Edward Bloor’s ‘Tangerine’: A Gripping Tale of Identity and Deception

Quick Answer

• Tangerine by Edward Bloor is a young adult novel that masterfully explores themes of identity, family secrets, and the corrosive effects of deception through the eyes of twins Paul and Erik Fisher.
• The narrative centers on Paul’s journey of self-discovery as his developing sight, both literal and metaphorical, allows him to uncover uncomfortable truths about his family and his volatile older brother.
• Readers seeking a suspenseful, character-driven story with significant social commentary will find Tangerine by Edward Bloor a compelling and thought-provoking read.

Who This Is For

• Readers interested in young adult fiction that delves into complex themes such as bullying, disability, moral ambiguity, and the consequences of societal pressures.
• Individuals who appreciate character-driven narratives where the protagonist undergoes significant personal growth and actively seeks truth in the face of adversity.

What To Check First

• Narrative Perspective: The story is told primarily from Paul Fisher’s first-person perspective. This offers an intimate view but also requires critical evaluation, as his initial understanding is shaped by manipulation and his own limitations.
• Setting and Atmosphere: The novel is set in Tangerine County, Florida. The humid, often oppressive environment, coupled with the constant threat of natural disasters like sinkholes, serves as a potent backdrop that mirrors the psychological tension and hidden dangers within the community.
• Key Relationships: The dynamic between Paul and his twin brother Erik is central. Erik’s dominance, cruelty, and the family’s deference to him are critical elements that Paul must confront.
• Themes of Sight: Paul’s visual impairment is not merely a plot device but a powerful metaphor. His journey toward understanding what he “sees” (literally and figuratively) is paramount to unraveling the novel’s mysteries and his own identity.

Tangerine

• Audible Audiobook
• Edward Bloor (Author) - Trevor Goble (Narrator)
• English (Publication Language)
• 03/13/2021 (Publication Date) - Clarion Books (Publisher)

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Step-by-Step Plan: Unpacking Tangerine by Edward Bloor

1. Initial Perception of Family Dynamics: Observe Paul’s initial understanding of his family, particularly his relationship with Erik and his parents’ treatment of them.

• Action: Note Paul’s descriptions of his eyesight, his fear of Erik, and the family’s deference to Erik’s football aspirations.
• What to look for: The language Paul uses to describe Erik and the general atmosphere within the home.
• Mistake to avoid: Accepting Paul’s initial perceptions as objective reality. His early views are heavily influenced by Erik’s manipulation and his own limited understanding.

2. The Move to Tangerine and Erik’s Rise: Track the family’s relocation to Tangerine County and the establishment of Erik’s prominent role on the football team.

• Action: Observe descriptions of the sinkholes, the pervasive rain, and the almost cult-like devotion to the football program.
• What to look for: How the environment is presented and how the community reacts to Erik’s football career.
• Mistake to avoid: Underestimating the significance of the setting. The environmental hazards and the community’s focus on football create a pressure cooker that exacerbates underlying tensions and corruptions.

3. Paul’s Growing Awareness of Injustice: Monitor Paul’s increasing awareness of the unethical practices and bullying occurring within his family and the school community.

• Action: Identify specific incidents of cheating, intimidation, and the silencing of those who question authority, particularly within the football program.
• What to look for: Paul’s reactions to these events and his internal monologue about their fairness.
• Mistake to avoid: Dismissing these incidents as minor or isolated. They are cumulative and reveal a systemic pattern of corruption and abuse.

4. Paul’s Acts of Defiance and Truth-Seeking: Observe Paul’s actions as he begins to challenge the status quo and seek truths outside his immediate family circle.

• Action: Note Paul joining the soccer team, his developing friendships with characters like Joey and Tino, and his independent investigations into past events.
• What to look for: Instances where Paul makes choices that go against his family’s expectations or Erik’s influence.
• Mistake to avoid: Believing Paul acts solely out of altruism. His actions are also driven by a deep need for self-preservation and a desire to define his own identity.

5. The Unraveling of Deception: Follow the threads of hidden truths and past events that Paul begins to expose, leading to revelations about his family’s history.

• Action: Connect clues and inconsistencies related to past incidents, particularly the death of a family friend and the true nature of Erik’s achievements.
• What to look for: Dialogue and flashbacks that hint at suppressed information.
• Mistake to avoid: Accepting surface-level explanations for past events. The truth is deliberately obscured by multiple characters.

6. Confrontation and Consequences: Observe the climactic confrontations where hidden truths are revealed and characters must face the repercussions of their actions.

• Action: Note the direct confrontations between Paul, Erik, and their parents, and the ultimate exposure of the central deceptions.
• What to look for: The emotional fallout and the immediate aftermath of the revelations.
• Mistake to avoid: Expecting a simple, cathartic resolution. The novel’s conclusion is complex, reflecting the lasting impact of trauma and deception.

Common Mistakes

• Mistake: Focusing solely on Erik as the primary antagonist.
• Why it matters: While Erik is a significant source of conflict, the novel implicates the entire Fisher family and the Tangerine community in a system of deception and complicity.
• Fix: Analyze the roles of parents, coaches, and the town’s obsession with football in enabling Erik’s behavior and obscuring the truth.

• Mistake: Interpreting Paul’s visual impairment as a simple physical disability.
• Why it matters: Paul’s eyesight serves as a crucial metaphor for his understanding and perception of the world. His journey is as much about gaining moral and emotional clarity as it is about physical sight.
• Fix: Examine how Paul’s changing vision directly correlates with his growing awareness of events and his own identity.

• Mistake: Overlooking the impact of the setting on the narrative.
• Why it matters: The oppressive Florida climate, constant rain, and the ever-present danger of sinkholes create a palpable sense of unease and instability that mirrors the psychological turmoil of the characters.
• Fix: Connect the environmental hazards and the community’s insular nature to the characters’ actions and the overall atmosphere of dread and corruption.

• Mistake: Assuming the story is merely about sibling rivalry.
• Why it matters: While sibling rivalry is present, the core of the narrative is about systemic corruption, abuse of power, and the courage required to expose wrongdoing in a landscape of lies.
• Fix: Broaden the analytical scope to include themes of social justice, the consequences of unchecked ambition, and the bravery needed to confront difficult truths.

Understanding the Deception in Tangerine by Edward Bloor

Edward Bloor’s Tangerine by Edward Bloor offers a nuanced exploration of how identity is constructed under duress and the destructive power of lies. The novel challenges readers to differentiate between what is merely seen and what is truly known, illustrating how external pressures can warp individual and collective perceptions.

A counter-intuitive aspect often overlooked is the novel’s subtle critique of how societal obsessions, exemplified by the high school football culture in this case, can normalize and even glorify ethical compromises. The community’s unwavering support for the Tangerine Middle School football team blinds them to the unethical practices and outright criminal behavior occurring within its ranks. This creates a localized microcosm of larger societal issues, where superficial success is prioritized over integrity.

Examining Core Themes in Tangerine by Edward Bloor

The central themes woven throughout Tangerine by Edward Bloor are identity, deception, and the consequences of moral compromise. Paul’s narrative arc is fundamentally one of self-discovery, as he sheds the imposed identity of a weak, visually impaired child to become an active agent of truth. The novel starkly contrasts the superficial glamour of Erik’s football stardom with the grim realities deliberately hidden beneath.

A significant thematic element is the concept of “sight.” Paul’s visual impairment serves as a potent metaphor for his initial inability to perceive the truth, while his developing vision symbolizes his growing understanding of the world and his family’s duplicity. This is expertly handled through Paul’s first-person narration, where his limited vision often compels the reader to infer details and question the presented narrative.

BLOCKQUOTE_0

This quote, while not directly from the book, encapsulates the spirit of self-awareness and the potential for growth that Paul eventually embodies. Characters who cannot confront their own flaws or wrongdoings are destined to repeat their mistakes, mirroring the cycle of deception perpetuated by those in Tangerine.

Expert Tips for Analyzing Tangerine

• Tip: Focus on the symbolic use of weather and natural phenomena.
• Action: Pay close attention to the constant rain, the sinkholes, and the oppressive humidity.
• Common Mistake to Avoid: Treating these environmental elements as mere background. They actively contribute to the novel’s atmosphere of instability and danger, mirroring the characters’ psychological states and the hidden corruption.

• Tip: Analyze the concept of “blindness” beyond Paul’s physical condition.
• Action: Identify instances where characters or the community are “blind” to the truth due to denial, self-interest, or groupthink.
• Common Mistake to Avoid: Limiting the interpretation of blindness solely to Paul’s vision. The novel uses it as a metaphor for moral and intellectual obtuseness.

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