Tangerine by Edward Bloor
320 pages.
Paul, who lives in the shadow of his football‐hero brother, fights for his right to play soccer despite his near‐blindness.
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Sam’s review:
Paul’s family has just moved to a ritzy subdivision near Tangerine, Florida, and he is not happy when his mom points out his vision problem to the guidance counselor at his new middle school, getting him an IEP. Paul’s vision, with the help of strong glasses, is fine, but the origin of his eye problem hangs like a shadow over his life. This shadow is in the background most of the time because Paul’s life is full of a ton of other problems. He has an older brother who is an obnoxious bully but whose skill as a kicker in football makes him their father’s favorite. Paul excels as a soccer goalie but gets scant attention for it. As Paul struggles to find his place in his new school, their upscale subdivision is plagued by muck fires, smoke, lightning storms, termites, and a sinkhole. The latter turns out to be an opportunity for Paul, but of course this opportunity leads to more problems. Paul’s voice as the narrator works very well in this book, unifying the various plotlines and themes and giving meaning to the relentless challenges of his life. Without Paul’s voice, the story would implode on its disasters. His perspective and transformation elevate the story, making it more than the sum of its parts.