Tangerine Discussion Questions
by Edward Bloor
Below is a list of discussion questions for the novel, Tangerine. These are provided for students as an additional resource to help in understanding the story. Students are NOT REQUIRED to complete these questions, but are encouraged to think about them as they read the novel.
EXTRA-CREDIT ASSIGNMENT: Students may respond to any three open-ended questions in boldface and turn in on the first day of school as an extra-credit assignment. All answers must be a minimum of four to six sentences per question and utilize the R.A.C.E. format. You may type your answers using 12 pt. Font Times New Roman or Tahoma – or hand write on white-lined paper.
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Pre-Reading:
· Many people say sports help build character in young people. What do you think?
· Do you think male and female athletes should play on the same team?
· Are male and female athletes treated differently? Provide examples.
· Should people with visual handicaps be allowed to play sports in public school? Provide reasons to back up your answer.
During Reading:
(Pages 7 -16)
· What did the Florida landscape look like to Paul?
· Describe what happens after a citrus grower sells land to a developer.
· What does Mr. Fisher’s boss frequently do? Why?
· What is the Erik Fisher Football Dream?
· What did Paul think about the lightning?
· What are muck fires?
· Is there a way to stop a muck fire?
· Why was Mrs. Fisher (Paul’s mom) angry with the Firefighter?
(Pages 16 - 27)
· Describe a vicious thunderstorm.
· What are koi and where do they live?
· What is the name of the football team Erik will play on?
· Explain the quotes: “number two on the depth chart” and “Erik was as phony as he needed to be”.
· What are high-tension wires?
· Why was Paul angry at his mom?
· What things upset Paul’s mom about the move to Florida?
(Pages 27 - 45)
· Is Erik a good football player? Provide details from the book.
· Why did Paul tell his mom to lighten up? Provide at least two examples.
· Paul thought, “I was the boy who had not listened…” Tell one similar thing you hear from adults in your life at home or in school. Do you believe the warning is true? Why?
· Compare and contrast Paul’s experience with Ms. Alvarez and Mrs. Hoffman.
· Look up a solar eclipse of the sun on the Internet. List three facts that you learn. What can happen to your eyes if you stare at one?
· Explain why Arthur will do anything for Erik.
· Look for pictures on the Internet of a Tudor house? What makes a house a Tudor?
· What do the following phrases mean? “We’re wilting”, “Suit yourself”, “In a raspy voice”
(Pages 49 - 64)
· Why were Erik and Arthur laughing?
· What do you think about Erik the next day when he “Calmly, deliberately, …drilled his field goals…”?
· Why do you think Paul would feel safer if Erik was the body at the undertakers instead of Mike?
· Define and discuss: “Soccer practice was a colossal drag” and “Clueless toe stubbers”?
· Compare Mrs. Fisher’s reasons to stop afternoon football practice with Coach Warner’s.
· Do you agree or disagree with Coach Walski’s move to kick Paul off the soccer team? Provide examples from the novel.
(Pages 64 - 84)
· What is an obituary?
· Who was crying uncontrollably?
· What was the author’s purpose about including the section on Mike Costello’s viewing?
· What is your first impression of the guys from Tangerine Middle School?
· What is a turnstile?
· Explain: “Swinging ax-pendulum”.
· Describe what happened with the sink hole.
· What might you do if our school had a sink hole?
· Define Geologist?
(Pages 84 – 103)
· The field of portables was declared a disaster area. Describe something you know about that could be called a disaster area.
· Why was Mr. Fisher made the new Director of Civil Engineering for Tangerine County?
· What school choice might you make after attending the emergency relocation plan meeting?
· How do you feel about Paul’s comment to his father, “Football season and soccer season happen at the same time, Dad. It’s OK with me if you can’t pay attention to both…”
· Define: “Menacing-looking”.
· Do you think Paul will be happy at Tangerine Middle School? Why?
(Pages 103 - 129)
· Why did the soccer players give Paul a hard time during lunch?
· The coach stopped the combatants – Tino and Victor. Why were they fighting?
· What do you think about Joey and his brother’s shoes?
· Define: Accelerating.
· Why are sports like war? Use examples from the text to support your personal thoughts and reasons.
· The coach tells them, “There’s no way this team can beat you. You can only beat yourselves.” Explain.
· Define: Pantomiming.
(Pages 129 -151)
· Describe something that happened in the Tangerine soccer game that impressed you.
· What kind of inappropriate questions does Paul’s mom ask?
· What kind of information do you think the newspaper should print about Tangerine Middle’s soccer team?
· Why are Paul and Joey not getting along?
· Describe the Golden Dawn tangerine.
· Should Paul stay with his science group? Why or why not?
(Pages 151 – 171)
· Define: alcove, spewing insecticide, horticulture.
· What do lightning rods do?
· Name and describe at least three troubles the Lake Windsor Downs Homeowners Association is facing.
· What goes on in Tomas Cruz Groves/Nursery?
· How is Paul getting along with his soccer team?
(Pages 171 – 200)
· What is Mr. Donnelly’s agenda?
· What rules would you make for teams who cannot play in bad weather?
· Predict what will happen next in the novel.
· Paul wanders into his back yard, sick to his soul. What does that mean? Why do you think he was sick to his soul.
(Pages 201 – 206)
· Why do you think Paul could not tell his parents about Tino and Erik, or the truth about Joey?
· Arthur hit Luis with the blackjack. Was it justified? Why?
· Do you think Erik will be different after football season ends? Why or why not?
(Pages 206 – 223)
· Define: unflinching, vertical, contraptions, rickety, corrugated-iron, belching.
· Compare Paul’s work in the groves with the most difficult task you tackled.
(Pages 224- 236)
· Why did Erik and Arthur look like fools in the final football game?
· What did Mr. Fisher NOT know about Paul’s soccer playing?
· Why do you think Paul passed out?
(Pages 237 – 257)
· What do you think Paul will do about Louis?
(Pages 257 – 280)
· Why was Antoine at the house of the reporter, Mr. Donnelly?
· What was the Lake Windsor Football Scandal?
· What do you think the grandfather said to Erik when he went upstairs?
After Reading:
· Predict Paul’s future – what will happen to him in the years to come.
· Predict Erik’s future – what will happen to him in the years to come.
· Do you think Paul’s parents understood what their lie did to him? Explain.