Thank you NetGalley for the ALC of this!

I went into this book expecting more magical elements to the story, but I think I would’ve enjoyed it better had I not. However, the audiobook narrator was amazing. She brought the story to life.

Tangerines is a whimsical story, that follows Gilly (10 years old) and her best friend Oggy on an adventure to the other side of the forest to find her absent father.

This heartwarming quirky tale is told through Gilly’s stream of consciousness, by means of her beloved journal. It tackles childhood innocence, friendship, first love, navigating divorced parents, and overcoming fears.

Jolles writes Gilly’s rambling perfectly, I never once doubted that this was a child voice, one full of childish optimism, and wonder.

Tangerine poetically written, with beautiful prose and scattered with stunning quotes “I think is a sign that the story end as the last pencil runs out” and “dreams are like dandelion seeds, they float around and sometimes land where they are not meant to”. I actually live a garden full of dandelions.
I loved how tangerines connected story in lots of different ways, it was a treat to read and digest.

I personally had a few issues with this title, but it will remain spoiler free:

🍊 The adults in this story are frustrating to say the least! I felt they are also ridiculously written. Spoilers aside, how can one possible not know!? (Once you read it, you’ll know what I’m talking about). But honestly! It makes no sense. The miscommunication, and misconceptions, sure would just fill Gilly with a lack of trust in adults?

🍊 The quirkiness seemed quite excessive especially as the plot was practically non existent. That being said it did work for the character, but I found it to be quite tedious after a while.

🍊 The romance element particularly in this genre, I feel is unnecessary. The friendship, albeit turbulent is a beautiful one. Should have been left as that in my opinion.

🍊 Eating mushrooms in the forest and entering a “dream(ing)” state was a bit much for a 9-12. I’m sure it would go over most children’s heads. However, I reside near woodlands and certainly wouldn’t want my child to munch on mushrooms trying to reenact this scene. Mainly because foraging mushrooms can be so very dangerous, especially as not many children are budding Mycologists.

🍊 The ending left me completely unfulfilled and annoyed. I can’t spoil it, but really!

All in all a fine read

Like other reviewers, I had the sense that there's probably an audience for this book and I am certainly not it. I'm not sure *who* the audience for the book is because I'm nearly certain that neither the YA nor the MG audience (as a reader of both age categories) are it either.

The book is told through the diary of 10-year-old Gilly. But I didn't know she was 10 until the middle of the book, even though I read the cover copy before listening. This is because the writing and jumpy-ness of the narration was that of someone younger. And even if it's a 10-year-old who's mind jumps around, I'm certain that readers who are that age aren't interested in reading a diary that's so jumpy.

Additionally, Oggy was a terrible friend. I'm not sure if the reader is supposed to understand that or not. Is this something I understand as an adult that a child is going to think is the way best friends should behave? I don't think it's well framed. I don't think this is really for MG and it's definitely not a YA book.

I'm giving it a 2.5/5 stars (rounded to 3) because it's not terrible. There's worse books out there. But I don't think this is really a good book. The flaws are glaring to anybody who reads MG/YA.

I felt curious about the title of tangerines, and the cover was beautiful. I was drawn into Gilly's world. She's only 10 but has a great imagination. I'm glad she has Oggy and i enjoyed their journey.

I felt for Gilly when her dad went to live on the other side of the forest with her mum's friend Mississippi. It was heartbreaking witnessing her trying to figure out why he was living with her.

I was hoping she'd see him again one day. The way she carved hearts into the tangerine tree for every day he was gone was heartwarming.

Tsvi Jolles does a great job of bringing Gilly, her thoughts, and her surroundings to life. The audiobook and story itself are both quirky, fun and relaxing but also made me curious. The story is short, around 3 hours for the audiobook, but it's so immersive.

Tangerines gives a unique look into the thoughts and experiences of a 10 year old. I particularly enjoyed Gilly's journal.

The plot is emotional, real, realistic, imaginative and memorable.

5 stars

Thanks to Tsvi Jolles and Audible Audio for my audiobook in exchange for an honest and voluntary review.

Rated as 3.5/5, rounded up to 4
Tangerines is a whimsical and heartfelt novel that follows 10-year-old Gilly on a tender quest to find her long-absent father, accompanied by her eccentric friend Oggy. Jolles brings to life the magic and vulnerability of childhood through vivid, lyrical prose and an imaginative narrative filled with secrets, dreams, and the bond of friendship.

While the story offers a touching portrayal of a child's inner world, it’s not without its issues. Gilly’s voice, at times, reads younger than her age, which can disrupt the believability of her character for readers familiar with middle-grade fiction. Additionally, some content may raise eyebrows for parents and educators. A scene involving the foraging and consumption of mushrooms, followed by a dream-like experience, could be interpreted as promoting risky behaviour—especially in a book aimed at younger readers. These elements, though likely meant to be metaphorical or magical, come off as red flags in the context of middle-grade appropriateness.

Despite these concerns, Tangerines remains a uniquely written and emotionally resonant book, best suited for readers who can navigate its more ambiguous content with maturity. It’s a story that captures the aching, hopeful heart of childhood—albeit with some caveats.

Told entirely in the diary entries of 10 year old Gilly, this story is thoughtful and whimsical, very stream of consciousness and so enjoyable. Gilly tells her story in bits and pieces just as it comes to mind and every entry tells of the people and places she loves - her mother and father, Oggy (her best friend who makes up words and rules better than anyone), her beloved tangerine tree and the forest she lives in.

Since I read this via audio, I’ll review both the story and the narration -

Story: I thoroughly enjoyed this. The author convincingly weaves together the scrambled thoughts and emotions of a 10 yr old into a believable and compelling narrative. Gilly’s voice rings true at every turn and keeps you waiting to find out how things tie together. The writing is definitely more descriptive than plot-driven and while that won’t work for every reader, it really rang true for me.

Narration - amazing! No notes. The narrator perfectly conveys the wonder, hopes and fears of a 10 year old facing an epic journey to reunite with her father.

Thanks to NetGalley and the publisher for the ALC.

Thank you to Netgalley, Tsvi Jolles, and Brave Fawn Books for the Advanced Listener's Copy of the audiobook!

"Because beautiful things should stand out on their own. Beautiful things have beautiful names, like burgundy. But not always... Mississippi."

Let's be real, how could you look at the cover and decide to move on from this? It's absolutely gorgeous! This book is exactly what I expected it to be, and I'm going to go out on a limb and say this would be the perfect read for neurodivergent children, as a neurodivergent adult myself. The voice is perfectly of that as a child, but both Gilly and her friend Oggy think differently than everyone else.

"Oggi says magic is like a clock, everything has to happen at just the right time or it won't work. I want to believe him, part of me already does. If anyone can bend the rules of the forest, it's Oggi."

The question of can a prayer or a spell bring a loved one back to you tends to be the main theme here, but there were so many other elements at play here to bring enough to the story without overwhelming it. The magical but foreboding forest in between them and their heart's desire, coupled with the magical animal only she can see really lend to the childlike fantasy the author is going for. I also have to agree with other reviewers when I say that I enjoyed the "acknowledgments" section reading as it is coming from Gilly, and not Jolles, because it really actualizes the idea that Tangerines is Gilly's final written work. I won't harp on some of the elements that were questionable but I did have to stop and say "Is that...'x'?" and thought it was a choice.

"I don't think magic is real, but I totally believe in Oggi."

Casey Montgomery kills it as the narrator, lending the childlike voice and wonderment, making the story feel realized and complete.

"If you blush in the dark, no one can see it. Only you know. Blush is a funny word, it sounds like something Oggi would make up. But the funniest word I know is hodgepodge. The saddest word? Longing, like longing for someone. If I'm sad, I can say hodgepodge a few times and it helps. When mom is sad and I say hodgepodge over and over, she gets annoyed and tells me to stop. But by then, she usually forgets why she was sad in the first place. Words can be a bit like magic."

thank you, NetGalley for an advanced ALC and ARC of this book

This is a middle grade and I was curious about it
I can see little girls liking this story about the rambles of the inner mind of a child.

for me the story didn't leave a lasting impression

I understand this is book based on a 10year old however I lost interest in it several times. I did finish it and I'm not sure if I am glad I did? You follow Gilly and her bestie Oggy to find her dad. She does end up making it through the forest to where her dad is. It was a "fun" adventure for her however like I said I lost interest so it wasn't all that fun for me. I will say that Casey did great narrating!

My first impression was that the audiobook narrator has a really nice voice, this is not always the case so it was a welcome change.
Now for the book in itself: I don't usually read "stream of consciousness" books, i find them confusing, and i enjoy more plot-focused books. But because it's a book originally destined for children, it's still accessible. Maybe if I would have read it as a child I would not have enjoyed it as much, so I think there's value in reading it as an adult.
This book has little plot, and it's more of an exploration of this little girl's mind. Really reads like a diary.
If you are able to read books physically or on a e-reader, maybe go for that instead. Don't get me wrong, the audiobook is really well crafted, but i feel like this kind of book is easier to read than to listen to, because it's easier for you to adjust the speed of your reading, or reread certain passages.

This is such a beautiful story and the narrator did an amazing job. I loved the themes of family and friendship. My kids and I would definitely listen to this again!!

A heartfelt, imaginative journey through a child's eyes—Tangerines by Tsvi Jolles is a sweet and touching story about love, family, and finding hope in unexpected places. Perfect for readers young and old.

Thank you to NetGalley, Victory Editing NetGalley Co-op, Brave Fawn Books, Tsvi Jolles, and Casey Montgomery (audio narrator) for the opportunity to read and listen to the audiobook of Tangerines in exchange for an honest review.

Tangerines is a short novel, easy to read in an afternoon, following 10-year-old Gilly. She loves writing in her journal under her favorite tree, where her imagination takes her all kinds of places beyond the woods she live in. She enjoys spending time with her best friend, Oggy, who lives nearby. He likes to make up words and also shares words with Gilly that he acts knowledgeable about, but maybe only heard in passing.

Gilly's dad lives with a friend across the forest, and she isn't sure why he never visits or why he doesn't stay with his mom after getting sick. Gilly makes for an unreliable narrator because of the dream and fantasy world she lives in and a sense of reality that might not quite be reflecting her own truth.

Whimsical and fun, this novel makes for an easy and quaint read for young or middle grade aged readers. The novel explores family and friendship in the innocent lens of a child who may not quite understand the goings-on around her, but at least tries. It also explores the whimsical thoughts that an innocent child delves in, with a blend of the fantastical. The age is that border between childhood innocence and transitioning into a young adult, exploring the realities of the world around.

I received the Tangerines audiobook in exchange for my honest review.
Tangerines is a tale from a 10 year old girl named Gilly. She and her friend Oggy play near tangerine trees, use tangerine peels when adventuring into the woods so they can find their way back home.
They have a special spell they need, to be able to get Gilly's dad back home. They need different items from magical creatures. When obtaining the items, they allow two unique creatures to join them on their journey from their home through the woods to where Gilly's dad is.
This is a magical story of two children full of secrets. In the end, the writings and thoughts Gilly once had, completely change once she makes it to her destination.
It's a cute story and I loved the narrator as a ten year old. This is a lyrical story with alot of different thoughts that might go through a ten year old's mind daily. It was thought provoking!
Recommended for 13-17 year olds.
Thank you for the ARC NetGalley.
Children's Fiction/Middle Grade/Teens & YA
#Tangerines #NetGalley

Thank you to Victory Editing NetGalley Co-op for the audio ARC of this title in exchange for an honest review.

I will be honest. I found this book a little confusing. With talk of magic and spells and made up words, I was unclear about what some things were--whether they were magical or real with made up names. I was fond of Gilly. Given her response to school and writing style, I wondered whether she was neurodivergent, perhaps on the spectrum. I was sad that her father seemed to have left her and her mother, and unclear why, if he had left for another woman, she still did not have contact with him. I loved her connection to nature, particular the tangerine tree.

As this was an audiobook, I will say that I thought the narrator was appropriate for the voice of Gilly. I typically rate narrators based on how well they voice a variety of characters, but this book was entirely from Gilly's perspective, in her voice. I would be curious to hear Montgomery narrate a book in multiple character's voices.

I found the premises intriguing but the execution wasn't for me. The writing felt disjointed and unfocused. So, combined with the rather heavy-handed messaging, I couldn't enjoy it. Everything felt a bit forced. Speaking as a former KidLit bookseller, "even in middle grade novels" we can expect nuance. This didn't deliver as I hoped, unfortunately.

Thank you to Netgalley for the audiobook ARC in exchange for an honest review.

This was a super sweet children’s story following Gilly and Oggy the grand adventures. The audio narration was perfect and I found the descriptions enchanting. It’s a slice of life narrative weaving together stories of the past and present through a 10 year olds eyes

3.5/5.0

Firstly, thank you to NetGalley and Brave Fawn Books for this audio ARC copy of Tangerines.

I have to admit, what drew me into this story was the cover. After I read the summary I wanted to give this a try as it sounded like a very nice and cute child story.

During this short story, you follow Gilly, a 10-year-old girl that lives with her mother and wants to reunite with her father who lives on the other side of the forest. With the help of her best friend, Oggy, and his magical spells (or so he says), they prepare their journey to cross the forest.

Through the book, you can see the innocence of a child's mind and how whimsical everything seems to Gilly, making you think you might be in a fantasy world. This makes the narration unreliable for obvious reasons and adds a lot of magic and sweetness to the plot.

This story touches on some complex themes like family dynamics and grief, which I did not expect and it definitely added more depth. It was my first time attempting a book aimed at middle-graders and it was definitely an interesting experience.

I must also add that Casey Montgomery made a great job at narrating this story and her soothing voice had me enjoy the story greatly.

𝑻𝑨𝑵𝑮𝑬𝑹𝑰𝑵𝑬𝑺 𝒃𝒚 𝑻𝒔𝒗𝒊 𝑱𝒐𝒍𝒍𝒆𝒔 is a middle grade story out by @victoryeditingngc Brave Fawn Books and came out on March 5th. I'll be honest & admit I don't read much of this genre, but often they surprise me. This one ended up having deeply moving themes through which the 10-year-old Gilly is grappling. Told in a diary format, as she is practicing her writing to do as a vocation someday, it is very stream-of-consciousness bouncing from topic to topic as the days require. Her best friend Oggy is with her as she strives to understand why her father has left, especially since she knows where he is. This journey of discovery and understanding is fused with the imagination of childhood held against jarring and painful realities. I am curious what a Middle grade reader would think of this one, as it felt like one that could grow with them. Casey Montgomery narrated and captured all this tension in her reading, though I am curious to see the spelling of some of the imagined beings!

This novel made me feel as if I had jumped into the mind of a child and experienced life through a different set of eyes. Navigating the good and bad and the sometimes random along the way. Cute book for a younger crowd.