Are you looking for a great novel to read with your students? The Tiger Rising is one your students will love. Like all of Kate DiCamillo’s novels, this one has rich characters and an interesting story plot.
Reading Level
Lexile 590L
Interest Level
Grades 5-7
Length
144 pages
Award
National Book Award Finalist
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⭐ About the Book: The Tiger Rising
The Tiger Rising by Kate DiCamillo is a powerful, emotionally layered novel about grief, friendship, and the courage it takes to let go. When twelve‑year‑old Rob Horton discovers a caged tiger hidden in the woods behind the Kentucky Star Motel, his quiet, bottled‑up world begins to shift. On the same day, he meets Sistine Bailey, bold, outspoken, and determined to speak the truth no matter how uncomfortable it is.
Rob carries deep emotional wounds after the loss of his mother, and he keeps his feelings locked away, just like the tiger. Sistine refuses to let him stay silent. As their unlikely friendship grows, Rob begins to confront his grief, his fears, and the complicated relationships around him. When Sistine insists the tiger must be freed, Rob faces a heartbreaking choice that forces him to understand the true meaning of release, both for the tiger and for himself.
This National Book Award finalist is an excellent novel for teaching symbolism, character development, theme, and emotional growth. Students connect strongly with Rob and Sistine, making this a memorable and meaningful classroom read.
⭐ Book Details
| Publication Date | March 2001 |
| Reading Level | Lexile 590L • Guided Reading Level T |
| Interest Level | Grades 5–7 |
| Awards | National Book Award Finalist (2001) |
| Length | 144 pages |
| Estimated Word Count | Approx. 43,920 words |
| Estimated Reading Time | About 2 hours and 55 minutes |
| Audiobook Length | 2 hours and 11 minutes |
| Genre | Realistic Fiction |
| Setting | In and around the Kentucky Star Motel in Lister, Florida |
| Themes | Animal Rights, Friendship, Relationships, Power of Letting Go |
| Point of View | Third person |
| Memorable Quote | “Her words sounded the way all those things made him feel, as if the world, the real world, had been punched through, so that he could see something wonderful and dazzling on the other side of it.” |
| First Line | “That morning, after he discovered the tiger, Rob went and stood under the Kentucky Star Motel sign and waited for the school bus just like it was any other day.” |
Activities for The Tiger Rising
Book Unit Samples
Check out The Tiger Rising Book Unit with these free samples including:
- Vocabulary Practice for Chapters 1-3 [harbor and astounded]
- Comprehension Questions for Chapters 1-3
- Constructed Response Question – Symbolism
You can get the free book unit sample by clicking the button.
Activity #1 – Writing and Discussion Topics
Have students research tigers and their habitats. Encourage them to consider how the environment and the actions of humans affect tiger populations.
Have students engage in a class debate about a specific aspect of the book, such as the treatment of animals in captivity or the importance of preserving habitats for endangered species. This will give students an opportunity to practice critical thinking and communication skills.
Activity #2 – Resources on the Web
3D Tour of the Sistine Chapel
Sissy was named after the Sistine Chapel. Have students ‘visit’ the Sistine Chapel using this virtual tour.
Online Tiger Printables and How-Tos
- Dover Publications
- Tiger Origami
- Bookmark
- Corner Bookmarks
Online Teaching Resources
Activity #3 – Correcting Run-on Sentences
Students practice correcting run-on sentences using four methods. All sentences contain interesting facts about tigers.
- Make separate sentences.
- Link the sentences or clauses with coordinating conjunctions making a compound sentence.
- Join the two clauses with a semicolon.
- Make one of the clauses dependent by adding subordinating conjunctions such as since, which, that, although, because, or while making complex sentences.
You can get this practice exercise by clicking on the button.
Here is a sample activity from the handout. Challenge students to take one run-on sentence and correct it using all four methods.
Tigers eat until they are full then they cover the carcass with leaves and dirt to save for later.
Method Complex Sentence
Since tigers eat only until they are full, they must cover the carcass with leaves and dirt to save for later.
Method Compound Sentence
Tigers eat until they are full, and then they cover the carcass with leaves and dirt to save for later.
Method Two Sentences
Tigers eat until they are full. Then they cover the carcass with leaves and dirt to save for later.
Method Semicolon
Tigers eat until they are full; then they cover the carcass with leaves and dirt to save for later.
Activity #4 – Movie Trailer Video
Official Trailer for the Movie The Tiger Rising
See the product that inspired this post.
The Tiger Rising Book Unit contains vocabulary, comprehension, constructed response writing, and skill practice.
