The Tiger Rising

          CHAPTER BOOK # 8

          AUTHOR:  Kate di Camillo

          ILLUSTRATOR: Book cover by Chris Sheban

          GENRE: Chapter Book

          SUB GENRE: Realistic Fiction

          THEME: Grief, anger and isolation

          PRIMARY AND SECONDARY CHARACTERS:

          Rob, Sistine, his Dad and Willie Mae the maid.

DATE OF PUBLICATION AND PUBLISHER:  

 2001 by Candlewick Press

SUMMARY:  Rob Horton moved to a new city and school after the death of his mother to cancer.  He’s having trouble fitting in and is the target of 2 bully brothers.  Rob lives in a hotel in Florida with his Dad and life is not that great.  After the death of his mother, Rob started to put his feelings away in an imaginary suitcase, so he wouldn’t get hurt again.  Rob befriends a new girl to town called Sistine as in the Sistine Chapel in Rome.  Sistine comes from a home where her parents have separated and she is still very angry.  Rob discovers a tiger in the woods behind the hotel and he and Sistine conspire to set it free.  To find out what happens next…read the book!

HOW WOULD YOU USE THIS BOOK AS A TEACHER:  This book was very touching and there are students that could relate to this story.  This book could be used to discuss the many metaphors contained in it.  There is also a lot of symbolism.