The Tiger Rising
Encyclopedia
The Tiger Rising is a 2001 children's book written by Newbery Medal
winning author Kate DiCamillo
.It is about a 12-year old named Rob Horton who finds a caged tiger in the middle of the woods near his home. The book was a National Book Award Finalist.
Sistine Bailey - The female protagonist in the story, Sistine's parents are divorced. Her mother forces her to wear dresses and believe that Sistine's father was a big liar. She believes that she will leave Florida with her father soon, even though the fact is quite false. She is the first person Rob tells about the tiger and immediately takes action about it. Willie May tells her about her anger and that no one would come and save her, she would have to save herself.
Willie May - A very tall woman, Willie May works at the Kentucky Star as its housekeeper. She is uneducated, but is very wise in the book as she gives out advice to Rob and Sistine. Sistine even says she is a prophetess, although Willie May disagrees. She is the second person Rob tells about the tiger.
Robert Horton - Rob's dad; he works at Kentucky Star and is underpaid by Beauchamp. He kills the tiger when it is let loose to save Rob and Sistine.
Caroline Horton - Rob's mom; she died of cancer before Rob and his dad moved to Lister, Florida. Most of Rob's emotions he locks up in his suitcase are about his mother.
Beauchamp - He is owner of the Kentucky Star motel and the tiger. He gives the keys to Rob so that he will feed the tiger for him.He is a very old man but not that old.He loves his tiger and his motel.
The Tiger - The tiger is described as a beautiful and poor animal trapped cruelly in a cage. Released by Sistine and Rob, it ventures out into the forest, only to end up in civilization and killed by Robert's gun. In the end of the story, Sistine and Rob make a grave for him.
Norton and Billy Threemonger - Two brothers who bully Rob in school and on the bus. Rob believes that it is best to not fight back.
Mr. Phelmer - Principal of Rob's school who views Rob as a nuisance, neglects him, and feels uncomfortable talking to him. He later tells Rob that he cannot come to school in case a disease in his legs is contagious.
Newbery Medal
The John Newbery Medal is a literary award given by the Association for Library Service to Children, a division of the American Library Association . The award is given to the author of the most distinguished contribution to American literature for children. The award has been given since 1922. ...
winning author Kate DiCamillo
Kate DiCamillo
Katrina Elizabeth "Kate" DiCamillo is an American children's author. She is known for the Newbery Medal-winning book The Tale of Despereaux, the Newbery Honor book Because of Winn-Dixie, and the Mercy Watson series, plus numerous other award-winning and honored books.-Early life:Born in...
.It is about a 12-year old named Rob Horton who finds a caged tiger in the middle of the woods near his home. The book was a National Book Award Finalist.
Plot
Rob Horton is 12 years old and lives with his father in a rundown Florida motel (Kentucky Star). The father and son have recently moved to Lister, Florida, after the death of Rob’s mother. In the woods near the motel Rob discovers a live tiger in a cage. On the same day he discovers the tiger Rob meets Sistine Bailey a new girl in school with an angry temper. Rob, having an unnamed skin condition, is asked by the principal to stay home from school until his rash clears up. Rob’s rash is a visible display of his emotional denial as he packs away his difficult feelings in an imaginary suitcase. Rob sees his exile from school as a reprieve, for he is bullied constantly by the other kids at his middle school. Sistine visits Rob daily saying she is bring him homework. Rob is given the duty of feeding the tiger by the unscrupulous motel manager, Beauchamp. With the assistance of Rob, Sistine plots and attempts to set the tiger free. The act of setting the tiger free, frees Rob to let go of the painful emotions related to his mother’s death that he has suppressed.Theme
Finding friendship even though a person has been hurt in the past is a theme that runs throughout this book. Dealing with painful memories and feelings that result from death and abandonment play a large part in this story, DiCamillo uses symbolism and metaphor to bring this theme to light with the use of Rob’s imaginary suitcase where he hides his painful feelings and memories as well as the use of the caged tiger.Characters
Rob Horton - The male protagonist in the story, Rob carries an unknown leg disease and does not seem to heal despite the medicine doctors recommend for him. He discovers the tiger first and then tells Sistine about it. When he is given the keys to the tiger's cage, he speaks to Sistine about it and then opens the cage. Over time, he learns that he should not hide away his emotions and lets them all out at the end of the story. Rob mostly locks up his emotions and feelings in his imaginary suitcase. Willie May tells him that the rash on his legs are caused by the saddness that he lockes up.Rob is very not open to other people.Sistine Bailey - The female protagonist in the story, Sistine's parents are divorced. Her mother forces her to wear dresses and believe that Sistine's father was a big liar. She believes that she will leave Florida with her father soon, even though the fact is quite false. She is the first person Rob tells about the tiger and immediately takes action about it. Willie May tells her about her anger and that no one would come and save her, she would have to save herself.
Willie May - A very tall woman, Willie May works at the Kentucky Star as its housekeeper. She is uneducated, but is very wise in the book as she gives out advice to Rob and Sistine. Sistine even says she is a prophetess, although Willie May disagrees. She is the second person Rob tells about the tiger.
Robert Horton - Rob's dad; he works at Kentucky Star and is underpaid by Beauchamp. He kills the tiger when it is let loose to save Rob and Sistine.
Caroline Horton - Rob's mom; she died of cancer before Rob and his dad moved to Lister, Florida. Most of Rob's emotions he locks up in his suitcase are about his mother.
Beauchamp - He is owner of the Kentucky Star motel and the tiger. He gives the keys to Rob so that he will feed the tiger for him.He is a very old man but not that old.He loves his tiger and his motel.
The Tiger - The tiger is described as a beautiful and poor animal trapped cruelly in a cage. Released by Sistine and Rob, it ventures out into the forest, only to end up in civilization and killed by Robert's gun. In the end of the story, Sistine and Rob make a grave for him.
Norton and Billy Threemonger - Two brothers who bully Rob in school and on the bus. Rob believes that it is best to not fight back.
Mr. Phelmer - Principal of Rob's school who views Rob as a nuisance, neglects him, and feels uncomfortable talking to him. He later tells Rob that he cannot come to school in case a disease in his legs is contagious.