By: Kate Dicamillo Publisher: Candlewick Average Rating: Binding: Paperback Label: Candlewick Number of Items: 1 Number of Pages: 128 Publication Date: July 01, 2002 Reading Level: Ages 9-12 Release Date: July 01, 2002
Product Description: The National Book Award finalist from the best-selling author of BECAUSE OF WINN-DIXIE - now in paperback
Walking through the misty Florida woods one morning, twelve-year-old Rob Horton is stunned to encounter a tiger - a real-life, very large tiger - pacing back and forth in a cage. What’s more, on the same extraordinary day, he meets Sistine Bailey, a girl who shows her feelings as readily as Rob hides his. As they learn to trust each other, and ultimately, to be friends, Rob and Sistine prove that some things - like memories, and heartaches, and tigers - can’t be locked up forever.
Amazon.com: Kate DiCamillo's first novel Because of Winn-Dixie won a Newbery Honor in 2000 for the no-nonsense charm and wisdom of its down-home young heroine, Opal. Also set in Florida, The Tiger Rising is more of a short story in scope, the tale of 12-year-old Rob Horton who finds a caged tiger in the woods behind the Kentucky Star Motel where he lives with his dad. The tiger is so incongruous in this setting, Rob views the apparition as some sort of magic trick. Indeed, the tiger triggers all sorts of magic in Rob's life--for one thing, it takes his mind off his recently deceased mother and the itchy red blisters on his legs that the wise motel housekeeper, Willie May, says is a manifestation of the sadness that Rob keeps "down low."
Something else for Rob to think about is Sistine (as in the chapel), a new city girl with fierce black eyes who challenges him to be honest with her and himself. Spurred by the tiger, events collide to break Rob out of his silent introspection, to form a new friendship with Sistine, a new understanding with his father, and most important, to lighten his heart. This novel is about cages--the consequences of escape as well as imprisonment. The story and symbolism are clear as a bell, and the emotions ring true. (Ages 9 and older) --Karin Snelson
The wonderfull book This book is about this boy robert has like a sickness on his leg. Then a new girl comes to school her name is sinstine.then one day the princaple said that you cant come to school the moms say that the sickness is contageous.He is so happy he takes the note then buts it in his back pocket.Then one day he told Sinstine about the tiger he had found in a cage.Sinstine told robert to let him go because the owner told him to feed the tiger.Then one day he let the tiger go. Thats all I want to tell you.
Quality Literature I started off by reading this little jewel to my second grade daughter. Before long, I found myself reading this by myself until the very end. I simply could not put it down! The next day I purchased book group copies for my eighth grade classroom. Di Camillo's writing is eloquent and engaging and her characters leap off the page as you find yourself pulled into their struggles. The Tiger Rising was simply magical. I strongly recommend it for parents, teachers and students who are invested in reading quality literature.
A Classroom Review As an elementary school teacher, my students and I have truly enjoyed this book. The plot, characters, and setting are all so deep and interesting. My female students liked this book the best. I have used it in read alouds, small groups, and also for individual instruction times. My 4th graders and I give it 2 thumbs up!
Straight up without the fluff I have to hand it to Kate DiCamillo for this one. After reading Because of Winn-Dixie I was expecting much of the same "fluff" that I found DiCamillo using to make Winn-Dixie the so called "perfect kids book." Nothing bad ever seems to happen, and if it does - fear not - it gets resolved and wrapped up with a neat little bow a few pages later . . . Welcome to the land of Make Believe (or California, whatever).
Much to my pleasant surprise, Tiger Rising is nothing like it's predecessor. Instead of "feel-good fluff," DiCamillo develops realistic emotions and experiences of two young distraught children who slowly (and intensely at times) find themselves reaching out to one another.
The characters have flaws, baggage (enough for a 777), and pure raw emotion that seems to reach out of the page and smack you in the face. DiCamillo isn't afraid to show the reader how this affects the characters, often quite painfully.
This isn't a fairytale, it's real life. There is a beautifully orchestrated climax and a conclusion of sorts - one, I found, that left me with a deepened sense of caring for the characters as many loose ends are still left untied and I was left to seriously contemplate how these experiences would impact their lives.
only half the story is told This is the story of two kids. One who has sorrow in his legs and one who is full of lightning-strike anger. Don't blame my wording here, that's the wording of one of the characters.
It's a southern story. The atmosphere is thick and hot and lazy. The grammar used by the characters makes me cringe. I know it's good to show kids books where the characters speak like they speak, but it goes against my grain.
There's good character development, but it only goes 1/3 of the way. Rob starts to deal with his sorrow: does that get rid of the sores on his legs? Does he learn to deal with bullies? Sistine is less angry... or is she? Does she learn to deal with her liar of a father?
And what the heck are the ramifications of the tiger?
I was left with so many questions... it would be a great story to use as a lesson on "what do you think happened?" kind of exposition. But for many readers, especially young readers, I think this would be frustrating. I didn't feel changed or involved by the book. Mostly, I thought it was OK, but nothing earth-shattering.
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