Publisher: Bradbury (1981)
ISBN: 1481414399
Reading Level/Lexile: 7th grade and up/650L
Genre: Realistic Fiction
Annotation/Teaser: Davey's dad has just been killed in a robbery at a convenience store. After her mother moves the family away, she meets Wolf. Will she be able to move on and leave the past in the past?
Plot Summary: Davey is grieving after her father is killed at the 7-Eleven where he works when a robbery takes place. After his death, Davey's mother decides to move them along with her little brother across the country to Los Alamos, New Mexico, where her father's family lives. They move in with her Aunt Bitsy and Uncle Walter and she soon meets a mysterious boy, Wolf. Davey struggles to get through the grief, fear, and blame of her father's death with the help of her new friend.
About the Author: Judy Blume
Judy Blume spent her childhood in Elizabeth, New Jersey, making up stories inside her head. She has spent her adult years in many places doing the same thing, only now she writes her stories down on paper. Adults as well as children will recognize such Blume titles as: Are You There God? It's Me, Margaret; Blubber; Just as Long as We're Together; and the five book series about the irrepressible Fudge. She has also written three novels for adults, Summer Sisters; Smart Women; and Wifey, all of them New York Times bestsellers. More than 82 million copies of her books have been sold, and her work has been translated into thirty-two languages. She receives thousands of letters a year from readers of all ages who share their feelings and concerns with her.
Judy received a B.S. in education from New York University
in 1961, which named her a Distinguished Alumna in 1996, the same year
the American Library Association honored her with the Margaret A. Edwards
Award for Lifetime Achievement. Other recognitions include the Library
of Congress Living Legends Award and the 2004 National Book Foundation's
Medal for Distinguished Contribution to American Letters.
She is the founder and trustee of The Kids Fund, a charitable and
educational foundation. She serves on the boards of the Author's Guild;
the Society of Children's Book Writers and Illustrators; the Key West
Literary Seminar; and the National Coalition Against Censorship.
Judy is a longtime advocate of intellectual freedom.
Finding herself at the center of an organized book banning campaign in
the 1980's she began to reach out to other writers, as well as teachers
and librarians, who were under fire. Since then, she has worked tirelessly
with the National Coalition Against Censorship to protect the freedom
to read. She is the editor of Places I Never Meant To Be, Original
Stories by Censored Writers.
Judy has completed a series of four chapter books --
The Pain & the Great One -- illustrated by New Yorker
cartoonist James Stevenson. She has co-written and produced a film adaptation
of her book Tiger Eyes, and is currently writing a new novel.
Judy and her husband George Cooper live on islands up
and down the east coast. They have three grown children and one grandchild.
Judy Blume Bio (n.d.) Retrieved from www.judyblume.com
Critical Evaluation: Tiger Eyes is written like most of Judy Blume's books. It is a first person narrative. The characters and plots are developed through the dialogue and the action. However, Tiger Eyes, is a little different in that it is told in present tense not past tense. This style makes the reader feel as if what is happening is in the moment. This book is written from Davey's point of view. What is very effective in this novel is the use of the flashbacks in the chapters and as separate chapters to bring information about what happens the night Davey's father is murdered. Eventually Davey feels she is torturing herself with these memories and Chapter 12 begins, "Stop! I tell myself. Stop thinking about that night. Concentrate on how good it feels to be alive."
One very engaging part of this book is the friendship that is built between Davey and Wolf. Through her relationship with Wolf and his dying father, Davey begins to heal and confront her grief.
This is an amazing and timeless book about dealing with grief. This would be a great read for anyone who has lost a loved one.
Curriculum Ties: English, Psychology, Sociology
Book Talk Ideas: Discuss Davey's grief over her father and how she is dealing with it with the help of Wolf. Have you ever had to deal with something hard?
Controversial Issues: Violence, death, Alcoholism
Defense:
Why I Chose This Book? Judy Blume has always been one of my favorite author. I read her books from an early age and loved all of them. I included Tiger Eyes because she is stand out author for young adult literature and a pioneer in the issue of Intellectual Freedom.
Critical Evaluation: Tiger Eyes is written like most of Judy Blume's books. It is a first person narrative. The characters and plots are developed through the dialogue and the action. However, Tiger Eyes, is a little different in that it is told in present tense not past tense. This style makes the reader feel as if what is happening is in the moment. This book is written from Davey's point of view. What is very effective in this novel is the use of the flashbacks in the chapters and as separate chapters to bring information about what happens the night Davey's father is murdered. Eventually Davey feels she is torturing herself with these memories and Chapter 12 begins, "Stop! I tell myself. Stop thinking about that night. Concentrate on how good it feels to be alive."
One very engaging part of this book is the friendship that is built between Davey and Wolf. Through her relationship with Wolf and his dying father, Davey begins to heal and confront her grief.
This is an amazing and timeless book about dealing with grief. This would be a great read for anyone who has lost a loved one.
Curriculum Ties: English, Psychology, Sociology
Book Talk Ideas: Discuss Davey's grief over her father and how she is dealing with it with the help of Wolf. Have you ever had to deal with something hard?
Controversial Issues: Violence, death, Alcoholism
Defense:
Why I Chose This Book? Judy Blume has always been one of my favorite author. I read her books from an early age and loved all of them. I included Tiger Eyes because she is stand out author for young adult literature and a pioneer in the issue of Intellectual Freedom.
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