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rrose3000's review against another edition
I wasn't crazy about this book--though I really did think Nowra wrote well about the tigers, who were vivid characters--but I'm writing this mainly because it is marketed as a children's book and it has a lot of disturbing stuff that I, as a 38-year-old, had some trouble with, so I worry about kids reading it. I'm not a parent, so maybe it's fine, but vulnerable children watch parents or parental figures die horribly a total of 5 times by my count, in addition to lots of other gory bits. So take that for what it's worth.
mangofandango's review against another edition
4.0
It took a few minutes to get into the language of the story, but once I was immersed I was well and truly immersed. The premise was fascinating, and the world was very well-drawn. Hannah's experience is somehow relatable despite being so, so far outside the experience of pretty much anyone reading the story. A very interesting and emotionally intense story.
gorelenore's review against another edition
3.0
This is one of those books that I will likely remember snippets of forever, but it was a strange book on so many levels. I enjoyed the book, it was interesting... however there were a lot of things I was not too fond of.
So the likes: this was an interesting story, girls living with tigers and how they adapt. I found it neat how they became so animalistic and how they learned to interact with the tigers.
My ehhhh moments: this book was so sad, everything about it was kind of depressing. First the girls experience a flood, then loss of family, then throughout the book there are other instances where I was gasping out of surprise and sadness at what happened. I even teared up a lot at the end.
My 'nope' moments: First thing, I think it is important to understand while reading this book, that they aren't tigers like we know tigers - they are Tasmanian tigers -- which are extinct... so I was super confused for a while about when this was taking place. I was also a little weirded out by Hannah in the beginning of her time with the tigers, she just all of a sudden is fine with eating a dead (not even plucked) non-cooked bird. Now I know that hunger does a lot of crazy things to a person but this seemed SO extreme given the timeline and I was a little put off by it.
Like I mentioned, I will remember this book for a long time... so it did have an impact, but not all good.
So the likes: this was an interesting story, girls living with tigers and how they adapt. I found it neat how they became so animalistic and how they learned to interact with the tigers.
My ehhhh moments: this book was so sad, everything about it was kind of depressing. First the girls experience a flood, then loss of family, then throughout the book there are other instances where I was gasping out of surprise and sadness at what happened. I even teared up a lot at the end.
My 'nope' moments: First thing, I think it is important to understand while reading this book, that they aren't tigers like we know tigers - they are Tasmanian tigers -- which are extinct... so I was super confused for a while about when this was taking place. I was also a little weirded out by Hannah in the beginning of her time with the tigers, she just all of a sudden is fine with eating a dead (not even plucked) non-cooked bird. Now I know that hunger does a lot of crazy things to a person but this seemed SO extreme given the timeline and I was a little put off by it.
Like I mentioned, I will remember this book for a long time... so it did have an impact, but not all good.
scrapbookbug's review against another edition
3.0
very different than what I usually read. am thoroughly enjoying getting the PW newletter and finding new books.
there is no real time frame for this book, other than dating the extinction (or at least very rare-ness) of the "tigers" but if I had to put a real date on this fiction book it would have to be 70 to 100 years ago.
spent the whole book confused over why they were tigers if they were hyenas http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Thylacine and they were appaently neither really, but, as usual in that part of the world, something found only there!
there is no real time frame for this book, other than dating the extinction (or at least very rare-ness) of the "tigers" but if I had to put a real date on this fiction book it would have to be 70 to 100 years ago.
spent the whole book confused over why they were tigers if they were hyenas http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Thylacine and they were appaently neither really, but, as usual in that part of the world, something found only there!
danoreading's review against another edition
3.0
I actually liked this in the end even though the narrator's voice (and grammar) initially was very off-putting. And bizarrely, I just watched a mini- documentary on the thylacine on Hulu the day before I read this.
smaranell's review against another edition
adventurous
dark
sad
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
4.0
star_fall's review against another edition
adventurous
sad
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
3.75
One of my favorite books. Although i find the dialect and some parts of the book rather strange, the story is entertaining and kind of fun. It helped me get out from a reading slump.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Violence
hoboannie's review against another edition
5.0
Odd, beautiful, terrifying, tragic, bittersweet, fascinating, heart-breaking, satisfying.
asl4u's review against another edition
5.0
i loved this book. it filled me with hope for the tasmanian tigers - some people believe they’ve seen them as recently as April 2017... these are extinct animals - that might not be extinct... and to hear a story of their humanity (more humane than the hunters of the time) is warming. really goid story told well - and with a great and authentic reader (audio book)
katykelly's review against another edition
4.0
4.5 stars.
At age 6 and 7, Hannah and Rebecca are nearly drowned in a storm. Hannah's parents are both killed, the girls rescued by Tasmanian tigers. This is the story of how they spend the next four years of their lives with two tigers in the wilds of Australia.
An adult and elderly Hannah narrates her story, her grasp of English weakened by her lack of exposure to other humans at a crucial time in her development, we come to understand.
There have been lots of books and films exploring the 'child brought up by animals/in the wild' scenario, but previous few I can name (none actually) that cover the child's point of view.
It's a fascinating story, how the girls communicate with their foster parents, how they change, one faster than the other, and how it all ends.
It's also a very sad story ultimately, with a return to civilisation the way we know it will go, but not a pleasant one.
Lovely writing, original idea.
At age 6 and 7, Hannah and Rebecca are nearly drowned in a storm. Hannah's parents are both killed, the girls rescued by Tasmanian tigers. This is the story of how they spend the next four years of their lives with two tigers in the wilds of Australia.
An adult and elderly Hannah narrates her story, her grasp of English weakened by her lack of exposure to other humans at a crucial time in her development, we come to understand.
There have been lots of books and films exploring the 'child brought up by animals/in the wild' scenario, but previous few I can name (none actually) that cover the child's point of view.
It's a fascinating story, how the girls communicate with their foster parents, how they change, one faster than the other, and how it all ends.
It's also a very sad story ultimately, with a return to civilisation the way we know it will go, but not a pleasant one.
Lovely writing, original idea.