Genre: Young Adult Fiction
Rating: 4/5
I had never heard of this book before finding out it was a part of the curriculum where I would be teaching. So, like any good teacher, I read the book ahead of time so that I would be prepared to assist students with their understanding, as well as their essays, for the novel. It took me a bit longer to read than I would have liked, but it was an amazing book for the middle grade audience, boys and girls alike. It demonstrates what fear can do to a person, as well as the bonds of friendship and family (or lack thereof).
Known as “Eclipse Boy,” Paul Fisher wears huge glasses that make him look like a bug. His seemingly strange incident of staring at an eclipse too long just does not seem to ring right with him though; something else must have happened when he was in kindergarten, but his memories are hazy.
Moving from Texas to Tangerine County, Florida, in Lake Windsor Downs, proves to be a vital test of friendship and family. Paul loves soccer, but he is always under the shadow of his older brother, Erik, who aims to be a star football player and is heavily backed by his father, leaving Paul a little less love and attention than is desired.
At Lake Windsor Downs Middle School, Paul aims for the soccer team, but his mother making and IEP (Individualized Education Plan) for him because of his vision impairment causes him to be ineligible to play on a sports team (which is ridiculous). His ineligibility problem is solved when part of the school falls into a sinkhole (just a part of Tangerines strange weather/natural weirdness), and Paul ends up having to go to the rival school, Tangerine Middle School.
The Soccer crowd at Tangerine Middle school is almost thug-like, but when Paul befriends them, he finds a new meaning to friendship. He also asks his mom to not transfer over his IEP, because he wants to play soccer. When Paul is asked to do a report in science class with a group, he opts to learn about Tangerine growing from his friend’s brother, Luis.
Paul learns a lot about the labor hardships of caring for the fruit trees, but he also constantly lives in fear of his brother, because his subconscious keeps telling him his brother is a bad person.
When Paul witnesses something that could end up causing a murder, fear continues to instill itself within him, but his fear is enough to bring back his true memories, and to learn that his brother caused his blindness and not an eclipse.
All-in-all a great middle grade read that demonstrates the importance of being different, as well as showing how those with some kind of impairment feel about being left out. It also shows what a family who favors one child does to the other, as well as what fear can do to someone psychologically. It is an amazing book that highlights a lot of important issues that young people should be aware and mindful of, while embedding the perfect amount of humor as well. Told in a journalistic style, this is a book that is well worth the read, especially for middle grade readers.
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