Every now and then, a review comes along that reminds me why I write.

One lovely reader, Jumi, shared her thoughts on Tangerines in a way that completely moved me. She described the audiobook as “filling up the heart with a sense of being adult while making us nostalgic for the innocent time we have left behind.”

She even listened to it twice—something she rarely does—and credited both the story and the narrator, Casey Montgomery, for creating a kind of magic. As Jumi wrote, “Maybe Oggy had cast a spell or Gilly had whispered a prayer when I picked up Tangerines, who knows!”

I’m beyond grateful for her words, which brought Gilly and Oggy’s world to life in such a thoughtful and heartfelt way.

You can read the full review below, and if you haven’t yet joined Gilly on her journey, I hope you’ll give Tangerines a read, or a listen.

Jumi’s review

Apr 13, 2025

Tangerines
by Tsvi Jolles 
Format: Audiobook
Narrated by Casey Montgomery
Genre: Middle-Grade Fiction, Literary 
Pages: 180, Time: 3 hrs 46 min
Pub. Date: March 05, 2025
Rating: 5/5

A book I enjoyed so much that two days after reading it, I have turned on the audiobook again. Is it the magic of the author’s words or the charm of the narrator’s voice that is making me re-read, or rather re-hear a book I have just completed, again? A strange thing for me to do because usually I am always in a state of rush to read a new book; we all know there are many, many books to read and not as much time.

My guess is that the author’s words and the narrator’s style complement each other so well, that what we have in Tangerines by Tsvi Jolles, narrated by Casey Montgomery is an audiobook that just fills up the heart with a sense of being adult while making us nostalgic for the innocent time we have left behind, and it’s always tempting to revisit such a book, especially given its depth in exploring the life and mind of a 10-year-old girl who crosses a forest to meet her father. 

The book is rich in imagination, as well as character exploration, and the view of the adult world through the eyes of a 10-year-old is done not just with brilliance, but with so much warmth and empathy.

My guess is that children, especially the imaginative ones, will find this book relatable, and more than that, very enjoyable. I plan to hear this with a couple of kids.

Gilly lives with her mother. Her best friend is Oggy. They sit on a branch in her favourite tangerine tree, talk, imagine (even flying yenekas) and watch the world below. Mother plays cards with Mississippi, Audelia and Eternity. Gilly’s father lives across the forest with Mississippi. When Gilly decides to meet her father, Oggy offers to accompany her and do spells to make the journey across the forest a success, because he doesn’t have so much faith in Gilly’s prayers. Gilly is always writing new prayers. 

Given her age, Gilly doesn’t understand everything and because the book is in her pov, readers are also left guessing a bit now and then. This enhances the reading experience, because it brings Gilly and Oggy closer to our hearts.

Tangerines is a Middle-Grade fiction, but middle-grade children too don’t get to live in a perfect world. Nor is the real world a children’s adventure fiction, so Gilly and Oggy cannot win everywhere in life, they have to toe the line and live within the circumstances of their lives. In Tangerines we see the beauty of how the young and imaginative minds bloom and flourish even within the periphery of unwanted circumstances in life. As the book closes, I see a tangerine tree, it’s canopy sparkling with tangerines glowing in orange warmth. We know there is a tartness in the tangerines, but we still want to taste it because it will bring sweetness along with its tartness. This is life, and this is also the cover of this amazing book. 

Tangerines also happens to be the first audiobook I have read/heard till completion. Usually I don’t fare well with audiobooks (been attempting since last 4-5 years), I enjoy hearing the story, but after a point my mind plays truant. This didn’t happen in Tangerines. I don’t know why, but I want to credit both the author and the narrator for the same. The rich, imaginative and poignant story, told in a soothing yet animated voice did some magic. May be Oggy had cast a spell or Gilly had whispered a prayer when I picked up Tangerines, who knows!

I fell asleep twice when hearing Tangerines—the soothing voice lulled me to sound, peaceful sleep, once for so long that when I woke up, I was in the penultimate chapter. 😀😀

I hope Tsvi Jolles soon writes another book, I am waiting. And I will reach out for more audiobooks narrated by Casey Montgomery.

My thanks to Netgalley and Brave Fawn Books for the audiobook of Tangerines in exchange for a honest review.

Q: Do I recommend Tangerines by Tsvi Jolles to my fellow readers?

A: Absolutely to the power of infinity ❤️❤️❤️