Module 7 | Tangerine

PLOT SUMMARY
When Paul Fisher and his family move from Texas to Florida — mainly in an effort to secure his brother’s future, which Paul refers to as the “Erik Fisher Football Dream” — their new home is as odd as its name. Still, Paul finds he likes the new town, especially after a natural disaster forces his move to a middle school on the poorer side of town. Here, he discovers a new group of friends and is allowed to play soccer despite the fact that he is legally blind. Although it’s Paul who has the failing eyesight, he seems to be the only one who can see the wrongdoing for which his brother is responsible.

MY IMPRESSIONS
Tangerine is a wonderful book that tackles a number of issues sure to hit home with young adults, including strained familial relations, racism, and disability, to name a few. Still, Bloor’s story is never preachy or overwrought, sustaining a fantastic sense of mystery throughout (the reader is sure to be especially invested in the question of how Paul’s blindness originated). Paul is a terrific protagonist, smart without being a smart aleck and sympathetic without being simpering; kids are sure to appreciate his candor. This book is also an excellent choice for boys seeking a main character to whom they can relate.

REVIEWS
"This is an exciting, suspenseful, and thought-provoking book that should be a hit with soccer-playing middle schoolers."
Brenda Moses-Allen, VOYA, August 1997, Vol. 20, No. 3

" ... the book has a lot going for it, especially the atmospheric portrait of the eerie community, where lightning strikes more often than it does anywhere else and a school is swallowed by a sinkhole. One thing is for sure: this dark debut novel proves that Bloor is a writer to watch."
Kathleen Squires, Booklist, May 15, 1997, Vol. 93, No. 18

"There are many dynamic characters in the book, including the protagonist Paul. Underneath everything, I think the story is about how to be true to oneself and to stand up for what is right even in the face of adversity."
Melissa Osztrosits, Kutztown University Book Review, Spring 2007

USES IN THE LIBRARY
Tangerine would be a good choice for a book talk for a 12- to 14-year-old (particularly male) audience; it could be paired with such books as The Chocolate War and Maniac Magee, which also focus on male protagonists. Also, it would be a good choice for a display in which kids could select titles that celebrate different sports they love; Tangerine would easily fit into the soccer mold.

CITATION
Bloor, E. (1997). Tangerine. Boston: Harcourt Children's Books.