Tangerine

Tangerine by Edward Bloor

Citation: Bloor, E. (2006). Tangerine. New York: Harcourt.

Plot:

He may be legally blind, but Paul Fisher is one heck of a soccer goalie. Despite relocating (in middle school, no less) to Tangerine county, Florida, Paul is hoping to continue playing goalie, just at a different middle school. Paul is always living in his football brother Erik Fisher's shadow, and he never quite feels as though he fits in to the 'Erik Fisher Football Dream'. Despite sibling issues, being handicapped, and middle school bullying, Paul really tries to make the best of life in Tangerine. At least until a giant sink hole swallows up most of his school. Transferring schools (and soccer teams) yet again is full of interesting trails for Paul. The most interesting part is when he uncovers a secret about himself. Why is he blind... did he stare at an Eclipse too long, like Erik has always told him? There's lots about Paul and Erik to uncover in the pages of Tangerine.

Review:

Tangerine is a great read for many reasons. Not only is it funny and engaging, it is also very relevant to the tween/teen population. It deals with the issues of relocation, bullying, sibling issues, death, dating, and even what to do when lightning strikes (literally). The themes in this book will resonate with the intended age group and keep them reading. The book crosses many genres, blending mystery, adventure, and contemporary realism seamlessly. The study questions in the back make this a great literature circle book.

Reading Level: Age 10 & up

Similar Titles: Holes, The Lightning Thief, Hatchet

Personal Thoughts:

I surprisingly enjoyed reading Tangerine. From the back of the book, I anticipated it having more of a fantasy element (what with the mysterious sink hole and constantly burning muck fire) than it did, but it ended up being a good read. It reminded me a lot of Holes by Louis Sachar, with the young male protagonist and his mysterious conflict. However, Tangerine is a bit more realistic than Holes and deals with some deeper issues.







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