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

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.

I thought that the illustration of Rob's (the main character) emotions being locked inside a psychological suitcase, though initially creative, soon became over-used, worn out, and emotionally manipulative.

The book does have a few things going for it (hence, the two stars). Probably the main thing in its favor is the story of how Rob overcomes his grief and unhappiness through helping his friends. However, this is the second book in a row by this author to have such a story. And this is, in fact, the second book by this author. The first was BECAUSE OF WINN-DIXIE. The themes were very similar, as were the characters, except that in WINN-DIXIE, they were far more interesting, and the story was much better developed.

I look forward with eager anticipation to what Mrs. DiCamillo's next book will be like (I believe it will be available in late 2003), because, having read WINN-DIXIE, I know she can write much better than TIGER RISING. Another fantastic alternative (with similar themes) is BRIDGE TO TEREBITHIA by Katherine Paterson. It is also easy reading without taking away from the complexities of the characters or the captivation of the plot.

On one last point, having read several Amazon reviews before reading the book, I was very disappointed to read the outcome of the story which one reviewer had put in his review (without any warning to the reader whatsoever). I wish reviewers would have a little more consideration for people who have not yet read the book. The purpose of reviews is to inform those who may wish to purchase the product, not to destroy their enjoyment of it.


So close to perfection... so far   December 5, 2003
 13 out of 16 found this review helpful

This was a well-crafted book in many ways, and a flawed piece of literature in many others. I've rarely read such an honest acceptance of the ways kids act at school. Moreover, the realistic ways in which Rob, the protagonist, and Sistine, his new friend, deal with grief is fantastic. Most characterizations were right on the money. Though seen only briefly, I loved the portrayal of Sistine's mother. I've met women like that. Unfortunately, DiCamillo falls into a trap so many writers and screenwriters have fallen into before. She has inserted "the magical black friend" found in many a modern text. Such characters usually don't show any weaknesses (or if they do they're either vaguely eluded to or not their own fault) and serve simply as enormous founts of wisdom and patience. While the character of Willie May does come right out and say that she is not a prophetess, she may as well be. She's never wrong and she serves the infuriating purpose of showing the white people how to work through their emotions. And while I like that DiCamillo even had a black person in the book, one with a little more complexity beyond serving the plot would have been nice. The book is rather similar to "Bridge to Terabithia", in terms of a new girl opening a boy's eyes to a world of possibilities. Recommended with reservations.


The Power of Friendship   April 2, 2001
 10 out of 10 found this review helpful

An adult reader, I had just finished reading a news story of the young shooter at Santana High School when I opened Kate's Tiger Rising. I was struck by the similarities of that young shooter and Kate's Rob: They were similar in age and each had moved to a new school, where each encountered taunts and ridicule; each had a emotionally distant father and a physically absent mother; each household held guns; each boy kept much pain deep inside. Where the shooter's friendships offered too little, Rob was blessed with a powerful friendship through which he healed himself and perhaps his father as well.

This story has haunted me ever since.Yes, it's a darker tale than Di Camillo's Winn Dixie, but still hopeful and a testament to the kind of friendship we would wish for all our children.


The Tiger Rising   January 4, 2003
 9 out of 9 found this review helpful

In the book The Tiger Rising a boy named Rob Horton is just getting adapted to the new changes that has been happening in his life. Rob has been lonely ever since he has moved to a new town and when his mom pasted away. All Rob really wants is a friend or two, but instead he keeps getting bullied.
I really liked this book because it was really about his friendship with a girl named Sistine Bailey. When Rob made a friend, Sistine was a good friend because they were always going on adventures and doing other things.
The author of this book wrote it with great detail. There is so much detail that it feels like I am with the characters. That is why detail is important in this book. By having detail it makes the characters come to life.
I recommend this book because it is every thing I said, and more. It has good friendships,adventures, great detail, and much more.


A Tale of Sorrow, Freedom & Redemption...   August 18, 2004
 9 out of 9 found this review helpful

All too often Children's books are filled with unoriginal, stock plots and characters who fulfill a role rather than instill a purpose or inspire their readers. The Tiger Rising is just the opposite. Dicamillo is an exquisite writer, who is able to probe and understand the thoughts of young readers and the problems they face.

The Tiger Rising is a book for all ages. The main character, Rob Horton, is an outcast at school, his mother has died, and he lives in a hotel, in Florida, with his father. One day he stumbles upon a tiger locked in a cage in the forest behind is motel. He later befriends a girl named sistine, who is in dire need of friendship, as is Rob, and the two are faced with many life problems throughout the story.

This is a story which strikes the very human condition of freedom, loss, hope, and most importantly friendship. Dicamillo is on top of her game with a story which will ring true to everyone who reads it.