An introspective and insightful young man, Paul keeps a diary to track the events of his life. This tendency demonstrates his difference and separates him from the other young men in the book, like his bullying brother, Erik, and his bigoted friend, Joey Costello. Coupled with the fact that Paul has severely impaired vision and must wear “Coke-bottle” glasses, the reader recognizes that Paul stands out from the crowd. While not particularly bookish, focusing on soccer, he is clearly thoughtful and curious. His interest in Luis and the tangerine groves is genuine, and his desire to find recognition from beneath his brother’s shadow is keen. In the course of the book, Paul learns to value himself and to confront his fears. Ultimately, Tangerine tells a classic coming-of-age story with a contemporary twist, as Paul observes the socioeconomic and racial tensions that underscore his time in Tangerine County, Florida.

Although Paul is the only one perceptive enough to recognize the counterfeit nature of their suburban existence, Erik takes up most of the oxygen in the family: “As usual when Erik appears, the attention is switched from me to him” (19). The irony of the “Erik Fisher Football Dream” is that, not only is the dream as phony as the faux-European names of the sub-divisions, but it also impedes the family’s ability to see Paul’s talents clearly, and it at least partially explains Paul’s intense desire to belong.