Goalkeeper

by Edward Bloor

In this page-turning follow-up to the modern-day classic Tangerine, an underdog kid from a troubled home navigates a tumultuous summer while finding friendship and confidence on the soccer field.

Paul Fisher is eager to leave his rich-kid private school and get back to Tangerine Middle, where he’d found acceptance as the goalkeeper of the War Eagles, the toughest soccer team in the county. First, though, he must survive the summer at home, where lightning strikes spark underground fires that never go out and a tropical storm provides cover for criminals—including his own brother.

Then a new crisis unfolds, and Paul must testify against one of the War Eagles in a criminal case. Suddenly, the lessons about Truth vs. Loyalty and Justice vs. Mercy that Sister Catherine taught at Saint Anthony’s Prep don’t seem so theoretical anymore. In fact, they might be just what Paul needs to figure out how to fight an unjust legal system and stay true to himself and his teammates.

Genres: Young Adult, Realistic Fiction, Sports, Fiction, Middle Grade, Childrens

192 pages, Hardcover

First published October 14, 2025

About the author

Edward (William) Bloor

Personal Information: Born October 12, 1950, in Trenton, NJ; son of Edward William and Mary (Cowley) Bloor; married Pamela Dixon (a teacher), August 4, 1984. Father to a daughter and a son. Education: Fordham University, B.A., 1973.

Career: Novelist and editor. English teacher in Florida public high schools, 1983-86; Harcourt Brace School Publishers, Orlando, FL, senior editor, beginning 1986.

* Tangerine, Harcourt Brace (San Diego, CA), 1997.
* Crusader, Harcourt Brace (San Diego, CA), 1999.
* Story Time, Harcourt (Orlando, FL), 2004.
* London Calling, Knopf (New York, NY), 2006.
* Taken, Knopf (New York, NY,) 2007.

Media Adaptations:
Tangerine audiobook, Recorded Books, 2001.
Story Time audiobook, Recorded Books, 2005.
London Calling audiobook, Recorded Books, 2006.

Reviews

[Geronimo Barber · Rating 1 out of 5]

Really disappointed by this book. It backtracked on all of the character lessons that Paul learns in Tangerine, namely refuting all the excellent work the author does to highlight the importance of truth and having the moral courage to proclaim it, which was a theme that made Tangerine so strong. The actions of Paul in Goalkeeper undue this entire lesson, and replace it with a puzzling conclusion that promotes a vague and shallow commentary on justice, with the ending of the book demonstrating highly suspect moral behaviour on Paul's part that undermines his entire character development through the original story.

[Lillian · Rating 5 out of 5]

This book was so amazing! I loved it so much. I was pleasantly surprised that there was a second book coming out so many years later. The characters are so wholesome it reminded me a lot of Gary D. Schmidt. There was a lot of hard, and there were points where I wanted to hit some of the character with their own book. Over all, I loved this book.

[Shannon · Rating 4 out of 5]

A moving middle grade novel about a Florida Jewish teen from a troubled home who makes a mistake but has the courage to do the right thing in the end. This had great lessons about racism, second chances and taking the time to investigate one's own biases. It was also good on audio and definitely worth the read! Many thanks to NetGalley and the publisher for an early audio copy in exchange for my honest review!

[Jaid Wehrenberg · Rating 4 out of 5]

A sequel well done!

[Ms. Yingling · Rating 3 out of 5]

E ARC provided by Edelweiss Plus

In this sequel to the 1997 book Tangerine, we catch up with Paul Fisher in Florida. His brother, Erik, is under house arrest after a robbery that left a young man dead, even though the cause of death was listed as a brain aneurysm. Paul was expelledd from Tangerine Middle School, where he was on the soccer team, and is currently enrolled at St. Anthony's, because the expulsion covers every school in the county. He makes friends with Jeffrey Kaplan when he protects the younger boy from being bullied, and spends time hanging out with him. He also goes to the eye doctor for new glasses, and his eyesight has recuperated enough (from Erik having thrown paint in his face when he was five) that he no longer has very thick glasses. Paul's grandparents visit from Ohio to tell the family that the grandfather has stage four lung cancer and is planning his funeral and burial in Florida. There are new neighbors, the McCarthy's, who are opening up a franchise of a sub shop. The father asks Mr. Fisher for help establishing contacts, but Paul is very concerned about the children, Connor and Caitlin, who seem to have criminal leanings. Caitlin often asks Paul for "protection", but Connor has stolen money from Erik. When Tropical Storm Ann hits the area, Erik and his accomplice Arthur threaten to beat Paul and damage his new glasses, but Jeffrey (who has been studying martial arts) saves Paul from being beaten. Erik and Arthur run off, and the Fishers wash their hands of him. The McCarthy's have the opening of their shop, but there is no food, and Connor claims that he has been robbed when he was closing up. One of Paul's teammates from Tangerine, Luka Guzman, is seen running away from the shop, and arrested for the theft. The Fishers get a call that Erik has been arrested in Houston, and go to see him. Meanwhile, Paul realizes that the McCarthy's has staged the theft and framed Luka, so Paul tells the police that he lied about seeing Luka, and spends the night in jail. He gets help from Jeffrey's mother, who is a youth lawyer. In the end, the McCarthy's leave town, Erik and Arthur go to jail, and Paul goes back to Tangerine Middle School to play soccer.


Strengths: At one point in time, Tangerine was a popular title that was used as a class novel, and which won a number of awards. It was quirky and innovative, and beloved by soccer fans. The storyline with Erik's legal trouble, and his mistreatment of Paul, is something that is unusual for middle grade. The McCarthy's scams that fleece so many people in the neighborhood are vaguely reminiscent of Korman's Faker. The story moves fairly quickly, and the book is not very long. Paul is an engaging characters, and I was glad that his eyesight had improved.
Weaknesses: It was hard to tell when this book was set. The cars mentioned were older (the Buick LeSabre hasn't been produced since 2005), the father mentions have a high lottery number for Vietnam, and there are other things that make this seem like an older title. The writing style reminded me of Robert Cormier for no specific reason that I can describe. The Home Owners Association gets a lot more mentions than one would expect for a middle grade book. There is no soccer played.
What I really think: I am always curious as to why publishers come release sequels years after books are published; Holt's 1999 When Zachary Beaver Came to town was followed by the 2021 Ambassador of Nowhere, Texas, and Schmidt's 2007 The Wednesday War was followed by the 2021 Just Like That. I weeded Tangerine years ago, after the teacher who loved it retired, in part because the cover art was very much in the style of the 1990s. I won't be purchasing this new title.

[Vanessa · Rating 3 out of 5]

An enjoyable read and I liked the plot overall even though it was more predictable than I was expecting. Happy to have some questions answered from Tangerine; but I feel like this oversimplified some things and really would have benefitted from fleshing out some stuff more. The character of Erik remained very two-dimensional; and I have to conclude after this one that Paul's parents just like, aren't very good people, hahah. Paul is still a great protagonist, I really like that he stands up for himself/others and subtly calls his parents out on bigotry etc in a way that isn't obnoxious or pretentious and actually tries to live by his moral code.

I just really think the last like 30 pages of this are super super rushed and I really needed more insight into why Paul made this big choice especially when there seemed like other solutions. I wasn't really happy with the end and that it seemed like we were supposed to think things were on the way to good with this family now. Like in zero way am I defending the Erik character but their parents are kind of monsters?? Like their son is on house arrest for serious stuff and it seems like they never really talk to him or try to set him up with therapy or anything he just lives in his room, and the tone overall feels like we're supposed to be like, ah well he was just a monster, what can you do? Which, to an extent I recognize can be true, but this took place what, like five months after the first one ended? It felt like overall in this world we are supposed to think these parents are decent but it was really giving "we've tried nothing and we're all out of ideas!". I like that Paul is kind of neutral on them lol but I am not; they're irresponsible and myopic and annoying, which I get is intentional and contrasts Paul's insightfulness, but the book never being more explicit about them being genuinely messed up (esp. with how they handle the big reveal from the first book being barely touched on) irked me.

Also—I feel the need to mention this as there are so few reviews for this—a top review says this is about a "Jewish Florida teen...who makes a mistake but has the courage to do the right thing"; while Paul 'making a mistake' and 'doing the right thing' is pretty arguable to me (sidenote, the way the legal stuff plays out here is kind of a farce/unbelievable), him not being Jewish isn't? He befriends a Jewish character, yes, but there are several scenes where Paul's not being Jewish and not knowing a lot about the faith comes up, hahaha. Just in case you sought this book out specifically expecting a significant Jewish perspective, you will not really get that here.

[Corinne’s Chapter Chatter · Rating 4 out of 5]

Who says you can’t go back to middle school? Paul Fischer does it with heart, humor, and just enough chaos to keep you hooked.

Well, young Paul Fischer sure managed to stay in middle school for a long time! This book is the sequel to 1997’s Tangerine—a much-loved middle grade classic that I admittedly haven’t read. The good news? You don’t need to. Even jumping straight into the sequel, it’s easy to catch up, and you’re never left confused (even for a younger reader).

The story is fast-paced, endearing, and full of the kind of moments that will hook middle grade readers right away. I especially appreciated that while the book weaves in several important life lessons, it never feels heavy-handed. At its core, it’s still a fun, engaging story that kids will want to keep turning the pages on.

I listened to the audiobook, narrated by Trevor Goble, who did an outstanding job. He captured an age-appropriate tone without ever slipping into caricature, and his pacing was spot on—slow enough for young listeners to follow, but still dynamic and expressive. Plus, it holds up beautifully when played at a faster speed without losing clarity or heart.

Releasing October 14th, this one is a great pick for both home and school libraries. Whether it ends up on a school shelf or a nightstand, this story will stick with readers long after the final page.

I was fortunate to receive a complimentary ALC or eARC from via NetGalley, which gave me the opportunity to share my voluntary thoughts.

How I Rate
Because I mostly read ARCs, I focus on how I think fellow readers with similar tastes will respond. I sometimes round up or down based on pacing, prose, or overall impact, and I try to keep my personal preferences from weighing too heavily.

⭐️ 1 Star – Finished, but not for me; I never DNF ARCs.
⭐️⭐️ 2 Stars – Struggled due to writing, content, or editing issues.
⭐️⭐️⭐️ 3 Stars – Decent read with untapped potential; recommend with some reservations.
⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️ 4 Stars – Really enjoyed it and would recommend for several reasons.
⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️ 5 Stars – Exceptional; lingers in my mind well after reading. A story I’d gladly revisit.

[Robin Pelletier · Rating 3 out of 5]

Regardless of whether you love or hate Tangerine, it is a novel that gets kids to talk, gets them invested to find out what happens next and brings out strong feelings. Even three years later, students are still talking about Tangerine. While I don’t like it because it infuriates me as a teacher and educator, I cannot deny the power of a book where kids can recall minute details years later. When they announced the sequel, I couldn’t wait to tell my 7th grade munchkins as I knew they would have much to say about it. And chirp they did. The novel was immediately checked out of my library and a rotation plan made for who would read it next. I may have to buy another copy to put into circulation.

This book picks up where the last one left off. Erik and Arthur are sentenced to house arrest which leaves a sense of just how broken the justice system is and just how broken the Fisher family is. Paul wants to go back to play soccer for Tangerine Middle School and his parents are not thrilled. A new family moves into Lake Windsor Downs and causes drama.

I didn’t love this sequel. I did more shaking of my head. We will see if the kids chirp about this one as much as they did about the first one.

[Sue.the.very.busy.reader · Rating 3 out of 5]

Goalkeeper — the long-awaited follow-up to the classic novel Tangerine was published this month. In this story, Paul hopes to return to his old middle school, Tangerine, and play soccer again for the War Eagles. But first, he must make it through a challenging summer with his complicated family.
Over the summer, Paul reflects on lessons he learned in Sister Catherine’s class at Saint Anthony’s School — especially about Truth vs. Loyalty and Justice vs. Mercy. He strives to live honestly and speak the truth, but when his father’s business venture begins to fail, Paul faces tough choices that test his values and sense of loyalty to the War Eagles.
While Goalkeeper centers less on soccer and more on family, friendship, and personal growth, it offers an engaging and emotional story. Some events are difficult, but they are handled thoughtfully. Narrator Trevor Goble delivers a fantastic performance, perfectly capturing the voice and spirit of a middle school student with energy and authenticity.
Thank you to HarperAudio Children’s and NetGalley for the advance listening copy of Goalkeeper. All opinions expressed are my own.

[Trisha · Rating 5 out of 5]

Paul can not wait to leave the private school and get beck to Tangerine where he can be a War Eagle again. But first he has to make it through summer. Where lightening can hit in more ways than one and brings one boy, Paul, to more understand the justice system and how it works better for some than others. But will it have him back on the outside of his team his war eagles?
If you liked Tangerine (the first book) than this one will be just as good and if you haven’t read Tangerine yet it is ok this can as be a standalone, but I am willing to bet you’ll want to go back and read it anyways. This book has action but has so much more suspense in it, I could not put it down until I finished but I was still looking for more. I really hope we see more of Paul in the near future, these books are so powerful.

This review copy was provided by netgalley

[Jeni Enjaian · Rating 4 out of 5]

It has been quite a while since I read Bloor’s much more well-known novel, Tangerine. I don’t think that it’s necessary to read that first book, although it would provide more context for this narrative. There’s a bit of absurdity inherent in this particular setting that the reader would gain context for by reading that other book, but apart from that this book stands fairly well enough on its own. That being said, I did not particularly enjoy this book although I did not mind the narrative. It did not really have a coherent structure to the plot and did not really have a strong connection with the title. Since many middle schoolers may be familiar with the first book since it is often taught, or at least was often taught in previous years, some middle school students may enjoy this breed. Overall, though, I would not go out of my way to put this in my classroom library.

[Connie · Rating 4 out of 5]

In this quick read and sequel to Tangerine, Paul has just finished his 7th grade year at his fancy private school, but he can’t wait to get back to the public school where he was a part of the championship soccer team–and also where he was unfairly expelled for the remainder of the school year. This book is much more than a sports story, with Paul struggling with concepts like truth vs loyalty and justice vs mercy and how that relates to his older brother (who is home on house arrest) and events in the community (robberies, inequalities of demographics, bullying, etc.) This can be read without reading Tangerine, and only a few things stick out as taking place in the 1990s, making this still relevant today. Highly recommended for upper elementary and middle school.

[Karen · Rating 5 out of 5]

In the sequel to Tangerine, Paul Fisher is excited for the end of the school year so he can return to Tangerine middle and return to his role as soccer goalie. His vision is improving and he has new sports goggles so he hopes to have an even better soccer season. Readers slowly learn the story of Paul’s eye injury and the role his own brother played. When new neighbors move in and encourage people to invest in their new restaurant, Paul senses something is off. Bloor raises interesting questions about haves and have nots – Paul’s mom is president of the Homeowner’s Association and is against renters moving in to the neighborhood while many of Paul’s teammates are migrants and treated as less than.

[Crystal · Rating 4 out of 5]

Paul Fisher wants to leave his Catholic private school and get back to Tangerine Middle public school, where he had found acceptance as the goalkeeper of the War Eagles. First, he must survive the summer at home, where lightning strikes spark underground fires that never go out and a tropical storm provides cover for criminals—including his own brother.

Then crisis unfolds, and Paul must testify against one of the War Eagles in a criminal case. The lessons about Truth vs. Loyalty and Justice vs. Mercy that Sister Catherine taught do not seem so theoretical anymore. In fact, they might be just what he needs to navigate out how to fight an unjust legal system and stay true to himself and his teammates.

[Alyssa DeLeon · Rating 3 out of 5]

Well, first things first: this book was wicked intriguing. I read it almost straight through in one sitting. A page turner, for sure. But…it was very weird, too. The dialogue felt extremely fake, especially between grownups. The bit with Mrs. Kaplan joking to Paul about his parents getting divorced? What parent would joke like that with their kid’s middle school friend? And the whole part where Paul randomly went to jail was so out of pocket. The premise was fantastic but the writing was strange. Also some mild language, which I never think is appropriate in a book released as a J. Wouldn’t recommend this for kids. More YA.

[Kathleen · Rating 5 out of 5]

A Gripping Story About Courage, Loyalty, and Doing What’s Right
Goalkeeper is so much more than a soccer story. Edward Bloor weaves together suspense, family struggles, friendship, and difficult moral choices in a way that makes Paul's journey genuinely compelling. I especially enjoyed how the story explores the fine line between standing by the people you care about and having the courage to stand up for what is right. With its engaging characters and meaningful message, this is a story that stays with you beyond the final page. A rewarding read for anyone who loves sports, suspense, and stories with real heart.

[Karen Reeder · Rating 4 out of 5]

This book isn’t so much about soccer as it is about a goalie living his life during the summer. About friendship and family relationships and the awful, good, and strange things that people do in the world. His past and even his present life is pretty intense, mostly because of the choices of others and how they affect him. The themes of mercy/justice and ethical dilemmas are discussed through dialogue and shown through the actions of characters. I enjoyed the book very much, but I would say that because of some intense moments, be careful of possible triggers for some people.

[Jen Donnalley · Rating 4 out of 5]

So much more than a book about sports! A great book for middle school students - so much to unpack about injustices in our world. Don't pick up this book unless you have the time to finish it as you won't want to put it down. Excited for the release date so I can get this into the hands of students!
Thank you Clarion Books for providing this book for review consideration via NetGalley. All opinions are my own.

[Diana of Shelved by Strand · Rating 5 out of 5]

Fans of Tangerine will be thrilled to see Goalkeeper pick up where that book left off. Paul’s brother Eric is still a problem for him, and Paul is still bouncing around from school to school. But just like Tangerine, this book is built on more than one ethical dilemma. Again, Paul seems to be wiser than many of the adults on his life. Such a satisfying, five-star read that I can’t wait to add to our shelves.

Thanks to NetGalley and the publisher for the digital ARC.

[LS Johnson · Rating 3 out of 5]

i was expecting a little more. paul has grown older and his problems have gotten much more serious. but the tone never made me get into that mood or emotionally connect with what should have been the intensity of the situations. paul's "revised" family seemed happy at the end of the book, so that was satisfying.

[Tiffany · Rating 5 out of 5]

If I could give this book 100 stars I would! Answered every question I had from the first book and exceeded my expectations by far! If you haven’t already read Tangerine, go read it so you can read this one or else <3

[Sam Painter · Rating 5 out of 5]

Can’t believe he published a sequel so many years later, but this was everything I wanted. My students are going to love this. Short and sweet, but just like with Tangerine, so many layers packed together beautifully.

[MaryAnne · Rating 3 out of 5]

There’s a lot going on in this short book which contributed to it feeling contrived. Paul, a goalkeeper on a school soccer team has a visual impairment, his delinquent brother is under house arrest for 10 years and his family gets swindled by a new family in town.

[Corene Knutson Freeman · Rating 5 out of 5]

Wow! This sequel to Tangerine does NOT disappoint. My only complaint is that it wasn’t longer. I could read Paul’s story forever and never get sick of it. I loved Tangerine and I loved Goalkeeper! They are both such amazing books!

[piratesPencil · Rating 3 out of 5]

While I enjoyed revisiting the characters and setting from Tangerine, this sequel felt like it lacked a lot of what I loved about Tangerine: the slight surrealism, the ecological themes, the mystery... This book also veered towards a pro-military, pro-police attitude that felt oddly out of place.

[Jody Rodgers · Rating 5 out of 5]

Loved going back to Tangerine, but it was too short!

[Gianna · Rating 3 out of 5]

Definitely not as good as the original. Way too short to develop anything.

[Jacque Goble · Rating 5 out of 5]

This was a captivating story, and an excellent follow up to Tangerine. I thought the narration for both books was exceptional!

[Kim · Rating 3 out of 5]

3.5

[Jeremiah Clauss · Rating 4 out of 5]

Unexpected and worthy sequel to Tangerine. For students who get Tangerine assigned, they should definitely read this follow up.