Title: Tiger
Author: Jeff Stone
First published January 1, 2005
208 pages, Paperback
ISBN: 9780375830723 (ISBN10: 0375830723)
Rating: 3.97
Overview
Frankie Parsons is a 12-year-old boy with a vivid imagination, a peculiar family, and a worrisome voice inside his head that never stops. He is constantly fretting about everything from his health to his cat’s wellbeing.
His mother, who suffers from agoraphobia, is the only one who takes his anxieties seriously. But when a new girl named Sydney comes to school, Frankie’s world turns upside down.
Sydney is a fearless spirit with her own set of questions that only add to Frankie’s worries. As he navigates through his fears with the help of his best friend Gigs, Frankie must confront the one question that terrifies him the most.
Kate De Goldi’s The 10 PM Question is a poignant and humorous story about feeling different and finding the courage to face your fears.
About the Author
Meet Jeff Stone, an accomplished author with an impressive track record. He has written a thrilling middle-grade kung fu series called “The Five Ancestors,” which has won awards from both the International Reading Association and the American Library Association.
The series has ten books in total and has sold nearly 700K copies in 14 languages. You can also listen to the audio versions of his books by Listening Library/Penguin Random House Audio.
The film rights have been previously optioned by Nickelodeon and Likely Story.
Jeff is not just an author but also a veteran writing coach and former college writing instructor. He has over 30 years of experience and has facilitated more than 150 writing workshops at universities, educator conferences, and K-12 schools on three continents.
Interestingly, Jeff’s personal experiences have influenced his writing. He was an orphan like his main characters but was adopted into a loving family.
He searched for his birth mother for 15 years before finally finding her, and a year later, he found his birth father. Jeff is a proud father of an adult daughter and adult son.
His former wife is from Hong Kong, where they had a traditional Chinese wedding ceremony in the mid-90s. Jeff’s immersion in Chinese culture and shared ethnic experiences with their children inform his writing, as does his training in animal-style kung fu.
In 2005, Jeff traveled to Shaolin Temple in China with ambassadors from the Shaolin-Do Association and was given the honor of testing for his black belt in Shaolin-Do Kung Fu at Shaolin Temple. His highly interactive, kung fu storytelling school and library presentations are unforgettable.
Editoral Review
Jeff Stones Tiger is a captivating young adult novel that follows the story of an orphan boy named Si as he embarks on a dangerous journey to fulfill his guardians final wish. The book, first published on January 1, 2005, is a masterful blend of action, adventure, and historical fiction that will leave readers of all ages on the edge of their seats.
Stones writing is impeccable, and he seamlessly weaves together elements of Chinese mythology, martial arts, and history to create a rich and vibrant world that is as awe-inspiring as it is terrifying. The story takes place in 5th century China, a tumultuous time marked by political upheaval and war, and this turbulent period serves as the perfect backdrop for the tale of Si and his quest for vengeance.
At its core, Tiger is a story about the strength of the human spirit and the power of determination. Si is a remarkable protagonist, and readers will root for him every step of the way.
His journey is fraught with danger, and he must overcome numerous obstacles and foes, but he never gives up. The supporting cast is just as engaging, with each character lending something unique to the story.
The pacing of the novel is excellent, and Stone strikes a perfect balance between action and introspection. There are plenty of pulse-pounding fight scenes, but there are also quieter moments where Si reflects on his past and contemplates his future.
These moments of reflection help to deepen Sis character, and they add a layer of complexity to the story that is often missing in books of this kind. While Tiger is undeniably a work of fiction, it is clear that Stone has done his research.
The historical details are accurate and fascinating, and the book provides a window into a time and place that many readers may not be familiar with. This attention to detail makes the story feel all the more real, and it is easy to become fully immersed in the world that Stone has created.
There are a few minor flaws in the novel, but they do little to detract from the overall experience. Some of the supporting characters are not as fully developed as they could be, and there are a couple of plot points that feel a little too convenient.
These issues are relatively minor, however, and they are far outweighed by the books many strengths. Overall, I would highly recommend Tiger to anyone who enjoys action-packed adventure stories.
It is a well-written, well-paced, and thoroughly engaging novel that will keep readers hooked until the very end. Whether you are a fan of martial arts films, historical fiction, or just great storytelling in general, this book is sure to satisfy.
I give Tiger a solid rating of 4 out of 5 stars, and I cannot wait to read more from Jeff Stone in the future.
