The Tiger Rising

The Tiger Rising is a 2001 children's book written by Newbery Medal winning author Kate DiCamillo.^[1] It is about a 12-year old named Rob Horton who finds a caged tiger in the center of the woods near his home.^[2] The book was a National Book Award Finalist.^[3]

Plot

Rob Horton is 12 years old and lives with his very much alive father in a Florida motel called the Kentucky Star. The father and son have recently moved to Lister, Florida, after the death of Rob’s mother, Caroline. He meets a girl named Sistine Bailey, whose parents broke up after her father had an affair.

Characters

Rob Horton - 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. 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 sadness that he locks up....Rob is not very open to other people.

Sistine Bailey - Sistine's parents are divorced. Her mother forces her to wear dresses and believes that Sistine's father was a big liar. She believes that she will live in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania with her father soon, even though the fact is quite false although Sistine believed it to be true.Her father was having an affair with his secretary.

Willie May - A very tall woman, who smokes, 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.

Robert Horton - Rob's dad; he works at Kentucky Star and is underpaid by Beauchamp.

Caroline Horton - Rob's mom; she died of cancer before Rob and his dad moved to Lister, Florida.

Beauchamp - He is owner of the Kentucky Star motel, the woods behind the motel, and the tiger. He is an old man, but not that old.

The Tiger - The tiger is described as a beautiful and poor animal trapped cruelly in a cage where he cannot escape. He paces around in the cage and is fed by Beauchamp and Rob.

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.

Mrs. Bailey - The wife of Mr. Bailey, also Sistine's mom. She babies Sistine and helps her alone. Mr. Bailey had an affair with Bridgette, a secretary who can't type.

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.^[4]

Beauchamp got the tiger at a car dealership in Rocky River, Ohio on his way to go pick some peaches in California.

Notes