Common Sense Media Review
By Li Lai
,
based on child development research. How do we rate?
Soccer player's ominous story about family trauma, friends.
Parents Need to Know
Why Age 11+?
Any Positive Content?
Where to Read
Parent and Kid Reviews
Based on 7 parent reviews
Based on 48 kid reviews
Kids say the book is poorly written, unrealistic, and suffers from numerous plot holes, leading to a consensus that it lacks educational value and character development. While some readers enjoyed certain aspects and messages, the overwhelming majority found it boring, disturbing, and filled with offensive content, rejecting it as suitable for young readers.
- poor writing
- unrealistic characters
- excessive violence
- numerous plot holes
- poorly executed message
Summarized with AI
Summarized with AI
What's the Story?
When 12-year-old Paul Fisher moves with his family to TANGERINE County, Florida, his older brother, Erik, quickly becomes the high school's celebrated football star. Paul, on the other hand, is legally blind and wears thick glasses, which bars him from playing for the local soccer team. But when a sinkhole opens up beneath the school, Paul is transferred to a new middle school—complete with a new soccer team that welcomes him and earns him real friendships for the first time. As Erik's golden-boy reputation begins to crack, and a dark truth about Paul's past edges to the surface, Paul must decide whether to stay silent or confront his family's secrets.
Is It Any Good?
This suspenseful read pulls you in from the start with wild events, such as a football player getting struck and killed by lightning, and middle schoolers falling into a sinkhole. Taking us through Tangerine is Paul Fisher, who's an easy kid to root for—someone who feels invisible at home but finds real confidence and belonging on the soccer field. Edward Bloor keeps the story moving, and soccer fans especially will enjoy the action-oriented game sequences scattered throughout. Yes, the book goes to some dark places involving abuse, death, and repressed trauma. But Paul's matter-of-fact voice, interspersed with surreal visions, keeps the story from being bogged down with gruesome details.
There's more going on beneath the surface, too. Bloor works in ideas about race, privilege, and morality that give readers a lot to think about. Erik's abuse toward Paul, and their parents' preference for looking the other way, sits at the heart of the story, so this isn't the book to pick up if you're hoping for feel-good family dynamics. But for kids who like their stories edgy and exciting, Tangerine delivers.
Talk to Your Kids About ...
Families can talk about Paul's parents in Tangerine. Why do they seem to idolize Paul's football-star older brother, Erik? How do they feel about Paul? Is this a healthy family dynamic? Why, or why not?
The author uses dreamlike flashbacks and visions. Does this help or hinder Paul's believability? Is he a reliable narrator? Does it matter?
How does Paul approach his vision loss? Is this healthy? What would you do if you were in Paul's shoes and a school discriminated against you? Would you fight back, or would you leave and try somewhere new?
Does Paul change over the course of the book? What about Erik, or their parents?
Book Details
- Author :
- Genre : Coming of Age
- Topics : Sports ( Soccer ) , Family Stories ( Siblings ) , Friendship
- Book type : Fiction
- Publisher : Scholastic Inc.
- Publication date : January 1, 1997
- Number of pages : 294
- Last updated : June 7, 2026
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