The Problem with Paradise

But Tartuga turns out to have its charms--particularly a cute boy Casey's age named Jonah. And spending so much time away from cell phones and emails give Casey the unexpected chance to listen to herself. But when a tropical storm bears down in Tartuga and Casey's father can't make it back in time, will Casey be able to pull it together and save Paradise for all of them?

From the Hardcover edition.

Nobody gets why Casey's upset. She's just been informed that she's spending the ENTIRE summer on some deserted tropical island with her father, his new wife, and her two brothers. Her father will study the endangered sea turtle, her brothers will drive her crazy, and Casey's sure she will die of boredom while dreaming of all the fun she could have been having with her friends back home.

But Tartuga turns out to have its charms--particularly a cute boy Casey's age named Jonah. And spending so much time away from cell phones and emails give Casey the unexpected chance to listen to herself. But when a tropical storm bears down in Tartuga and Casey's father can't make it back in time, will Casey be able to pull it together and save Paradise for all of them?

From the Hardcover edition.

Children's Literature

Poor Casey! Shipped off to spend her entire summer vacation with her kid brothers, dad, and his new wife, Sherry. Then again, we're also talking about staying on a lush, idyllic island in the Caribbean, where dad studies, and saves, endangered sea turtles (reminiscent of E.L. Konigburgs A View from Saturday). Initially, Casey feels sorry for herself, and lost without her friends, boyfriend, and Internet connection. As the days go by, however, she begins to change, taking time to explore and appreciate the world around her. She also explores Jonah, the handsome nephew of her dad's shifty assistant. Jonah shares his knowledge and fascination of marine life with Casey, and they soon become fascinated with each other, too. Casey also asks Sherry to teach her how to sail a boat, and after three weeks of intensive lessons, she succeeds, all on her own! This accomplishment strengthens her new-found desire to lead, rather than follow: a strength tested when dad and Sherry are away as a hurricane strikes, and Casey is responsible for the safety of four children. The plot is predictable (including the twist that Jonah's uncle is poaching the very turtles he and Casey's dad are trying to help), and the story sometimes reads like a crash course in sailing and/or marine biology. Nevertheless, Casey is a winning heroine with a dry sense of humor, and her quest for growth may inspire other girls to challenge themselves. It's also refreshing to see an angst-free relationship between an adolescent girl and her step-mom.