express interest in joining, but Beans denies them, with Too Bad’s failed attempt to qualify resembling a botched job interview.

Two events from the novel’s concluding chapters leave a lasting effect on the Diaper Gang. First, Beans and Pork Chop get into a major fight. As a result, Beans is forced to finally end his strict, punitive approach as he tearfully forgives Pork Chop for losing the boat. Second, the Diaper Gang is rescued thanks to the efforts of two characters they previously viewed with disdain: Killie the Horse and Too Bad. In a show of gratitude, Beans allows Too Bad to join the gang, paving the way for him to later formalize Turtle as a member. The Diaper Gang’s evolution reveals the drawbacks of an exclusive, rules-oriented approach, as opposed to a more inclusive pattern. Beans finally realizes that Kermit had the right idea all along in treating Turtle kindly.

As the novel opens, Turtle moves in with her Aunt Minnie. Though Aunt Minnie is often stressed and can be verbally critical at times, she is also resilient and compassionate. In addition to caring for her three boys, the youngest of whom, Buddy, is still toilet training, she runs a laundry business from home to augment the income her husband Vernon earns. Since Vernon is often away, Aunt Minnie functions essentially as a single parent, so when Turtle first appears, she only adds to Aunt Minnie’s worries. Over time, however, Aunt Minnie comes to respect and appreciate Turtle; she is particularly impressed when Turtle offers to skip a movie to spend time with Nana Philly. By the time Turtle returns after going missing for several days to search for treasure, Aunt Minnie has become so attached to her that she scolds and hugs her with equal vigor. Aunt Minnie serves as a mentor and role model to Turtle, as well as a foil character to her sister, Sadiebelle, who is more idealistic.

Aunt Minnie’s progress in the novel dovetails with that of Turtle, Sadiebelle, and Nana Philly, as their family is reunited. For Aunt Minnie, that involves admitting that the paper dolls she resented Sadiebelle for taking do not belong to her alone; instead, they belong to the family.

Turtle’s mother, Sadiebelle, appears in the novel primarily in flashbacks, though she arrives in Key West at the novel’s conclusion. Turtle and Sadiebelle enjoy a strong relationship, and they share a dream of owning a home of their own someday, even though Sadiebelle’s work as a housekeeper does not pay very well. According to both Turtle and Aunt Minnie, Sadiebelle is foolish and naive, and she repeatedly enters romantic relationships only to be disappointed when her boyfriends turn out to be less trustworthy than expected. This pattern reaches its peak with Archie, Sadiebelle’s current boyfriend and eventual husband. When he takes advantage of her and Turtle, Sadiebelle is crushed. However, she is simultaneously restored as she returns to her place in Key West, regaining closeness to her family. Though readers cannot tell exactly how much Sadiebelle has changed, since Turtle’s narration offers little insight, her circular journey home is complete.

Slow Poke is a sailor who lives in Key West, as well as Turtle’s father, though she doesn’t find out until late in the novel. The first time Slow Poke sees Turtle, she notes that his eyes “go still” and he asks whether she is related to Sadiebelle right away, showing that he instantly recognizes her as his daughter. From that time on, he begins to befriend her, even offering her a temporary job as part of his crew. Even before she knows that they are related, Turtle notes how well she gets along with Slow Poke: “There’s something about him that tugs at me. He’s so kind. And, of course, he’s got good taste—he likes the funny pages” (65). As his nickname suggests, Slow Poke is also famously slow to act; his delay in proposing to Sadiebelle was part of the reason she left Key West. As he puts it, “I’ve always taken my own sweet time doing things. My mother said I was late for my own birth” (71). Although Slow Poke is still running behind by the end of the novel—his rescue of the Diaper Gang is slowed by the storm, and his interest in Sadiebelle is put off by Archie’s appearance—Slow Poke remains a good friend of Turtle’s and is finally free to act as the father she now knows him to be.