Tangerines by Tsvi Jolles Audiobook Review | A Poetic Middle Grade Story of Grief

Dreams are a bit like dandelion seeds. They float around and sometimes land where they’re not meant to. – Tangerines

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Telling heavy stories through the literal eyes of a child is exactly what Tangerines by Tsvi Jolles leans fully into. Through diary-like entries filled with innocence, imagination, and half-understood emotions, complicated themes are brought to life through the poetic voice of a young girl.

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What Tangerines Is About (Spoiler-Free)

In Tangerines, we follow a young girl named Gilly as she navigates family changes and complicated emotions she doesn’t fully understand. Told through diary-style entries, this story explores grief, longing, and growing up through the imaginative lens of a child trying to make sense of her world.

With her best friend, Oggy (who she will marry one day), adventures are taken and magical spells spoken about.

This story is pure childlike wonder sharing the same space with heavy realities of life. Light and loss. Sweet and bitter. Just like a tangerine.

Tangerines Audiobook Review

I really appreciated what this book was trying to do. The poetic simplicity of the voice feels so intentional and there’s such a tenderness in watching a child try to make sense of the world around her.

As an audiobook ARC, I especially appreciated the narration. The narrator beautifully conveyed that childlike tone and sense of wonder without ever overdoing it. It felt natural and tender, which really supported the overall heart of the story.

For me, though, the emotional impact never fully settled. The ambiguity and fragmentary structure created some distance, and I found myself admiring the concept of Tangerines more than feeling deeply moved by it.

That said, I can absolutely see this resonating with much younger listeners or readers who connect strongly with child-centered storytelling.

Tangerines Final Thoughts

Just like the dandelion seeds, children don’t choose where they land. They simply grow where they are.

⭐⭐⭐ Not every story lingers the same way, but I always appreciate the attempt to hold something so delicate with such care.

Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher for this ARC!