The Tiger Rising: Kate DiCamillo’s Tender Florida Fable
In a small Florida motel town, a grieving boy discovers a real tiger caged in the woods, and everything begins to change. The Tiger Rising, a National Book Award finalist from beloved author Kate DiCamillo, is a quietly powerful story about hope, friendship, and letting go.
The story follows Rob Horton, a lonely boy living at the Kentucky Star Motel, who keeps his feelings locked away as tightly as the tiger he stumbles upon behind the motel. When he befriends a fierce, free-spirited new girl named Sistine, the two form a bond that helps them both face their sorrows and decide what to do about the remarkable animal in the cage.
DiCamillo, who also wrote Because of Winn-Dixie, sets her tale against the humid, piney backdrop of small-town Florida, and she writes with the gentle grace that has made her a favorite of readers young and old. The novel is short but deeply felt, perfect for sparking conversations about emotions and resilience.
Moving, lyrical, and ultimately hopeful, The Tiger Rising is a small treasure of a book. Find The Tiger Rising by Kate DiCamillo and let it move you.
