When a Story Finds You: The Quiet Magic of Gilly

Tangerines by Tsvi Jolles

Here’s the thing: Tangerines is a mystery to me. It’s the only significant piece of writing I’ve created where I can’t pinpoint when I started it. Usually, my stories give me hints—details that tie them to a specific time in my life, a certain place or memory. But Tangerines? It’s different. I’m not sure if I wrote it 15 years ago, or 17, or maybe even 22. There’s no clear trail to follow. It feels like this story exists outside of time, and somehow that makes it feel so pure. Of course, I’m woven in there—a lot of me is—but in a way that’s more universal, more spiritual.

About two years ago, I stumbled upon Tangerines while digging through old files on my computer, hunting for forgotten writing. And there it was. The moment I started reading, I was drawn in by the voice of Gilly. Over the years, I’ve created hundreds of characters—through short stories, novels, everything. But Gilly is different. Right away, I felt a deep sense of pride. Pride in her, and pride in myself as a writer. It was like meeting an old friend and realizing their magic is still there, untouched by time.

Gilly has a voice is that is raw and authentic, full of curiosity and imagination. She’s introspective and quirky, a little playful, but deeply thoughtful. As I read, it felt as if she were right beside me—alive, waiting all these years to be rediscovered. That sense of creating someone so real and vivid is one of the most rewarding parts of being a writer.

Yet Tangerines isn’t just Gilly’s story—it’s about navigating life’s mysteries, holding onto wonder, and finding meaning in small, everyday moments. It’s a quiet kind of magic, but a powerful one. At the heart of it all is Gilly, but she’s not alone. There’s Oggy, her loyal best friend, Orti, the tangerine tree covered in tiny carved hearts, and the yanaka—a furry, quirky creature existing only in Gilly’s forest. They’ve all been waiting in these pages, patiently, to be rediscovered. And for that, I’m both grateful and humbled.

In many ways, these characters also helped me navigate the darkest parts of winter—the short days and cloudy skies. This year, I published two books during the season. The timing wasn’t random; I needed the creative spark to counteract the gloom. (A spontaneous trip to New Orleans didn’t hurt either.) And you know what? It worked.

Because Gilly’s spirit is so steady and hopeful, I found I didn’t feel much anxiety when launching Tangerines. Despite being only ten years old on the page, she somehow anchored me. Then the first reviews came in, right around the time snow started falling here in Cumming, Georgia. Temperatures dipped into the teens, but there’s nothing quite as warming as a kind review—especially for a story you may have started two decades ago.

And that leads me to the perfect way to wrap up: I received a new review just today, moments before sitting down to write this post. It reminded me why I do this—why I write, and why I keep rediscovering stories I thought I left behind. Sometimes, we think our creations are lost in time, but the truth is, they’re often just waiting for the right moment to return and light up our lives.

Tangerines on Amazon

Tangerines on Goodreads

More reviews just in

Review by

Brynn B. – New Zealand

Last updated on Jan 27 2025

Thanks to Netgalley for providing me with a free copy of this book. All opinions expressed are my own

One of the plagues modern entertainment faces is unoriginality. It’s becoming more and more common for stories to be predictable, generic, and cliche. Tangerines is anything but.

Tangerines is told through the perspective of a 10-year-old girl Gilly, following the adventures of her and her best friend, Oggy. I expected this book to be a witty, charming read targeted towards kids. After reading it, I am completely blown away by how much this book makes me think. Tangerines is clever and fun, but it’s also much more meaningful of a book than I anticipated.

The prose is one of the stars of this book. Tsvi Jolles has truly captured the thinking and mannerisms of a 10-year-old. Nearly all of the prose is witty; however, I do think at times it veered into the territory of being different to be different. There were only a few instances of this, though, and overall, it was very well-written.

This book (…) offers a unique experience to readers. It’s definitely worth the quick read, and I will be checking out Jolles’ other works.

Review by

Suki F – Great Britain

Last updated on Jan 22 2025

We follow Gilly, a ten year old who lives in the forest with her mother, and has a tangerine tree growing in her back garden. The whole book is told from her point of view, and steeped with the innocence and magic of childhood. Her father has left and she spends a lot of the book planning on going through the forest to find him. I found it very interesting to see what she and her childhood friend think is happening, compared to what is actually going on, and the central mystery kept me reading.

At times my interest did wane, and it did sometimes feel to me that she was a child much younger than her years, however as a whole this was quite a charming story.

Review by

Rhoda S. – United States

January 26, 2025

I have a fondness for off-beat, fun, and imaginative children’s literature. I loved this book. It’s a wonderful fantasy as well as a thoughtful look into the mind of a young girl.