Parents' Guide to

Full of Beans

By Darienne Stewart, Common Sense Media Reviewer

age 8+

Plucky boy finds conscience, hope amid Great Depression.

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Author Jennifer L. Holm artfully blends personal and political history for an illuminating portrait of a remarkable time and place. In this terrific companion to her Newbery Honor-winning Turtle in Paradise, Holm (Squish, The Fourteenth Goldfish) includes plenty to please fans of that novel -- including showing how the Diaper Gang got started -- while making newcomers feel right at home among Key West's Conch families. Kids will learn plenty about the era and particularly Key West through the observant eyes of Beans, whose grit and heart make him an appealing -- and scrappy -- character.

Despite the grim backdrop, the book is full of levity and small joys: the thrill of marble victories, the sense of freedom from spending days outdoors with friends, the magic of the movies, the marvel of seeing a community and a young boy striving to be their best selves.

Book Details

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