Tangerine

As part of our study of //Tangerine//, you will focus on ONE aspect of the story with a group. The four areas are:
 * Family Relationships (regarding Paul)
 * Taking a Stand or Not (Paul)
 * Disasters/Crises (Paul's handling)
 * Paul Social Life/Status

With your group, 1) REVIEW the book page by page and make note of instances of your topic (approximately ten). - Wednesday and Wed. homework 2) DISCUSS the topic with your group and try to DRAW CONCLUSIONS (try to make about three statement about your topic). - Thursday 3) WRITE up your findings. - Thursday homework 4) PRESENT your findings to the class with your group. - Friday

**EXAMPLE NOTES on VISION/SEEING **
(2) "my glasses are so thick" - not supposed to look into sun or eyeballs will burst into flames. (4) (Mom says,) "Honey, you know how it is with your eyesight. You know you can't see very well." And that was that. (referring to him thinking Erik tried to kill him with baseball bat hitting mailboxes). But I can see. I can see everything. I can see things that Mom and Dad can't. Or won't. (22-23) Dad didn't know about the muck fire (duh! That's a BIG negative factor of moving to LWD!) Paul noticed first a.m. (24) Mom tells school P "has trouble with his eyesight - he's legally blind" P says she's "nosy and wants to see everything for herself. It wasn't because I can't see, because I can. I can see just fine." (26) P has to get an IEP (Individualized Education Plan) cuz of his sight. (27) P can tell the difference b/n a hawk and osprey. "Could a vision-impaired person tell the difference?" (33) Eclipse story - what E gave as reason for P's glasses; P doesn't remember so goes along with it. (34) Quote about sitting on the bus, "E.F's younger brother, Eclipse Boy, visually impaired and totally incapable of following in his brother's footsteps." (35) "'Vision-impaired students should report to the office for assistance.' That made me mad. What did she plan to do? Assign me a dog and a cane?" (37) To Mr. Murrow: "I can see fine." (but Murrow sends Kerri to take him around anyway) (38) Kerri asks what "damaged your eyes?" He says, "I don't know. I mean, I'm not sure" (40) P "From my bedroom window I can see them all clearly, especially Arthur Bauer. And I can predict his future." (47) Mars - nickname associated with his glasses/goggles. (51) Mohawk Man - P sees E and A making fun of how Mike died and how Joey reacted (harsh!!) (61-63) P booted off soccer team cuz of vision; cries. Mom "gets it" - knows she blew it, big time. (74) Mom notices Tangerine Middle kids in back of truck not in seatbelts. "Look at the truck and tell me what's wrong with this picture." (77) P had SEEN the Tan Midd kids going into the Carnival exhibit. "Rats them out." Feels bad. (81) After sinkhole, Gino praises P for helping saying, "You're the best seventh-grade, four-eyed Martian goalie in the entire county" - this makes P very happy! :)

EXAMPLE of DRAWING CONCLUSIONS from NOTES
The idea of being thought of, called, labelled "legally blind" or "vision impaired" is a MAJOR bummer for Paul. · He's embarrassed · Thinks he's a freak · Can't play soccer

He actually has EXCELLENT vision · can see physically (osprey, etc) · can see clearly (what E is like)

Mom can see too, maybe even better · foresees problems like practicing in lightning, no seatbelts

But she's either blind to Erik or closing her eyes to him · when Mike is killed she asks E to tell her "exactly what you did" like she expects he was involved

Dad is totally blind or one-sighted (EFFD)

EXAMPLE WRITE-UP
SEEING/VISION

In //Tangerine// by Edward Bloor, Paul is “vision-impaired” and considered “legally blind.” This label handicaps him in many ways, preventing him from playing soccer legally for his school team, causing him to be teased with names like “Mars,” and making him feel inferior to others, including his older brother Erik, the star athlete. However, Paul is the most clear-sighted person in his family. He sees fine physically; but furthermore, he is insightful and willing to speak the truth when others are not.

Although Paul’s damaged eyesight forces him to get an IEP for school, he actually can see very well physically using his thick glasses. He can navigate his way around school and does not need Kerri to escort him. He even sees well enough to distinguish an osprey from a hawk as the osprey hunt for koi in Lake Winsor, noting “Could a vision-impaired person tell the difference?” (27) In spite of being labeled “legally blind,” Paul can clearly see.

Beyond merely seeing clearly, though, Paul is very observant. Shortly after arriving at his new house, he says, “From my bedroom window I can see them all clearly, especially Arthur Bauer. I can predict his future” (40). He knows Erik is going to be confident and dominating and that Arthur will be Erik’s right-hand man. After Mike Costello is killed, Paul sees Erik and Arthur after making fun of “Mohawk Man” and his brother Joey trying to take off Mike’s shoes. He sees a lot because he is very observant. Neither of Paul’s parents seem to notice or respond to the numerous disturbing aspects of Erik that Paul notices.

Unlike his parents, Paul is willing to admit out loud what he sees. When he finally remembers the true story of how his eyes were damaged, Paul faces Erik down at the wall. Furthermore, he publically exposes the fact that Erik and Arthur are responsible for the death of Luiz. Paul may be blind, but he can see, he does see, and unlike others in his family, he is willing to speak up. He said it himself: "I can see. I can see everything. I can see things that Mom and Dad can't. Or won't" (4).