Tiger Rising

From the two-time Newbery Medal-winning author of Because of Winn-Dixie and The Tale of Despereaux comes a hauntingly beautiful story about grief, friendship, and the courage to let go.

It has been six months since Rob Horton’s mother died, and life in his new Florida motel home is quiet and heavy. His father refuses to speak of her, offering only the blunt advice that "crying ain't going to bring her back." To survive, Rob creates a "suitcase" in his mind, stuffing it full of every forbidden thought—the itchy rash on his legs, the bullies at school, and the overwhelming sadness he isn't allowed to show. He keeps the lid pressed down tight.

Everything changes the morning Rob discovers a real, live tiger paced in a cage deep in the misty Florida woods. That same day, he meets Sistine Bailey, a fierce and defiant girl who is just as much of an outsider as he is. While Rob has learned to keep his feelings locked away, Sistine is a firestorm who insists that the tiger must be set free. As their unlikely friendship grows, Rob realizes that keeping things caged—whether it's a magnificent beast or his own heart—comes at a price.