Full of Beans

Reviewed by: Barbara Merritt - Scarborough School District, Scarborough, Southern Maine Library District

Review Date: December 2, 2015

Review

Beans Curry and his friends are members of the Keepsies, the best marble playing gang in Key West, Florida during the Depression in this prequel to Turtle in Paradise. His family, like most families, has little money. Mom takes in laundry and Dad is mostly away trying to find work. Beans is part of a number of schemes to make money, while "New Dealers" move in to clean up Key West and turn it into a tourist destination. One of Beans' schemes ends badly. His reaction shows his true character as he enlists his gang to help clean up Key West. The story is written with humor, and with good period detail (including keeping the Sears Roebuck catalog in the outhouse, not for reading). It provides a good look at this difficult period in American history and will be enjoyed by young readers.

Overall Book Score: very good