GOALKEEPER

Nearly three decades after his debut novel, Tangerine (1997), Bloor returns to Tangerine County, Florida, and his thoughtful, adaptable hero, Paul.

Paul is biding time at his new school until he can return to Tangerine Middle, where his soccer teammates eagerly await him. His brother, Erik, is under house arrest while their parents continue to delude themselves about Erik’s trustworthiness. A new family in the development where they live is roping neighbors into supporting their store opening. Bloor’s novel feels slightly overfull and disjointed, with the author exploring Paul’s relationships with his Tangerine Middle crew, his friendship with a Jewish kid (whom he supports when the boy is bullied), his aging grandparents’ visit to a nearby cemetery, and multiple interconnected crimes in town. As in the first book, Paul displays a firm moral compass and a loyalty to the underdog, both of which make him a sympathetic narrator. Despite his good intentions and the outsider experience he’s gleaned from years of being legally blind, he’s still unpacking his white, middle-class privilege, a concept his Latine friends at Tangerine Middle understand far better. Despite the novel’s overstuffed plot (and a storyline that may strain credulity for some), Paul’s appealing voice and the well-depicted soccer scenes combine for a propulsive read.

A page-turning reunion with a well-loved character.