

What did Luis Cruz mean to Paul? Explain.Why do you think Paul is so successful at Tangerine Middle School while Joey can’t handle the new atmosphere?.What does it mean for Paul to be a Tangerine Middle School War Eagle?.Name some key moments in Paul’s acceptance at Tangerine Middle School.Was it right for Paul’s mom to “lose” his IEP when he transferred to Tangerine Middle School? Explain.Describe the differences between Lake Windsor Downs Middle School and Tangerine Middle School.Paul talks about the weather remembering what Tangerine County used to be like as the reason for some of the unpleasant conditions (e.g., he thinks the Donnelly’s house is repeatedly struck by lightning because it is in the spot that used to be the highest point in a grove, so the lightning remembers and continues to strike that spot).What do you think of his theory?.How do the problems in nature, such as the muck fire and the termite infestation, parallel the problems in Paul’s family?.Would you want to live in Lake Windsor Downs? Why or why not?.Which character do you most identify with? Explain.However, many students will need some outside motivation.Teachers can assign points for participation, or give students a specific grade based on the quality of their contributions to the discussion. In an ideal world, students would engage in discussion for the sake of developing a better understanding of a novel. Encourage students to return to the text to find specific passages and quotations to support their opinions. Opinion-based questions can develop students' critical thinking skills and help them relate to the issues raised by the novel on a personal level. Not all discussion questions need to have a “correct” answer. If students are hesitant to jump into the discussion, ask a few students to read their journals to get the conversation started. Having the students respond to Tangerine by Edward Bloor discussion questions as journal prompts is a good way to get the ideas flowing.

Throughout the course of the novel, Paul learns to be more comfortable in his own skin he learns to stand up to his fears and he learns the truth about the childhood accident that damaged his sight. Because of a childhood accident, he is visually impaired and wears thick glasses. He faces drama in his own family with a bullying older brother, Erik, a dad who is too concerned with Erik’s future as a football star to pay much attention to Paul, and a mom who is just trying her best to hold them all together. Tangerine by Edward Bloor tells the story of Paul Fisher as he moves to a new home in Tangerine County, Florida. Using Tangerine by Edward Bloor discussion questions in the classroom can help your students develop their understanding of the book.
