Kate DiCamillo - The Tiger Rising

Pros: Strong, spare, beautiful prose; well-drawn characters; packed symbolism

Cons: So simple and spare it may feel a little thin

The Bottom Line: A beautiful story that will speak to anyone, young or old, who has ever carried a suitcase stuffed with grief.

Review: Rob is one sad little boy. He and his father recently moved from Jacksonville to the small town of Lister, Florida, where the most awful moment of every day is the moment when Rob steps on the school bus. He's bullied by two brothers who sit in the...

Pros: A great teaching tool; true-to-life.

Cons: A bit harsh and hard-hitting for children to read alone.

The Bottom Line: I recommend this book as a read-aloud between a child and an adult.

Review: I recently read the heart-rending novel, The Tiger Rising, by Newbery Award winner Kate Di Camillo, with my ten year old. The book was required reading for my son as a part of Reading Circle, where a group of similar readers study a literary work...