Tiger Boy

TIGER BOY
Illustrated by Jamie Hogan
Written by by Mitali Perkins
Publisher: Charlesbridge Publishers
ISBN-13: 9781580896603
Ages 7-10

Available in Hardcover
Locate a Copy Amazon | B&N | Indiebound

“Perkins’s evocative descriptions, boosted by Hogan’s dramatic pastel drawings, convey an intense love and respect for the region’s culture and environment.” —Publishers Weekly

DESCRIPTION
“One of the new tiger cubs has escaped from the reserve!”

When a tiger cub escapes from a nature reserve near Neel’s island village, the rangers and villagers hurry to find her before the cub’s anxious mother follows suit and endangers them all. Mr. Gupta, a rich newcomer to the island, is also searching—he wants to sell the cub’s body parts on the black market. Neel and his sister, Rupa, resolve to find the cub first and bring her back to the reserve where she belongs.

The hunt for the cub interrupts Neel’s preparations for an exam to win a prestigious scholarship at a boarding school far from home. Neel doesn’t mind—he dreads the exam and would rather stay on his beloved island in the Sunderbans of West Bengal with his family and friends.

But through his encounter with the cub, Neil learns that sometimes you have to take risks to preserve what you love. And sometimes you have to sacrifice the present for the chance to improve the future.

Illustration © Jamie Hogan

RESOURCES
READ about the creation and sharing of this book (Jamiepeeps Blog Posts)
EXPLORE Mitali Perkin’s videos, teaching resources, discussion guides, and service/engagement suggestions for kids, classrooms, and families.

REVIEWS
Junior Library Guild Premier Selection 2015

“Pastel illustrations will help readers envision the story. A multicultural title with obvious appeal for animal-loving middle graders.” —Kirkus Reviews

“Perkins’s evocative descriptions, boosted by Hogan’s dramatic pastel drawings, convey an intense love and respect for the region’s culture and environment. Readers should find it easy to become invested in the cub’s return to the reserve and in Neel’s fight to help create the best future for himself, his family, and his home.” —Publishers Weekly

“Sure to encourage vital conversations among children, this is a fine addition to libraries and classrooms seeking to diversify collections.”
—School Library Journal, starred review

“Fast-paced action, lots of references to the local flora and fauna, and clearly laid-out moral dilemmas come together in a satisfying way.” —Horn Book