“Finding the tiger had been luck, he knew that.” Rob thought as he discovered a caged tiger in the back woods of the Kentucky Star Hotel. DiCamillo writes a gravitas realistic fiction tale of two broken families. Rob, the main character is dealing with the death of his loving mother, who taught him how to whittle. He lives in a barren hotel with this silently grieving father. “Do not cry.” Rob lives by his father’s warning and advice. “There ain’t no point in crying.” Rob is bullied at school and the principal sends him home for having a “contagious” rash. The rash physically represents his emotions and broken heart being shoved into a metaphoric suit case. Rob is a well-rounded courageous character in a story bursting with diverse unique personalities. Such as Willie May the wise African American maid who offers the voice of reason. Divorce and anger bring fellow classmate Sistine into Rob’s tiger adventure. DiCamillo brilliantly crafts a concise complex novel where characters deal with heavy everyday situations, but by chance they unlock their destiny to be noticed and emotionally liberated. Highly recommended for children 9 and up.
The Tiger Rising. By Kate DiCamillo. Illustrated by Chris Sheban. Candlewick Press, 2001. 116 pages. $15.99.
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