Full of Beans
A Newbery Honor novel set in 1933 Key West — follow Beans as he navigates family, neighborhood antics, and small-town life just before Turtle arrives in the Florida Keys.
Set in 1933 Key West, Full of Beans follows twelve-year-old Beans as he scrambles to make sense of his lively neighborhood, family obligations, and the everyday challenges of a small Depression-era town. Beans is clever, mischievous, and endlessly curious, offering a perspective full of humor and heart.
You get a glimpse of the Florida Keys before Turtle’s arrival in Turtle in Paradise, with the backdrop of the Great Depression subtly shaping daily life. Readers encounter details like kids running errands for coins, tight-knit communities, and the quirky local culture of Key West, including the sponge trade and Conch traditions.
A Newbery Honor winner, inspired by Holm’s own family stories, Full of Beans captures the energy of a kid making his own way in a time and place that feels vivid and real. It pairs beautifully with Turtle in Paradise, providing another window into the same world from a slightly different point of view.
Thoughts from a Looper:
Reading Full of Beans felt like peeking into Key West just a couple of years before Turtle (from Turtle in Paradise) arrived. As a parent and a Looper, it was fun to catch all the little historical and local details: the sponge trade, the Conch culture, kids hustling for odd jobs, and the way a tight-knit neighborhood shaped daily life. After cruising through the Florida Keys ourselves, the setting practically jumped off the page: dusty streets, sunbaked yards, and the sense of independence mixed with isolation that’s still part of life there.
My kids enjoyed following Beans’ mischief and imagining what it would have been like to explore a small town like that in the 1930s. Paired with Turtle in Paradise, it’s a great way to see the same world through two different eyes and to spark conversations about history, family, and how kids find adventure no matter the era.
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