The Tiger Rising

Amazing story about a young boy's journey of finding friendships, adventure and dealing with loss. Rob 's courage and understanding of losing a mother and making new friends teaches a lesson of rising up we could all learn from.

I always enjoy reading Kate DiCamillo books aloud. Her chapters are very short and readable, and the characters have very distinctive and interesting voices. This short book feature an interesting cast of characters, and it was fun adding a slight southern accent as I read this aloud for my kids, 10 and 12. I would have rated the book as only so-so based on its plot, but the kids were absolutely mesmerized, making this a strong 4-star book for me.
True, the language is interesting and beautiful, but as far as I was concerned, the plot really isn't anything terribly special. The book explores some interesting motifs involving freedom of all kinds and facing difficult emotional truths. I did have difficulty accepting the swift transformation of the father at the end from a gruff, hardened and perhaps abusive man to a gentle type of person who doesn't mind tears. And for anyone who's read more than one book or seen more than one movie, it was very easy, and perhaps even tedious, predicting what would happen to the tiger.
But again, the kids really enjoyed it - and they truly are the audience for a book like this, I guess - and seemed very satisfied with the book's resolution along with its gritty authenticity.
So far, we're 3 and 1 with Kate DiCamillo books - they enjoyed Winn-Dixie, Desperaux, and this book, but none of us really ever figured out what was going on in the Magician's Elephant. Personally, The Tiger Rising left me with an urge to go back and read Desperaux again, for its simplicity and fun. So perhaps that's what we'll do next.
Meanwhile, I'd recommend this book as a gentle introduction for middle-graders to the grittier world of young adult reading - older teens may find it dull. There are some pretty serious issues raised here, so it's worth being close when kids are reading to start a conversation if it seems like that's what's called for.

Although her works are marketed as young adult books, like all great writers Kate DiCamillo's books are great books that anyone can enjoy. She's probably best known for the books THE TALE OF DESPEREAUX and BECAUSE OF WINN DIXIE. THE TIGER RISING is shorter than those two books, but it should rank alongside them as a classic in its own right.

The book revolves around Rob Horton, a shy 12-year-old boy. Rob's mother died of cancer when he was younger and he and his father have now moved away and live in a hotel called the Kentucky Star in Lister, FL. Rob's father works for the owner of the hotel, a man named Beauchamp. Rob has a disease on his legs that refuses to heal and is heckled and bullied because of it. One day before school, he discovers a tiger in a cage in the middle of the woods. The splendor of such a marvelous beast awakens something in Rob. On the same day that he discovers the tiger, a new student, a girl named Sistine Bailey, begins attending Rob's school. The two of them are quite different, yet end up becoming the best of friends.

THE TIGER RISING is filled with a cast of interesting characters from Rob Horton and Sistine Bailey, to Rob's father, Robert Horton, and the maid of the Kentucky Star, Willie May. Even some of the secondary characters are fleshed-out better than in typical stories. For instance, the story's antagonist, Beauchamp, is someone who is clearly not to be liked. However, there are moments in the story where we glimpse a side of Beauchamp that we don't expect, such as the times he talks to Rob-his motives might not be pure, but he's not as wicked as readers are initially led to believe.

It might be a short book, but THE TIGER RISING is a story that will stay with a person long after reading it. It delves into some deep subjects such as dealing with grief, forgiveness, the power of grace, and the value of true friendship and does so in a way that both children and adults can relate.

Overall, I really enjoyed reading THE TIGER RISING. I've read several of Kate DiCamillo's other books, but in my opinion, THE TIGER RISING is the best work of hers that I've read so far. It's darker than some of the other books, but also far more uplifting.