The very ordinariness of oranges hides a complex history, a tool of colonialism spanning the globe and leaving a trail of losses and some gains. Goh thoughtfully interweaves her own complex family history into that of oranges, creating a compelling hybrid of science, history, and memoir. Her blend is much more satisfying than the juice in supermarket stores.
Foreign Fruit: A Personal History of the Orange by Katie Goh, (List Price: $27.99, Tin House, 9781963108231, May 2025)
Reviewed by Jan Blodgett, Main Street Books in Davidson, North Carolina