| QieREN PUBLIC LIBRARY of the New York Times

ery Honor-winning novel

AIV9 33u4 AYVu
= gi1 NACIOH
 ALSO BY JENNIFER L. HOLM

Boston Jane: An Adventure

Boston Jane: Wilderness Days
Boston Jane: The Claim
The Fourteenth Goldfish
The Third Mushroom
The Lion.of Mars
Middle School Is Worse Than Meatloaf
_ Eighth Grade Is Making Me Sick
~ Our Only May Amelia
Penny from Heaven
Turtle in Paradise
Full of Beans_

BY JENNIFER L. HOLM AND MATTHEW HOLM

Sunny Side Up
Swing If, Sunny
Sunny Rolls the Dice
The Babymouse series
The Evil Princess vs. the Brave Knight series
The Squish series
My First Comics series

ALSO BY SAVANNA GANUCHEAU

Bloom (with Kevin Panetta)

Photo credits: p. 235: © Bettmann/CORBIS. p. 236: Library of Congress, Prints and Photographs Division,
FSA/OWI Collection, LC-USF34-026281-PDLC. p. 237 (top): Monroe County Library.
p. 237 (bottom): Personal collection of Cathy Porter, used by permission. p. 238: State Archives of Florida.

This is a work of fiction. All incidents and dialogue, and all characters with the exception of some well-known
historical and public figures, are products of the author’s imagination and are not to be construed as real.
Where real-life historical or public figures appear, the situations, incidents, and dialogues concerning those
persons are fictional and are not intended to depict actual events or to change the fictional nature of the work.
In all other respects, any resemblance to persons living or dead is entirely coincidental.

Text copyright © 2021 by Jennifer L. Holm

Jacket and interior illustrations copyright © 2021 by Savanna Ganucheau

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ISBN 978-0-593-12630-1 (pbk) — ISBN 978-0-593-12631-8 (trade) —
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=)
_) GRAPHIC
A comic on every bookshelf.
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https://archive.org/details/turtleinparadiseO000holm_o8t0
 Pronunciation: ‘kank, ‘kanch
Function: noun
4: any of various large spital-shelled marine
gastropod mollusks (as of the genus Strombus)
Florida Keys
2: of ten capitalized: a native or resident of the
Dictionary,
—Merriam-Webster’s Collegiate 411th edition
Rotten Kids
 Everyone thinks
children are sweet
as Necco Wafers.

But I've lived long

enough to know

ca + a
Kids are rotten. What do you
think of my new
hair, Turtle?

I tell you,
Turtle, Hair Today
It sure is
coming in thick,

I’m gonna
be rich like
Daddy Warbucks—
just you wait
and see!

I'm going to sell

buckets of the stuff.
It really makes your
hair grow, J fell yah!
Now, the only way Mr. Edgit is going
Got my own testimonial
to sell a million is if he got Archie on the
right here on my head. case. Archie could sell a trap to a mouse.
 Well, hello,
sweet thing.
Is the lady of the
house at home?

I'm not sweet.

I slugged Ronald
Carruthers when he
tried to throw my cat
in the well, and I'd
do it again.
 Housewives
can't resist him. |

Nice to meet
you, ma'am. My
pee : name's Archie.

Some
sales fella.

I know Mama
couldn't.

Mama put her hand

over her heart, and it
was a good thing, too.

Otherwise, it would
have jumped right out
_ of her chest.
 This sure
turned out to be
convenient, huh?

You needing to go
to Key West and
me having a sales
trip in Florida.

Say, what happened

to that cat of yours
anyway? It got the

Guess that's
why you call
her Smokey?

The
hame came
first.
 Some kids are
really rotten.

You didn't say Turtle's a

anything about good girl. She won't
bringing a child be any trouble.
when I hired you.

noisy. I can't
abide noise.

Some grown-
ups ate, Too.

You'll stay with

your aunt Minerva,
my sister. Just long —
enough for me ~\ But I don't
to save up to get know her,
a place for us.
 It's
Minnie’s happy to paradise.
have you stay with
her, and you'll love
Key West, baby.

The
Bellewood.

Won't that
be swell?

And someday,
we'll have our
'

own house.

“<a
 She's always had fo
stats in her eyes.

She believes in
Hollywood endings.
——

7
Paradise Lost
 Well, we finally
made it. So this is
Key West, huh? Sure
took forever and
a day to get here.
 I can't tell
where this
Curry Lane
is.
These people
ever hear of
street signs?

VU iz
Shs
oe ~o
3
CS)
osPee
in
o
2
a &
—
You're Fi
looking =f Which one’s
the Currys’

They're all
Currys’, mister.
It's Curry Lane.

Come on, Turfle.

At least we're in
the right place.

So what are
you selling,
mister?

Well, since you

asked, I do happen
to have some
Hair Today back in
my automobile!

15
 Guess you
ain't a satisfied
Makes customer.
your hair
grow!

Smokey's never
been scared of dogs.
Just kids.
 Hush, Termite!
What's going
on out here?

Aw, it's
just some
salesman,
Ma.

I'm Lyle Edgit,

and I'm looking for
Minerva Curry.
Your
name is
Mr. Iqjit?!

That’s because
I'm Sadiebelle’s
aren't the daughter.
spitting image
of my sister,
Sadiebelle!

Where's
your mother?

17
 Mama got a new job
? y as a housekeeper, and
Did : | Mrs. Budnick doesn't like
something 4 children so she sent me
happen to from New Jersey fo live
her?

This is just
like Sadiebelle.
She never
thinks.

As if I don't
have enough already
with three kids and a
husband who's never

T'll leave you

to your happy
family reunion.

18
 Ma!
I had an
accident!

Beans, help Let me help

yout cousin with you with your
bag, Tortoise.

19
Lucky as an
Orphan »
~~
I used to feel sorry
for orphans...

..but Little Orphan

Annie got adopted by
Daddy Warbucks...

That's just about

as lucky as if gets.

I bet she doesn't have

to worry about being sent to
a house that’s tiny and dark
and smells like sour milk.
Where should
I put my
suitcase?
The boys will
have to share,
I suppose. You can
stay in Beans’s room.
Upstairs to
 What
happened
to him?

Some boys
lit her tail
on fire.

25
 Beans, did you take
my shooter? If you
fed another marble to
the gulls, I'll tell Ma.

For Pete's sake, Buddy, Beans, get

go put some pants on! Termite out
Kermit, get back to of here.
your nap right now! Ma! I ain't
Beans, yout cousin is tired, and Beans
staying in your room. ain't sleeping
with us, no way
no how!
Why can't
she stay with
the little

can sleep
with me!

26
 Don't come
back inside until
I say so!

Well, that’s
one way out

Y
Aren't you
a little old I
for naps? rheumatic fever,
and now I've got
a weak heart.
 Hey,
Pork Chop!

and Beans.
They just go
together.

Aw, some
freeloading cousin
from New Jersey.

Well, if it ain't
the Diaper Gang.
Mr. Gardner
delivered
it to me by
mistake.

Must be
for you,
Tortoise.

Diaper Gang's
got itself a new
member, I see.

You mean her? You got a club We watch babies.

She's not in the called the Diaper Bad babies.
gang. No girls Gang? What do The crying kind.
allowed. you do? Change
diapers?
We
get paid in

Course
we change
diapers!
And there's Then it's no
rules.
gitls allowed,

First rule of the keep your

Diaper Gang is tag clean,
you gotta know
the rules. I know
the rules!

..never fell
anyone the secret
formula.

Secret
formula? Cures it
like that.
diaper
 Hey, Beans.
You think it'll
work on this?
Nicked myself
shaving. everything, Jelly,
but it'll cost

You're pretty
hard for an
Sorry, Jelly. eleven-year-old,
Business is Beans.
business.

Gotta be
to handle bad
babies.

You ever take

care of good
babies? we're always
in business.

32
The Conch
Telegraph
 mos
ot =o
QOSeGe

Vv © “ooan
Y
Zz o
Ls

Alligator
peat on Cuban
bread.

35
 I read the letter from
your mother...She says
she's planning on marrying
this Archie fella. He
planning on marrying her?

I spent my whole
childhood taking care of
Is he nice? Sadiebelle, and here I am
Is he good taking care of you now.
I sure hope you have more
sense than her.
What's an
alligator pear

He bought Are all kids

me these from New Jersey
shoes. as dumb as you?

36
That's an Encyclopedias.
alligator
pear.
What does
this Archie
sell, anyway? Encyclopedias?

That's an
avocado...

Dumb kids like you

who don't know what
ah avocado is.

Course you Take Buddy with you.

can't come, Turtle, too. I don't want
children underfoot. I need
to finish all this laundry
today ot Mrs. Cardillo
won't pay me.
i” = Oh, Beans, I
don't think I've
ever been so
happy to see
someone.
 I sweat he didn't
sleep more than five
minutes last night!
He's teething
real bad.

Don't worry,
Mrs. Lowe.
We'll take
care of him.

His mother
What's spoils him. Picks
wrong with him up every time
him? he cries.

That's why we
don't let girls in the
gang. Girls always
Pudding's the want To pick up
worst baby babies.
we've ever had.
 Not me.
I'm not picking
up any baby.

I don't like babies. They're

like Shirley Temple: everyone
thinks they're cute, but the
fact is they're annoying.
 Sure thing,
Beans.

Spate chips,
Mr. Roberts?

You must be Turfle.

My, I do believe
you are as pretty
as your mother.

Conchs like to talk.

How come
Everyone knew you
everyone knows
were here five minutes
after you showed up
who I am?
Conch yesterday.
telegraph.
 Mama told me that Conchs
were what folks in Key West
call themselves. A lot of them
originally came from the
Bahamas, where they fished
for conch.

When I asked Mama about

my Conch relatives, she said
her parents had been dead for a
long time, but that I had a lot
of Conch cousins.

Too bad she didn't

tell me that they
were all snotty boys.
 they all doing
down there?

1/
Atte
hh
VA
pow

It's the turtle a dee

kraals. It's where in! You'l
they keep the sea end up as
turtles until they're supper!
butchered.
 Hey, Beans! Thanks. I hear you
I stopped in at lost your first mate.
Matecumbe and saw Why don't you hire
your dad. He said to me? You know what a
say hi. good sailor I am.

I know,
but I already hired
Ollie. I'll be sure to
keep you in mind for
next time.

Oh! Who's your

friend here?

This is Turtle.
She's a cousin, and
she's got a cat
named Smokey.
 Turtle, huh?
You wouldn't happen
to be related to
Sadiebelle Gif ford?

Is she here

New Jersey.

Say,
Slow Poke,
you get any
loggerheads?
 That's gold
you're looking
at.

Sure don't
look like any
sponge I've
ever seen.

Gotta clean ‘em We gotta keep

yet. Then they'll moving, Slow Poke, or
be fine enough Pudding will wake up.
for a lady's face. He's teething bad.

Maybe try a
little whiskey
on his gums.

Maybe you
didn't use
enough?
 y.
B a
J vty
a
‘
at- ;
het — 1 —

“ —\ ee

Le = =

a » Ee
oe :
z
at
ae

—
a ——e

Ae, Z

a
rf 2
4

——— = ¥
. ———
eS | ite
=—- ~ 2
: — : —
ae 4 ate
SS
—— = a

ye pes =
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Bn - 2B 3 =
= —_
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eS 7

i Zz 8
awe = 2 " <<

a
atl7 P c
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ek,

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7
—
——
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— {

=a

-
Deiter

on
’
f i
+as
Can You Spare
a Nickel, Pal?
The gang's got Buddy! You did
babies today. not just have
Do you want to an accident!
come along?

You hang around here

and you're gonna end
up watching Buddy.
Believe me, he's worse
than all those babies
put together.

49
 We got igi
three today. Who said she
ih could come?

Just let
her come

Hey, Beans,
you got
babies?

I guess it's the same

all over. Everyone
just wants a job.

50
 Matecumbe,
working on the

Ma didn't want
to move. She said it’s
a wilderness up
there. Poppy comes
home every few
weeks.

At least
he’s got

Pudding's got a
bad diaper.

51
 Look at his
bungy! No
wonder the
kid's crying.

That's the
What? Kids
secret diaper
in New Jersey
formula?
don't have
bungys?

Speaking of wanting
It's a secret! to be in the Diaper
You've gotta Gang, look who's
be in the coming.
Diaper Gang!

52
 Hey, Beans.

I went to the
lane, but your
mom said you
left already.

See, I was SY |(We've given

wonderin’ if a you three
I could have : < ' tries already,
another try. : Too Bad.

But I've been

practicing!
Honest, I have.
Give him
a baby.

Rule number
four, always
See you later,
Too Bad!

Yeah, too bad

you'll never be
in the Diaper
Gang!

Why don't
you work for
money?
 Who'd pay us? Here, you
Most of the can have some
island is on relief. of mine.

Hey, that's the

Diaper Gang's
mango candy!

I want
some ice

56
 Don't need nickels.
I've got charm.
You watch.

Can you
Spare me a
nickel?

Can't do it,
Beans. You still
haven't paid me back
from last time.

Sorry, Beans,
business is
business.

Charm only gets you

so far. You've gotta ..and I've got
have smarts, foo... smarts a-plenty.

57
 I'ra Jimmy. What can I get you?
I've got tamarind, mango,
coconut, soursop,
and sugar apple.

I'll try the

Sugar apple. nickel, young
lady.

The nickel In the

was in the bottom of
bottom of the the can,
can, Jimmy! you say?
 I'm going to Oh, go on! You
have to eat my can only get away
way to it. Might with that once,
take a while.

Say, you aren't

going to eat the
whole thing by
yourself, are you?

Sorry.
Can't share with you.
After all, I'm not in
the Diaper Gang.
Truth of the
Mafter
Aunt Minnie doesn't have
a phone, but Pudding's
mama lets me borrow

Oh, baby.
I was so
worried.

Y Sadiebelle, you know

I don't allow the help
to use my personal
telephone.

Sorry,
Mrs. Budnick.

I have to
go, baby.
T'll write
you.
 Buddy, don't you
get to playing and
forget to go. I'm
tired of washing
your pants.

want to play
marbles?

Where did
you get those
paper dolls?

Mama gave
them to me for
my birthday.

Well, she must

have forgotten
about stealing
them from me.

64
 You
want them
back?

tars
Ot oa me
3Swwo<~§& eo 2
22=< - Do I want
vv
U Vig
=
~-wu my dolls back?
w= o PFFF!
G + > Pe
o

Do you
want fo play
marbles now?
66
 You know Doc
Parish said you're Was Kermit
not supposed to running
run around! around?

You boys are If I so much as

about as honest catch you walking
as a drunk ina | fast, I will box
tavern. your ears, you
hear me?

Oh, come on, Buddy.

You better make it
to the outhouse
this time.

Sometimes I think
it would have been
better if I'd just died
in the first place.

67
 You want
to go To
Duval Street?

Would your
heart really give
out from running
around?

I don't know...
Want to
find out?
Duval Street is like a prettified version
of Key West. Kermit tells me that
they're trying to get tourists to come
down here, which is why it’s all fixed up.
 e n movie theater. i
Too bad it’s showing a
Shirley Temple picture
 Kermit knows everyone.
He's like the unofficial
mayor of Key West.

Say, Kermit, you

So Mama and
know anywhere
I can buy a house.
I could make
some dough? The payments are
forty-five dollars
a month.

Let's ask Johnny Cakes!

I hear he's always
looking for help. He
brings rum from the
Bahamas. It's illegal.
 Hey,
Johnny Cakes!

Well, well.
If it isn't our
—
£
v
°
”
s
a

Kermit. And who

is this lovely

fast boat.
 I don't
normally hire

an
I don't You're a rumrunner!
mind illegal Just last Saturday, Cousin He's got you
activities. Dizzy said you brought there, Johnny!
in a haul of the best rum
he's ever tasted.

VR
7]
I do?!
‘a
Be careful,
Johnny. These about the
two are the auction,
sharpest in Slow Poke?

must be a
war coming.
 Who's
fighting?

Ah, that's just

an old sponger saying.
Sponges ate used to
clean wounds.

So if someone is
buying a lot of them,
we say they're
getting ready to
start a war.

There's an
auction coming up real
soon. I'm heading out
tomorrow. To catch
what I can fo sell.

You need any help?

This fella won't
hire me to run his
illegal liquor!

I suppose
I could use
another hand.
Meet me at
the docks
at dawn.

My boat's
The Lost Love.
7
The Lost Love
Se
SN

t | }/ j
 sx mie:
3Ly.
6 >a
Hey there, £
ry)
honey a AM w °s
You ready to know how to
Slow Poke! swim, right?
You bet I am.

This is Ollie.
He's my new
first mate.
What happened
to the old first
mate?
by a shark.

Only after a few Shark

rounds at Sloppy ever bite
Joe's. The shark was you?
a lovely lady named
Margaret.
 Say, you
think we'll
be attacked
anytime
soon?

That's what
always happens
in the comics.

SoWw
Ollie here ; So where
will beat f we headed,
‘em off. A Captain?

China's pretty You ever

far away. Might Bil j been to China
not be home i
for supper.

I don't mind. i a aal \ &e —

T had a big i ‘
breakfast. : pa
 ‘Fraid not. But
I've been to Cuba.
And the Bahamas.

Your
people ate from
Green Turtle Key.
Mine, too.

Are we related?
Seems like
everybody here
is someone else's
cousin.

I don't
know, honey.

I wish we
could go to
China for real.
 Hey, Ollie,
before we start
I wanna check
on the cistern.

Does anyone Spongers leave their sponges

live here? to cure here sometimes. There's
a cistern out back that catches
rainwater that we use, too.
Want to help me check
on it, honey?
 Oh, that...
It's a genuine
pitate death

Pirates would
run a spike through
the shackles of
their rivals, and let
them drown in the
incoming tide.

You're
pulling my
leg.

89
 But there were
pirates around
I don't
here a long time believe you.
ago.

It's true. See those

keys? There's hundreds
of them. That's where
pirates used to hide
their loot.

Everybody's always
looking for Black Caesar's
treasure. Especially after
Old Ropes up and
disappeared.

Who's Black Caesar?

Who's Old Ropes? And
why does every single
person in Key West
have a weitd
nickname?

Black Caesar
was a ruthless
pirate.

Folks say Old Ropes, an

old-time sponget, made off
with one of Black Caesar's
stashes and is living rich as
a hog somewhere in
South America.
 He disappeared one day
after having a drink at the
bar. Left his house full of
furniture, food in the ice
box. Even left his cat.

How could
he leave his
cat?!

I think he found
Do you think trouble. Old Ropes liked
he really found to gamble. I suspect he
treasure? owed Someone money
and had to get out of
town fast.

Speaking of which,
let's go out
there and get
to sponging!
That's a good
day's work.
What do you
think, Cap?
 ee:
Y
re
yi Ses
tJ ye
Pyar AES
pal
Siw
SONSEe
MAYS
ie ember
how I said
I could
or
‘swith
B ae

Maybe that
& wasn't entirely
_ accurate.

At least Beans
will get his
room back...
 I thought you
said \
you could
swim like a fish.
Se
iliateeeeeemeer 5 ee
Petree : mae
A Big, Happy Ec
— Family —
 Mrs. Soldano
makes the best
bollos
erentonAsh | Don't let Mami
hear you say that. She
thinks she makes the
best bollos in all of
Key West.

You must be Turtle! > I hope you children

I've heard a lot ~ || om a are hungry, because
about you! an I need someone to
try my latest batch
of bollos.

101
 Kids,
take this

These are so
delicious.

Where are Bringing ' Nana Philly

we goihg Nana Philly is meaner than
her lunch. a scorpion.

Someone
lives here?
 Miss Bea?
You here?

—
LD cam andes
LPeronklOED,
olexe),;
That's Nana Philly's daddy.
When ships would wreck
around here, he'd salvage
the cargo before it sank
and sell it off.

He saved that piano for

Nana Philly...Probably why
she won't get rid of it
even though it's crawling
with termites.
 =
z6 a=
3 +« enc “ os ”
sFs ra
aUreas
ow
—

Oa
«
nae
co
wo

Vv © - a ° oS <=v =

{
aa hiL

104%
 Hello 7 eMidreni
How sweet of her!
‘was out back Miss Philomena
anging laundry.
does love her
I didn't hear you
come in.

You must be
Sadiebelle’s girl! You
look just like your
mother. Doesn't she
look just like her
mother, Miss
Philomena?

105
 I don’t understand, I guess se
what's so scary about could say she was
that old woman? She ' a little different
can barely talk. before she had
her accident.

She had a fit

last summer and
fell and hasn't
walked or talked
the same since.

Best thing that What?!

ever happened, How can you say
if you ask me. that about a
poor old lady?!

She said Ma would be

better off dead than
mattied to Poppy.

She stood up in church

and told the minister his
Sermon was so boring he
ought to be crucified!
 M-my
you talk about grandmother?
someone's \ But Mama told
grandmother me she was
like this?
dead!

if = She's not
dead.
She's just

grandmother?

Do I...have a
grandfather, too?

Nah,
Grampy's
dead. Died
when Buddy
was born.

I can't believe
I have a
grandmother. Believe
it.

Welcome
to the
family.
The Diaper Gang
_ Knows
= ww
a
~>
 How was What were
Miami? you doing
in Miami?

Took forever
to get home.
Eggy's doing
better.

Oh,
I'm just
some cousin
from
New Jersey.
 So, what'd
I miss? Have we
had a lot of
babies?

We been busy.
But we're gonna
need a hew wagon

My little brother
suffers from chronic
dumbness and blew his
thumb and pinkie off
with a firecracker. We
had to go to a hospital
up there.

Pork Chop. Are you boys

having a
pleasant

Only one reason kids

would be that nice.

Pork Chop and They stole the

Beans got in big answer sheet for
trouble with Miss a test from her
Sugarapple last
They had to stay after
school every day for the
last seth and write
“I will not steal” on
the chalkboard two
hundred times. If I never
see her again,
T'll be lucky.

Listen to this! I met

this kid named Lester in
Miami, and he told me
about this thing called
tick-Tocking.

All you need is

a tock and a string.
Miss Sugarapple will
never know what
hit her.

199
So it goes like this...

You take a rock and

tie it to a long length
of string—long enough
to reach across a
roof.
 Then, stake out
a house and wait
until everyone is
asleep.

You throw the rock

over the house so
that it lands on the
opposite side near
a window.

When you tug on

the string, it scrapes the
window ahd makes a scary
sound, as if a bony hand is
trying to get in the house.

And you take

off running.
 Sounds like
the Diaper Gang
has struck,
Smokey.

That was
hilarious, pals!
She screamed so
loud, I bet they
heard her in Cuba!

114
 Hey, kiddos. Gee whiz,
Y'all hear about I sure do hope
the ghost at Miss Sugarapple is
Miss Sagarapple’s okay. She's our
favorite teacher.

LT
| ye Nr |

any
This is the
i>
bee's knees,
TNT a = UO
Ut. illicit
rr A PTT
 OATRNAEEIR

Pudding...
why?

Just pick him pF : aa in the Diaper

up already! ‘ie th Rn Gang.

Who cares!
I'm exhausted.
Haunting is
hard work.

Everyone
thinks our
ghost is a
ctybaby?

117
The Man of
the House
 They might i
as well have Thisl a Termite!
said Pudding hia — Leave Smokey
is the ghost! : “OE

Smokes.

Hi there,
Miss Turtle.

Hi, Mr.
Gardner.
 Dear C]urHle,
Oh, Smokey...
Mama's head is so
high in the clouds,
you
How are you, baby? I miss .
I'm surprised she
doesn't bump into
Something. awl .
Amelia Earhart.
eps ond doesn‘+
Mrs. Budnick ner Sle
care if anybody else does, ether,
noting. of waking me up
She thinks
of he night make
in. the middle
her ea or Foast. I’m so tired 2Be ont
borely. see . only Tin
StraightThe
Prot Keeps me going. is trinking ‘of
us,
Kea will all be behind
been Hiinkin UaeelC
I promse, ak ~e an't

Name in Lights7
you. Just see my
a screen
All L need Jo do now Is get
others.
test with Warner Br

Thought you

Who's that knew ever yone by

coming down how, Tortoise.

the lane?

120
124
 Hi there,
Pork Chop.

barbershop
on my way
home.

Something
you want fo
tell me?

Sadiebelle’s girl.
Just showed up.

That one
outs, too?

You haven't
been gone
that long.

122
 Whenever Archie comes back
from a sales trip, it's just like
Christmas. He buys treats
for me and Mama.

Uncle Vernon doesn't buy

treats like Archie, but ee
things are different with
him in the house.

e doesn't say
much at all.
x

tea iV,
 Gee, I never
et a man who

Sure.
Housekeeper
 How are
you settling
in here?

I'm not
used to having
cousins.

You'll get used to Dinner. That was

them. I see you've three bowls of
already acquired a turtl
uttle soup you
taste for turtie. had, you know.

I thought Seems mean to

it was beef! eat something
youre named

nothing mean
about filling
your belly.
 Where'd you
get that name
of yours?

Hard shell, huh?

You must take after
your aunt. I don't know
Mama says anyone who's got a
I've got a harder shell than my
hard shell. Minerva.

You know,
the thing about a
turtle is that it looks
tough, but it’s got a
soft underbelly.

So I hear your
mother is seeing
a salesman?
What's he sell?

126
 Mama really You know your aunt
likes him. He's and yout mother
not like all were the prettiest
the others. gitls in Key West
in their day.

Mama's still pretty.

Mr. Leonard swore
he'd leave his wife
for her.

The Leonards?
Who are they?

A family we worked for.

Mrs. Leonard fired Mama.
Mama was the third
housekeeper Mr. Leonard
proposed to.

Now that doesn't

seem fait. Sounds
like Mrs. Leonard
should have fired
Mr. Leonard.

You said it.

Good help is
hard to find.

127
Ladies Who Lunch
 Hey, fellas,
got tickets
for a matinee.

How do you think?

Baby had a bad bungy
and the formula cleared
it right up. His mother
was so thankful, reckon
she was going fo cry.

You ought to patent

that formula. You'd
be the Rockefeller Shirley Temple
of diaper rash. Flick.

129
Whatever you cook her,
just make sure it’s soft.
I won't be long. You're
so sweet to do this!

|| i
I'm not sweet—
I'm curious. It's not
every day you find out you
have a grandmother you
didn't know was alive.

I hope she didn't

sit at the piano.
That stool doesn't
look too sturdy.

134
 I don't know if
you remember me,
but I'm Turtle.
Your granddaughter.
 I hope you
enjoy if.

Oh, no!
I forgot
your spoon.

What
happened?

134
I must have put
it too close
to the edge.

135
You did that on
purpose! Why?
m yo ur

gtanddaughter.
 Did you
We had
two have a
a lovely
nice lunch?
time.

Would you like Sure.

to come again I'm looking
tomorrow? Give forward to
your poor aunt getting to know
a break? my grandmother.
 Morning,
Nana Philly!

Miss Bea made

us gtits-and-
grunts—and-gravy.

Miss Bea
sure is a good
cook.

Mama's a good
cook, too. She
makes the best
caramel custard.

139
 You were
mean fo her,
weren't you?

Mama told
me you were
dead.

Is that why
she hasn't
come back to
Key West?

140
 I can tell the old
gitl’s really looking
forward to seeing
you today.
Even had
me get out
her best hat.

You
expecting

9191
 I missed seeing a
know. matinee the first day
I came to see you...
It was a Shirley
Temple picture.

fine by me. I hate

Shirley Temple.

192
Hard Times =
7
The pr = Vv a ” “

uv” £ oeF3
s o o <=
a ° a“
 Who do you
think took
my shoes?? I wouldn't
put it past
Too Bad.

146
 Your cat
made a mess
in my clean
laundry.

Smokey would
never do that.
She knows

That slip’s ruined. If it happens

I'm gonna have to pay again the cat's
Mes. Felton for that. going.
T'll be lucky if I don't end
up owing her more
than she owes me.

Rte
fincemncemecee

147
 if it ain't
So when we going
to China? Sooner the
my favorite
better. I sure could stand
deckhand. , to find that goldmine.
SlowHey,
Poke. Some kid stole my shoes.
What do you
need shoes for,
anyhow, Conch
kid like you?

Just like
your mother,
aren't you?

Believe me, Turtle! Ma's

I'm nothing like burning mad!
Mama. I guess you She just blew Smokey ruined
didn't know her very her top. Mrs. Felton's
well, huh? skirt! She's in
trouble now.

149
 She's never done that
Aunt Minnie, before and we've lived in
I just know it a lot of different places.
wasn't Smokey. Some other cat must
have gotten into the
house!

ié
4

P|

|
i
}
 Sounded like
Ma. Do you
think someone's
tick-tocking us?

GET IT
OFF ME!
 Is Ma going
crazy?! Is she Get what
gonna start running off you, Ma?!
naked down Duval I don't see
Street?! anything!

She is going
crazy!
She is going
crazy!
 She's not
going crazy,
dummy!

Smokey, be
careful!
Kermit,
fetch a
doctor!
 Well, if anything
changes, you know
I've never seen anything where to find me. I'll
like it. She was stung be by again in the
clear down her back. She's going to morning to check
The scotpion was in be in a lot of pain. on her.
the nightgown. Vomiting. Just keep her
comfortable. Where's
your father?

He's up in
Matecumbe.
 wa Sadiebelle?

PRR

REQ,

I've
missed you,
Sadiebelle.

I'm back now. Oh,

I'll take care go to sleep
of you. already.

Why'd
you take my
Sadiebelle... {
dolls?
_ X
 Buddy, have
you children you had any
eating? accidents today?

I made him stop

playing and use
Who the outhouse.
cleaned?

I napped a
whole hour, Ma!

157
 Smokey killed
the scorpion that bit
you, Ma! Bit its head
right off!

The
cat’s still
going.
Believing in
Monsters
 Miss Philomena
Turtle. has taken a real
shine to that cat
of yours.

Thanks again
for taking her
in, Miss Bea.

161
T'll be back later.
Thanks for always
helping out.
 moving.

That'll teach
you not to jump
on furniture.
 In my opinion, the fellas
who make Hollywood pictures
are really just salesmen.
Instead of peddling girdles,
they sell chills and thrills.

Even comic strips want you

to believe an orphan would be
adopted by a millionaire.

But to believe
in this...

That'd be like believing

in bloodsucking vampires
and mad scientists bringing
dead men to life.
 We're
going to
want to
challenge
come.
those White
Street boys
to a game of
marbles.

Even as I struggle
to believe what
I found...

...1 keep picturing

Mama on her
hands and knees
scrubbing
Mrs. Budnick’s

I make a
decision. Wait,
fellas!

I think this
is a lot more
interesting than
a marble game.
Lying, Stealing,
No-Good Kids
 It's a fact: We tell Aunt Minnie
if a kid is being nice, what Pork Chop and Ira
they're probably ate telling their mothers...
up to no good.

That we're gonna wake up

early and go fishing for
conch so that we can make
conch stew for Labor Day.

Good job
getting the boat, x 2
Pork Chop. B. ; 4 Qo ea

Rumrunner
needs a fast
boat.

And we do, too,

for treasure
hunting!
 “Rumrunner
needs a fast boat?”
Wait a second.

Pork Chop!
Is Johnny Cakes
letting us use his

never know.
He's in Cuba,
same as
Slow Poke.

You idiot! :
That's We're
stealing! borrowing
 I should I think it's
have worn 4 time for me to
a hat. :
be captain. x J don't
think so.

Y'all know We heed to We ate going

where you're going, go southeast. southeast.
tight? We've been
out here a while!
We're going
around this key
until we see the
shack. I know
where it is.
 Look!
The shack!
Throw in the
hook, Pork Chop!

The map says once

we get fo the key, It looks
we just need to find like a “Y.”
this tree.

|
TOTES
ITA
LEER
Nf
>”
5

The trees are gonna

be all different. Might
not even be atound
poe
Se
ahymore.
 Follow me!
I got a nose
for treasure.

Ugh. I can't
dig another

Kermit, you'd Maybe we're

I think I'll buy
better not eat just not looking
some ice cream
all of Mami’s in the right
with my share of
the treasure.

There is
no right
 That map’s not real. 7a We've been
Nana Philly put it had, fellas!
there knowing we'd

vote Pork Chop. Maybe

A we can make if back
Ue. in time to get some
ice cream.

That doesn't make

any sense. She would
have mentioned it to
somebody a long time
ago. Nobody can keep
a secret in Key West.

They're right...
it must be fake.
Come on. We better
go ot they'll leave

172
© 7 She fell on
her bungy!
 What are
you talking
 A Dream
Come. True
 Whatever
we want, pall!
We're rich!

How much This must be how

you think Millions! Little Orphan Annie
it's worth? This is better felt after Daddy
\ than winning Warbucks took her
bolita!
 Pork Chop...
you didn't
throw in the

Then what
happened to
the boat?

I-I-
I don't know!
Maybe someone Fellas! It'll be okay.
came and Every sponger uses
took it! this key. Someone will
pick us up.

We'll buy ynhim a hew : | Oh, ah,

How fine are
d boat. We'll buy him I on
we gonna be when ee red|oatel :
Johnny Cakes finds
out we lost his boat? We're rich!
 We should
divvy this up get some
tomorrow.

The mosquitoes
ate gonna eat
us alive before
anyone finds us.

180
 Stop This is your I did!
touching me, fault anyway! I don't have
Pork Chop. If you'd just set to take this
the hook!

No, you ain't!

I'm T'm leaving
leaving!

Don't worry.
We'll get picked
Well,
up in the morning.
at least
Just think about how
there's more
we're going to spend
room now.
all this gold.

184
 Guess we can
afford a new wagon
for the gang.

We could
even get two.

Shoes? Ha ha.
Nobody wears
Turtle? 5 shoes around
What are . here.
you gonna

Who said
I was planning
to stick around?
 F
te |

\\
. *
.
nw

)
.

\ ti
\
. \ \
aa
*
~

\
il

Ne
Ls

AS
tee
oa
¥
\ \
-
4 om
\ ;
wp
¥
\ F
-
ae .
P

‘
; 1 \

-
The Rescue Party
 We need
Then we i]
To go look
starve to
death.

= =<‘s =
we don t find
anything?

185
 Not really...
Looking for

low clouds.
And the sea
foam.

Any
Conch kid
knows what
they mean.

Haven't you
figured out
I'm not from
around here?

186
 Who cares about
sleeping? Let's
Maybe we just try and get
Soald buila 09 Om
the shack.
out of here.

We wouldn't be
here in the first
place if you weren't
such a dummy!
won't have
anywhere
to sleep!

I got more sense

in my bungy than
youve got in your
whole body!

Sense?!
Even Buddy
knows how to
set a hook!

T'll show
you hook!

187
 R A A G H /
WA ZR
If they kill each
other, I get their
Come on, share of the
-§ fellas, knock : treasure.

off my

brother!
I guess I'll
try to stop
them.

Fellas,
calm down!

so

rae
o£
ies “3
oDaes
 You got me.
You lied to make I don't know
us stop fighting. what I was
thinking.

They should just They ever

kiss and make up Scrap this bad
already.

They've been
best pals since
they were in
diapers.
 You think Probably
anyone's looking fF + the whole
for us? . Town by now.

You think the

shack’s going to
blow away?

I dunno, but Pork Chop

and Beans better come
inside. I don't want fo
spend all this gold
on a headstone.

I'm not going

out there. I've
got a weak

194
 go ° a 2 <<oJr=Ce:

192
 <=

>° s
-
a

i KK, the water $s

onna come up
any farther?

193
 all gonna
die...

because I
didn't throw
the hook in.
 The boys are all bawling
like babies. I don't have
any blankets to wrap
them in or a wagon to
soothe them.

we
\

5 P ,,
melds (if /

ct Dre %
t ; I 1 4

| RAW
3

Cea!
IS7\) V2
as Ai Asi
196
A ‘ieee
== —
199
 CAP! WE
FOUND THEM!
ve)

>=
6
_—

a
2

Cy
°
 I seem
to be missing
a boat.

That was a Sure was,

We been looking for
hurricane?! Miss Turtle.
you kids since Minerva
raised the alarm. But
we had to put in once
the hurricane started
blowing.
 Key West came
through it all right.
But word is, upper
keys got hit hard.

He's fine, Kermit.

He wasn't even there when
it hit. Came down when he
heard y'all were missing.
You saved his life.

We were saved by
Too Bad? Aw, we're
nevet gonna live this
down, fellas.
That kid who's
always tagging
around after What were
i you kids even
thinking?

thinking
about this!
 We split the
treasure money
with Nana.

Aunt Minnie had

us kids puf our
portions in the bank. Although,
we did buy a
few things.

GANG OF CHARMING |
KiDS FINDS PIRATE
TREASURE LoeT oF

say gang? It’s

Diaper Gang.
Two words.

My eyes are
closed! Why'd
they print that
photo?

Charming?
Guess they
never met
 Well, if it ain't
the Diaper Gang.
That a new

And guess what!

member in your I know the secret
little gang, formula! It’s
PY cornstarch—
Too Bad!
First rule of
the Diaper Gang is
“Shut UP. already!”
Diaper Gang
now! I saved
their lives!
 I missed
you, Mama.

207
Slow Poke...

Slow Poke's In that case,

the one that I owe you a
rescued us! debt, sir.

For looking
after our
little girl

Pleased
to meet
you.
 Huh,
too late
again.

What a funny
fella, and what
kind of a name
is Slow Poke?

What did
he mean,
“again”?
Paradise Found
—~S
 sute did,
Good night, baby.
baby. We'll just
be in the room
next door.

This is
ptobably the
nicest bed I've
ever slept in.

Get some sleep.

I'll see you at
breakfast.

Archie sure
did find the
nicest hotel
in Key West,
huh?
 ¥

EEG
T'll check out of the Don't forget
hotel and arrange to get to stop at the bank,
the luggage over to the Mr. Meeks.
docks. I'll meet you at
your sister's place
at noon.
That should
leave plenty of time,
to say your goodbyes
and for us to make
our boat.

I would forget,
Mrs. Meeks.

Isn't this
like a dream come
true? I feel like
Cinderella!

scrubbed
floors, too.
< a+
eo
waraeAt
v ao a oT

& ES =

-j
&
 Not very
well af all,
as it turned
out...

We better
hurry along Say goodbye to
and say goodbye Smokey. She's at
to Minnie. I wish we'd been Nana Philly's house...
able to stay for a You should see her
longer visit, but before we go.
Archie is anxious to
start our new life
together.

She said I wasn't

know if I can her daughter
face her. anymore...She said
I was a disgrace.

Oh, Mama...
I'm sure that's
not the meanest
thing she's ever
Nana Philly? Nice hat...
I've come to Did you buy that
Say goodbye. with your cut of
the treasure?
We're going
to Georgia...

You know,
Aunt Minnie said
Take care while we were stuck on
of Smokey the key, a stray cat got
for me.
in and made a mess in
the laundry.

I guess
Aunt Minnie will
learn to listen to
me now.

I'm gonna
miss our
lunches.

217
 There's
someone else
who wants to
Say goodbye.
219
 You have to
visit, okay, Turtle?
I wanna play
marbles!

74
EES
=(

Don't give her

any ideas. I just
got my room
back.

Oh, Turtle.
What are you gonna miss
doing here? you, either.

No, I mean...
what are you
doing here? I saw
your new daddy
leave.
Dark hair? I saw Boat was going
Panama hat? him get on § to Cuba, though.
a boat hours Thought that
was strange.

gonna puke,
Turtle?

|
And it turns out
I'm as much of
a sucker as
anybody.
iposuere oof

Mama happy,
a home, a family
at last...

And I bought
it hook, line,
and sinker.
What? I don't
understand.
Did something
happen to him?

He's gone,

Well...Mami Cuba?
always says that What are you
Cuba is her idea talking about?
of heaven.

Aunt Sadie! Archie

took Turtle’s part of the
treasure and hopped
on a boat to Cuba!
 ui
V)
 But he
promised!

A a & ‘
He promised
he'd take care
3S of us! ,
— =,

Uncle Vernon was

right-I do have
a soft underbelly.
 you want fo be
in the Diaper

I don't like
babies.

What
about paper

to the family...
So you're going to
have to stay here if
you want to play
with them.
Your
mother,
too.
 Aw,
ju st say
“3s

ww~-8
=
°
~

x-
|
S
 Besides,
you already got
a dumb nickname
like everyone else
around here.

I've lived
long enough
to learn the truth:
 Acknowledgments
Warm thanks for everyone who helped Turtle find her way home,
especially the Key West Art and Historical Society, Kurt and Monica
Lewin, Michelle Naglet, Gina Gagliano, and Lark Pien.
JH.

Thank you to the supportive team at Random House Graphic, Lark

Pien, my friends, and my wonderful partner, Stephen.
—3.6,

“33
 About: the Guthors
Siem

Jennifer L. Holm's great-grandmother emigrated

from the Bahamas to Key West in 1897. She has written—
_two Key West novels: Turtle in Paradise and Full of Beans, a
which won the Scott O'Dell Award for Historical Fiction. —
She is a New York Times bestselling author and the —
recipient of three Newbery Honors for her novels Turtle q '
in Paradise, Our Only May Amelia, and Penny from Heaven.
She is also the author of other highly praised books, including The Fourteenti =
Goldfish and The Third Mushroom. With her brother Matthew Holm, she is the aq
co-creator of the Eisner Award-winning Babymouse series, the Squish seties, and
the Sunny Side Up graphic novels.

Savanna Ganucheau is a comic artist from New

Orleans. She co-authored her first gtaphic novel, Bloom,
in 2049 with Kevin Panetta. Bloom received a distinction
from the Junior Library Guild and a GLAAD award
hominafion, and was Amazon's pick for Best Graphic
Novel of the Year. Savanna has been creating comics
since she was in third gtade, and she self-published
her
work in local comic book shops throughout high school.
Savanna has also contributed to such comic series as
Adventure Time, Lumberjanes, Jem and the Holograms, and The Backstagers.

Lark Pien is the colorist of American Born Chinese,

Boxers and Saints, Dragon Hoops, Stargazing, Sunny
Side
Up, Swing It, Sunny, and Sunny Rolls the Dice. She has
: authored three picture books and is the creator of the
_ Long Tail Kitty series and Mr Elephanter. Lark
began
making mini-comics in 1997 and is making them still
today.
You can find occasional tweets and IG posts at @larkpien.

234
 G Note from Jennifer pe Hole
Turtle in Paradise was inspired by my Conch great-grandmother, Jennie
Lewin Peck, who emigrated with her family from the Bahamas to Key
West in the late 1800s. As a child, I heard about Spanish limes and
sugat apple ice cream and the importance of shaking out your shoes to
‘avoid scorpions. My family is related to the Curry family of Key West,
after whom Curry Lane is named.

Many families suffered hardship during the Great Depression, and

it was not unusual for parents to leave home in search of work or
for children to be cared for by relatives. Then, as now, entertainment
was a great distraction, and movies, radio shows, and the funny pages
provided much amusement for everyone. Little Orphan Annie, Shirley
Temple, and the Shadow were all superstars in their day.

SUN MON THE W.

Shirley Temple popping through a 1935 calendar

At the height of the Depression, Key West was in economic ruin, with the
majority of the population on public relief. The town officially declared
bankruptcy. FERA, the Federal Emergency Relief Administration, came
into Key West in 1934 with the intent of reinvigorating the economy
by marketing it as a tourist attraction. Key West was on its way to
recovery when what became known as the Labor Day Hurricane struck
on September 2, 1935. While the Lower Keys and Key West were

235
 Finally, the Diaper Gang's secret diaper-rash formula is a family remedy
I have used on my own babies’ bungys. (It also works on mosquito bites.)

My family’s recollections, and those of many other Conchs, provided the

details of everyday life in this book, and I am grateful to them all for
sharing their memories.

NN
i‘Hi

A typical Conch neighborhood in Key West,

circa 1935

238
Q Note from Savanna anucheay

- Historical fiction was my favorite genre throughout middle school,

and I know that a Turtle-aged Savanna would have loved to read
Turtle in Paradise.

When starting this project, the biggest challenge was truly

appreciating a place that I have never been to, and imagining what it
was like well before I was born. Much of my time was spent looking
up specific details with little photographic evidence, like the exact
Species of sponge they used to harvest in Key West. It is hard to
express the excitement I felt when I finally found a map of 1930s
Key West and began to piece together Turtle’s exact steps through
the town. This book was a crash course in visually researching a
historical location.

Many of the visuals and experiences in Key West really spoke to me.
When I was Turtle’s age, I lived in a small beach town in Mississippi,
and I dreamed of an adventure just like hers. The neighbors called me
the marine biologist because I was always on the beach, investigating
creatures that would wash up on shore at the end of their life in the
gulf. Turtle is similarly curious, and I know I would have connected
with her when I was younger.

The development of Turtle in Paradise was quick and intense, and

I've read so much about Key West that it truly feels like I've been
there. From the history of the Bahama Village to struggling through
historical boat research, I've learned about Key West through many
lenses. I can only hope I did the Conchs’ unique town justice.

To the readers, I hope that you enjoyed this book and that your
mind, like Turtle’s, stays curious and questioning.

oo.
 Making the Uirt of “furtle in Vbradise
with Savanna Gonucheay
Here's how a page of Turtle in Paradise came together from start
to finish! Everyone's process is different, but this is how I work
on comic pages.

Step 4: Thumbnails

After the script is finished, I work on thumbnails. This is

when I figure out where the panels and characters will
go on
the page. This step is very helpful to see if the
page works
well with the surrounding pages.

240
 T USED TO FEEL SORRY FOR
ORPHANS...

--BUT LITTLE ORPHAN ANNIE

GOT ADOPTED BY
DADDY WARBUCKS...

THAT'S JUST ABOUT

AS LUCKY AS IT GETS.

T BET SHE DOESN'T HAVE

TO WORRY ABOUT BEING SENT TOA
HOUSE THAT'S TINY AND DARK AND
SMELLS LIKE SOUR MILK.

Step2: Pencils
The next step is to finalize the layout and sketch the figures
and backgrounds. In this example, you can see how I changed
things to show mote of the house and added a reaction shot
of Turtle entering.

241
 ..but little orphan
Annie got adopted by
Daddy Warbucks...

-~

—
—
a
—_—_———
Ba

That's just about

as lucky as it gets.

[c

a a I bet she doesn't have

\§_ to worry about being sent to
a house that's tiny and dark
and smells like sour milk. }

Whit!
Wy Sit
aT
=n2

Step 3: Inks

The inks step is where everything gets polished.

During this
step, the lettering is also finalized.
 ..but Little Orphan
Annie got adopted by
Daddy Warbucks...

That's just about

as lucky as it gets.

I bet she doesn't have

to worry about being sent to
a house that's tiny and dark
and smells like sour milk.

Step 4: Colors

After I finish inks and everything is approved by the editor,

I hand the page over to the colorist, Lark!

From Lark
a few
Turtle and company were colored in Photoshop, with
Kyle T. Webster brushes. I like to color scene by scene,
rather than page by page!

243
My first-ever drawing of Turtle and Smokey,
accompanied by the foliage of a Key West lane.

Here are the initial Turtle vn Paradise

THE DIAPER
concepts for the
Diaper Gang and the
grown-ups. Turtle has
a bit more personality
here than above. For
the grown-ups, it was
interesting to focus on
a family resemblance
between Sadie
and Minnie, while
incorporating some
of their features in
Turtle's face as well.
Beans Pork chop

244
Nana Philly was the last character
I designed. It was important to me that
she resembles the rest of the Giffords,
while also conveying a stern appearance.

\ernon

245
 rly eer Concepts

Adap'
Orig ing | story by Jenni Holm

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246
 FIND YOUR VOICE
WITH ONE OF THESE EXCITING GRAPHIC NOVELS
ROBOARD
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PRESENTED BY RH & GRAPHIC

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 Don't come
back inside until

ELEVEN-YEAR-OLD TURTLE IS
SMART AND TOUGH AND HAS SEEN
ENOUGH OF THE WORLD NOT TO
EXPECT A HOLLYWOOD ENDING.
So when Turtle's mother gets a job housekeeping for a lady
who doesn't like kids, Turtle heads off to Florida to live
with relatives. Florida's like nothing Turtle's ever seen
before, though. It's full of ragtag boy cousins, family
. secrets to unravel... and even a little fun.

Before she knows what's happened, Turtle finds herself

coming out of her shell. And as she does, her world opens
up in the most unexpected ways.

RHKidsGraphic.com + @RHKidsGraphic

US $12.99 / $17.99 CAN

ISBN 978-0-593-12630-1
—

|
aye ||

ICSU
S 9S N2°6:3:0)1 GRAPHIC