Tangerine

This is (hopefully) the first of many reviews to come your way in the next 3 months. I'll probably figure out a better review style as the summer goes, but for now...

Title: Tangerine

Author: Edward Bloor

Target Age Group: Young Adult (probably 7th-9th grades)

My Rating: 4 out of 5

Summary: Paul Fisher and his family relocate from Texas to Tangerine County, Florida. Paul has always lived in his brother's shadow, as his father and brother attempt to live out the "Erik Fisher Football Dream". Paul starts the 7th grade in Tangerine County, labeled as "handicapped" due to being legally blind,  while Erik, a senior, is the star place kicker on the high school football team. Paul plays soccer, and the first thing he does at his new school is check out the team. Soon, though, through a serious of odd circumstances, Paul ends up at the school on the "wrong side of the tracks", so to speak. He joins their soccer team, makes new friends, and tries to blend his two new worlds together. The two don't mix well, as he quickly finds out. More bizarre and scary things occur. Throughout the book, different events spark Paul's memory of things that had happened to him back in Texas. Paul remembers things that change his whole view, and in the end he finds a new set of priorities and goals.
Review: Bloor is a great author. The book is written as Paul's journal, which I find incredible. A journal is so raw and emotional, and I think it really brings this story to life.

There are some things in the book that I felt were a little mature for the target audience at first. I think, though, that we are often too protective of what we allow children to read. I think it is a good way for children to really understand the dangers and mistakes that are realities in our world and society. I am not a soccer fan, per se. I don't really understand the game. I mean, yes, put the ball in the goal. I know that much. This book was fairly enlightening to me, as it taught me a little more about how the game works, and I even felt very connected with the descriptions of the game throughout. Maybe it was more the character that I connected with, but no matter what it was, I enjoyed even the parts about soccer. I am more than 10 years older than the target reader, but I still felt moved by the book. Some of it, I think, had to do with the friends/group Paul ends up with at his new school. Much like in Esperanza Rising by Pam Muñoz Ryan, Paul's new friends are involved in agriculture and taking care of fruit. Anyway, there's something about that I enjoy, and possibly the cultural factor, too? No matter. I liked the book a lot. Read it!

So, being my first review...what other sorts of things would you want me to include in my next review?