The Tiger Rising

Plot

Rob Horton is 12 years old and lives with his father in a Florida motel called the Kentucky Star. His father (named Robert), and Rob have recently moved to Lister, Florida, after the death of Rob’s mother, Caroline. Rob is quiet and often is bullied at school. Things begin to change when Rob discovers a tiger in the forest (locked up in a cage) while wandering the woods. He then meets a girl named Sistine Bailey who has recently moved nearby. Rob shows Sistine the tiger. Rob, who usually keeps his feelings locked away begins to involuntarily open up emotionally to Sistine. Though Sistine insists on letting the tiger go, Rob is wary of what will happen to it if he does. Rob finally relents and releases the tiger, letting it run into the woods. However, just moments later, Rob's father shoots the tiger dead. At the tiger's funeral, Sistine recites a part of William Blake's The Tyger. Rob and his father confront their unresolved feelings about Rob's mother and Rob begins looking forward to going to school with Sistine.

Main Characters

Rob Horton - Rob carries an unknown leg disease and does not seem to heal despite the medicine doctors recommend for him. He discovers the tiger first and then tells Sistine about it. Rob is not very open to others and is often picked on as he doesn't resist. Rob usually keeps his feelings "locked away in his suitcase." He expresses his feelings by whittling.

Sistine Bailey - Sistine (or Sissy) and her mother move to Lister. Sistine is Rob's classmate. Sistine's parents are divorced after his father had an affair with his secretary. As compared to Rob, she is very open emotionally and gets into fights at school.

Willie May - Housekeeper of the Kentucky Star. Though uneducated, she gives sage advice to Rob and Sistine, leading Sistine to claim she is a prophetess. Her and Rob both have a connection of losing a loved one.

Robert Horton - Rob's dad. He works at the Kentucky Star Motel and is underpaid by Beauchamp.

Caroline Horton - Rob's mom. She died of cancer before Rob and his dad moved to Lister, Florida.

Beauchamp - Owner of the Kentucky Star motel, the woods behind the motel, and the tiger.

The Tiger - The tiger is described as a beautiful and poor animal trapped cruelly in a cage where he cannot escape. He paces around in the cage and is fed by Beauchamp and Rob.

Norton and Billy Threemonger - Two "redneck" brothers who bully Rob in school and on the bus.

Mrs. Bailey - The wife of Mr. Bailey, also Sistine's mom. She babies Sistine and forces her to wear dresses.

Mr. Phelmer - Principal of Rob's school who views Rob as a nuisance, neglects him, and feels uncomfortable talking to him. He later tells Rob that he cannot come to school in case a disease in his legs is contagious.