Reviews

Tyger by SF Said

ellenannmary's review against another edition

challenging dark emotional hopeful inspiring sad fast-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? Character
• Strong character development? Yes
• Loveable characters? Yes
• Diverse cast of characters? Yes
• Flaws of characters a main focus? No

3.0

cronephase's review against another edition

5.0

The best book I've read all year. It has the best of humanity and the worst of humanity. Dave McKean's illustrations are brilliant.

Should be read by all ages.

bookish_teacher_reads's review against another edition

adventurous emotional hopeful medium-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? A mix
• Strong character development? Yes
• Loveable characters? It's complicated
• Diverse cast of characters? Yes

3.5

bookish_contentment's review against another edition

5.0

One of the most powerful children’s books I have read in a long time with such stunning illustrations as well. I can’t recommend this enough.

freudianblip's review against another edition

2.0

I'm surprised a book of rehashed, tired tropes and watered-down characters won Book of the Year

debbieg's review against another edition

3.0

I have enormous respect for S.F. Said as an advocate for children's books, and I've met him, and I really want to support his work. Maybe it had been over-hyped, but I found it a little disappointing.

There's a lot to like. I wish it had been longer, deeper, and more complex. For me, it was very much a "middle-grade" novel, that is, a _children's_ book, not YA, but it read to me very "young" even for middle-grade. Perhaps it demonstrates the way the categories have slipped (works that in my own childhood were labelled children's books are now listed as YA), and I find it interesting to see reviews that put it at the upper range of middle-grade. Yes, the themes of racism and colonialism are topical and obviously reflect Said's own experience, but again I found myself wishing for a bit more nuance, particularly with the bad guys (Said is in good company here; I had the same reaction to Philip Pullman, whose work covers much of the same mythical background). Overall, it's ambitious, well written and compelling, but I was hoping for something more.

bookbairn's review against another edition

4.0

A book that will whisk you off to another world. In an alternate reality where Empire still rules, where class division and racism runs rampant (but holds a mirror to our own society), this is a story full of wonder. It’s about imagination. It’s about truth. It’s about good versus evil. It’s about doing what’s right despite the risks to self. It’s about love. It’s about power. It’s about hope.
This is a beauty of a story that will give you goosebumps. And as soon as I finished reading I wanted to dive back in and read again!

ethansbookbox's review against another edition

adventurous challenging dark emotional funny hopeful informative inspiring mysterious reflective sad tense fast-paced

4.0

Beautiful. Devastating. Infinitely inspiring. Special shout out to the world building though, thoroughly enjoyed that and the audiobook was stunningly read. Accompanied with the illustrations of the novel it was all rather lovely.

sunshine_mel's review against another edition

3.0

A timely and magical fable with stunning illustrations

helenc82's review against another edition

adventurous inspiring mysterious medium-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? Plot
• Strong character development? Yes
• Loveable characters? Yes
• Diverse cast of characters? Yes
• Flaws of characters a main focus? No

4.0