Tangerine, by Edward Bloor

Tangerine by-Edward Bloor List five important events. Give explanation of why each is important to the book. Event 1: Erik and Paul Fischer move to Florida. This sets up the plot of the novel. The boys are put in new situations and the hidden conflicts which exist between the two brothers are brought out in the open. Event 2: Paul's school is swallowed by a sinkhole. This forces the boy to transfer to Tangerine Middle School.

In some ways, this turns out to be a blessing for Paul because it enables him to play soccer again. Paul is legally blind but can see well enough to play goalie: his original, richer school would not let him do so because of liability concerns. Event 3: Erik begins to rob houses and accidentally kills a man named Luis. Paul witnesses the events while hiding under the bleachers. Event 4: Erik is attacked as a revenge beating for killing Luis.

Erik's football coach (Erik is a talented football player) tries to restrain the angry boys but because Paul is friends with the attackers from school, he jumps on the coach's back. Event 5: Paul has a flashback during which he remembers how his eyes were really hurt. His parents have been lying to him for most of his life -- his brother actually spray-painted his eyes, holding his lids open.

As a result of the revelation that Erik committed manslaughter and will likely be arrested, the entire family is forced to confront Erik's anger issues. Paul is expelled from Tangerine and has to go to a parochial school instead, although he is still allowed to play soccer for the team. Q2. What is the central conflict and the major problem that characters/people face in the book? How is it resolved? Tangerine is a novel about a young boy finding his identity. Paul is forced to confront his partial blindness.

Despite the fact he has a disability, he is still able to achieve impressive things throughout the novel, including showing great skill as a soccer goalie. He is also able to get along with students at his new middle school, despite the fact he comes from a very different background. Another aspect of Paul's identity formation is distinguishing himself from his older brother. Erik is violent and mean, although a great athlete.

Erick's problems are ignored by his parents until they do real harm to both Paul and other people outside of the family. The family's willingness to cover up the real reason that Paul is partially blind shows how they protect Erik at the expense of the safety of others. By the end of the novel, they realize they cannot do that anymore.