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Category: Reviews
A Review That Filled My Heart — To the Power of Infinity
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: 5/5A 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 ❤️❤️❤️
Review: How Leo and the Magic Guitar Makes Teen Emotions Musical
By Lindsey Gandhi, Goodreads
“How do you take all this messy stuff inside and turn it into something good?”
I think that’s a question that plagues alot of young teens these days. Leo and the Magic Guitar is a story that follows 13-year old Leo through the trials and tribulations of being a teen as he learns to find his voice with the help of his guitar and music. And since I have a 13-year old son who loves to play his guitar, I took this opportunity to read this book with him.
Leo, like many teens, is suddenly faced with a lot of challenges and obstacles that hit him all at once. And like most teens, he doesn’t quite understand how to process all of those emotions or face them. His uncle sends him this magical guitar that brings out legendary rock musicians to guide Leo through this journey with music.
“Remember, music isn’t just about notes on a page. It’s the language of the soul. Let the music guide you.”
One of the biggest challenges Leo has to face is a bully, Derek who is relentless on torturing him. Bullying is a big issue kids of all ages face today. And in this story, Leo has to learn how to deal with his nemesis without just using his fists. He also learns that more often than not we have more in common than what separates us.
“Their music wasn’t just songs; it was a way to fight back. Leo wanted to take that same spirit an make it his own, using his guitar to stand up and speak the truth.”
This is a great read for middle school kids. The language is appropriate (which as a mom is a big deal for me. Too many books have curse words and that is not the example I want set for my son). There are several important lessons kids can learn from in this story. And what boy doesn’t dream of being a rock star one day??!!
My thanks to Tsvi Jolles, Brave Fawn Books publishing and Netgalley for a copy of this book in exchange for an honest review.
Review: A Charming, Funny, and Tearful Journey in Tangerines
Photo credit: Alessandra
I love reading reviews of my books. Seeing how readers connect with my stories is one of the best parts about being an author. But sometimes, a review itself feels like a little masterpiece, and this one from Kaat Zoetekouw from the Netherlands definitely fits the bill.
Kaat wrote a review full of thoughtfulness and insight. Reading this made me feel like she really understood what I was trying to express—sometimes even better than I was aware of myself, because there’s always stuff hidden beneath the surface. Most reviewers understandably don’t have the time to put so much depth into their feedback, so when someone does, I genuinely treasure it.
Here’s Kaat’s review in full, because just an excerpt won’t do here:
What is the saddest word you know? A loaded question, isn’t it? But it’s a question 10 year old Gilly has asked herself: “longing”. And that word summarizes the book Tangerines rather perfectly.
Kaat Zoetekouw
Gilly lives in a forest with her mom. Her best (and only) friend is Ever-So-Wise-Or-So-He-Says Oggy, a passionate 10 year-old who believes in magic and makes up his own words and spells. Gilly’s father is no longer in the picture, living on the other side of the forest, and by way of her diary Gilly narrates around the deep longing she has to have her father back. Gilly and Oggy devise a spell to get him back from his live-in girlfriend, Mississippi, whom Gilly loathes and thus lists FIRST when musing on the topic “If people HAD to die in order…”
Welcome to the magical world of 10 year old brains with 10 year old imaginations and fitting childlike interpretations. It’s unreliable narration at its finest and funniest: Gilly has no qualms about admitting she lies. Her directness is refreshing and witty in a manner exclusively reserved for preteens. But more than that, the reader immediately senses, apart from Gilly’s inability as a 10 year old to process adult complexities, that things are also being kept from her.
In her writing journey (Gilly hopes this becomes a book one day), Gilly ponders about family a lot. Along with magical words made up by Oggy, they discuss equally powerful real words like “psychology”, “high sensitivity” and particularly “heredity”. Both kids marvel at the concept of heredity, thinking that if one parent likes something, they will inherit that same like. Or that same choice. Or behavior. These conversations and these kids’ life experiences so far give us a lot of insight into Oggy’s motivations especially and how he affects Gilly. Without giving much away, I thought this was just beautifully woven together.
Much like the world this story takes place in. Initially, we think it’s a timeless sort of enchanted forest, with tangerine trees, and ‘yanika’ animals (I listened to the audiobook, please forgive me for not knowing the spelling). So when Gilly suddenly mentions Disney and Stephen King, it’s really jarring! We’re in the modern world after all! But it’s a very, very isolated, small world for Gilly. She doesn’t attend school and has only her mom, her Tangerine tree, and Oggy. Oggy is clearly her whole world, her diary full of Oggy-isms. He’s her anchor in life.
Despite that, Gilly is full of light and humor, her journal a chronicle of a journey, but also full of random observations and delightful information, such as her having been to Oggy’s house 53 times. Of Oggy’s parents having “a special mirror above the bed. Oggy swears it’s for catching night smiles.” Or of Oggy being just “this kid in front of her” or “that boy she knows” when they’re in a fight. The way I chuckled at all of this. Kids are awesome.
But stowed away in between the Oggy-isms or the 1000 references to yanika’s, she works in thoughts like: “Beautiful things should stand on her own,” referring to her individuality. And the heartbreaking question she longs to ask her mom: “‘Do you love me?’ I know the answer, but I just need to hear her say it.”
These sensitive, honest thoughts made me physically brace myself for Gilly towards the end. I was fully invested, and upon finishing the book I found myself entirely baffled to be suddenly in tears. Again without spoiling the ending, as a person whose own childhood was full of questions about family and belonging, so much of this just resonated. I kept flashing back to my own chaotic journal entries from when I was 9 years old. The stuff that mattered then (cringe!) with little hints of hope and heartbreak scattered in between. You know, the soul-shaping stuff in a little time capsule. This little book has got all that.
Thank you so much, Kaat—you truly made my day!
A Magical Review: Gilly and Leo Steal the Spotlight
I’m excited to share that Tracy from Tracy’s Nordic Light on YouTube recently reviewed my books, Tangerines and Leo and the Magic Guitar of the Ozarks, calling them “some of the sweetest stories” she’s ever read.
In Tangerines, meet Gilly, a 10-year-old dreamer searching for her missing father through a forest filled with magic and wonder, alongside her quirky best friend, Oggy.
In Leo and the Magic Guitar of the Ozarks, 13-year-old Leo discovers his own strength through a mysterious guitar that connects him to legendary musicians, helping him face bullies, friendship, and loss.
Tracy highlights the heart, soul, and universal themes of love and dreams woven into both tales. Check out her full review here:
Reader Reflections on Tangerines
Okay, so, as the author of “Tangerines,” I’m thrilled to see how readers are connecting with the story. Here are some heartfelt reviews from Goodreads.
Tangerines Gets Some Love on Reedsy
I found this thoughtful review of Tangerines on Reedsy and just copied and pasted it here. I hope the reviewer, Christine Rodriguez, is okay with that! It’s always nice when your books do the work for you and save you the time of writing posts. 😊
Tangerines by Tsvi Jolles is one of those rare books that truly captures the magic of childhood. Through gorgeous storytelling, Jolles blends magic and whimsy with deep, introspective themes. This is a novel that will linger in your mind long after you turn the last page.
At its core, Tangerines is a coming-of-age story told through the voice of a young narrator whose observations are both innocent and profound. The protagonist’s world is small but filled with wonder—centered around a beloved tangerine tree, a best friend named Oggy, and the bittersweet complexities of family and belonging. The book reads like a poetic diary, filled with entries that are at times funny, at times heartbreaking, but always beautifully authentic. The writing is lyrical, almost dreamlike, reminiscent of The House on Mango Street by Sandra Cisneros or The Little Prince by Antoine de Saint-Exupéry.
What makes Tangerines such an engaging read is how it captures childhood’s fluid, unfiltered thoughts. The narrator’s mind skips about—one moment pondering the nature of secrets, the next inventing words with Oggy, before seamlessly drifting into a heartfelt reflection on love, loss, and longing. It’s a deeply immersive experience that feels so real—like peeking into a child’s notebook filled with stories, sketches, and scattered daydreams.
I love books that encourage readers to see the world in new ways, and Tangerines does just that. It’s a book that would spark fascinating discussions about storytelling, memory, and imagination. The protagonist’s voice is so unique yet universally relatable—whether you’re an adult remembering the way childhood felt or a younger reader recognizing pieces of yourself in the narrator’s words.
If you enjoy poetic, thought-provoking, and magical books, Tangerines is an absolute must-read. It’s a story about love, loss, and the small but meaningful ways we try to make sense of the world around us. It’s the kind of book that reminds you why stories matter—because they help us remember, understand, and dream.
Highly, highly recommend!
Reviewed by
Christine is an 7-12th grade English teacher, a library assistant, and a bookworm with a passion for good literature. She has a keen eye for good literature and reads books across genres. Her favorites are dystopian lit, sci-fi, fantasy, and contemporary literature.