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1morechapterplz's review against another edition
4.0
I love learning, and I also love reading. Unfortunately, the books I like reading (fantasy, classics, YA) don't usually have much educational value.
This is why I love books like Music for Tigers, which simultaneously entertain and educate. Music for Tigers has lots of good information about Tasmanian tigers, pig-footed bandicoots, Tasmanian devils, and just the bush wildlife in general.
This is why I love books like Music for Tigers, which simultaneously entertain and educate. Music for Tigers has lots of good information about Tasmanian tigers, pig-footed bandicoots, Tasmanian devils, and just the bush wildlife in general.
waterbottle57's review against another edition
adventurous
hopeful
lighthearted
relaxing
slow-paced
3.75
gallagirlreads's review against another edition
adventurous
informative
lighthearted
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
4.0
peyton_'s review against another edition
4.0
I have been fascinated with the Tasmanian Tiger ever since it was featured on an episode of Kratts’ Creatures. I picked up this book because it is an RMBA 2022 nominee and was so happy to see this unique creature as a fixture of the story. The importance of preservation and conservation are at the heart of this book. The characters have varying opinions on how to go about conserving wildlife and what is the best way to handle the creatures. It is nice when a story has multiple sides showing different options rather than a one way only narrative.
Colin was a great neurodiverse character and was portrayed well. He was never singled out in a bad way by the main characters and the books focused more on his talents than his struggles. Louisa shows great growth throughout the book as she begins to understand her family better and not be wholly consumed by a single goal to develop her talent with a violin. Ruff is forced to change because his world is being taken away from him, but he has Mal and seems to be okay. I was glad for the epilogue at the end where we see Louisa accepting her flaws and a little bit about Ellie, too.
It is a great book with good characters. It is an interesting story with an important message. I am glad to hear about some different animals and learn more about Australia. I don’t think it will win the RMBA this year, but I can definitely see why it got nominated.
Colin was a great neurodiverse character and was portrayed well. He was never singled out in a bad way by the main characters and the books focused more on his talents than his struggles. Louisa shows great growth throughout the book as she begins to understand her family better and not be wholly consumed by a single goal to develop her talent with a violin. Ruff is forced to change because his world is being taken away from him, but he has Mal and seems to be okay. I was glad for the epilogue at the end where we see Louisa accepting her flaws and a little bit about Ellie, too.
It is a great book with good characters. It is an interesting story with an important message. I am glad to hear about some different animals and learn more about Australia. I don’t think it will win the RMBA this year, but I can definitely see why it got nominated.
jilljemmett's review against another edition
5.0
Louisa is sent to Tasmania to stay with her uncle for the summer when her parents go on a research trip. Her Uncle Ruff lives in a remote camp where he looks after a variety of wild animals. He gives Louisa a journal belonging to her great-grandmother, who rescued Tasmanian tigers. Even though Tasmanian tigers were thought to be extinct for centuries, Louisa’s family knows that they are secretly around the island. Now, Louisa is the only one who holds the secret to rescuing the remaining tiger.
I learned so much while reading this book. I realized recently that I have read books by Australian authors, but none that are set in Australia. I was so glad to discover that this one was set there. I loved learning about the different animals in Tasmania that I didn’t know before. The fictional mystery around the extinction of Tasmanian tigers was so great. It makes me wonder how many creatures that are thought to be extinct could be hiding out somewhere in the world.
This book was less than 200 pages, yet there was so much to the story. The important topic of animal extinction was discussed a lot. Louisa also had anxiety surrounding her performing music on her violin. She met a boy named Colin, who was autistic. Louisa was eager to learn about Colin and how to help him navigate the world of social interaction. These were relevant topics to be in a middle grade novel.
I loved this book!
Thank you Pajama Press for providing a copy of this book in exchange for an honest review.
I learned so much while reading this book. I realized recently that I have read books by Australian authors, but none that are set in Australia. I was so glad to discover that this one was set there. I loved learning about the different animals in Tasmania that I didn’t know before. The fictional mystery around the extinction of Tasmanian tigers was so great. It makes me wonder how many creatures that are thought to be extinct could be hiding out somewhere in the world.
This book was less than 200 pages, yet there was so much to the story. The important topic of animal extinction was discussed a lot. Louisa also had anxiety surrounding her performing music on her violin. She met a boy named Colin, who was autistic. Louisa was eager to learn about Colin and how to help him navigate the world of social interaction. These were relevant topics to be in a middle grade novel.
I loved this book!
Thank you Pajama Press for providing a copy of this book in exchange for an honest review.
mrs_eileen's review against another edition
4.0
Music for Tigers is ideal for children transitioning from fiction to non fiction or vice versa. Louisa's time in Australia connects her to every member of her family while helping her realize she doesn't have to be defined by a single passion. She doesn't have to choose music or science something that becomes clear when she hears the rhythm of the jungle. This truly original story is one you haven't read before.
kikiandarrowsfishshelf's review against another edition
4.0
Disclaimer: ARC via Netgalley
When I was in middle school, I helped out as a library aide. You got to take out as many books as you wanted, and you got to play as much Oregon Trail as you wanted. I lost count of how many times I took out the Guinness’s Book of World Animal Records. It was that book that first introduced me to the thylacine (or Tasmanian Tiger).
Kadarusman’s young adult novel is about Louisa who much rather be practicing for an audition yet finds herself visiting her mother’s family, whose lands is about to be taken and repurposed. The problem is that the land has been a refugee for certain animals that may be consider extinct by the larger population. Of course, the action takes place on Tasmania.
It was wonderful to read a young adult novel, with a character who is in her late teens, that does not have a love triangle at its center. Well, unless you count Louisa’s love for music. Louisa is the right amount of slightly resentful teen (the rest of her family are scientists) but also a good girl who you can identify with. She also learns and adapts as the story goes on. The supporting characters are well drawn as well.
At times, the book does feel a bit too much like a science lecture. This is in part because of the conversations about the tigers as well as neurotypicals. It should be noted that it does not read like a speech or a “very important lesson”. The passages are closer to info dumps, but they don’t quite read like them.
The conversations between characters, especially between Louisa and other young people, feel very nature and organic. This is particularly true of the conversations between Colin and Louisa. I love the use of Colin as a character. The use of the old diary is interesting and is blended in quite well with the rest of the book. There is a sure change of voice in these sections.
Recommended.
When I was in middle school, I helped out as a library aide. You got to take out as many books as you wanted, and you got to play as much Oregon Trail as you wanted. I lost count of how many times I took out the Guinness’s Book of World Animal Records. It was that book that first introduced me to the thylacine (or Tasmanian Tiger).
Kadarusman’s young adult novel is about Louisa who much rather be practicing for an audition yet finds herself visiting her mother’s family, whose lands is about to be taken and repurposed. The problem is that the land has been a refugee for certain animals that may be consider extinct by the larger population. Of course, the action takes place on Tasmania.
It was wonderful to read a young adult novel, with a character who is in her late teens, that does not have a love triangle at its center. Well, unless you count Louisa’s love for music. Louisa is the right amount of slightly resentful teen (the rest of her family are scientists) but also a good girl who you can identify with. She also learns and adapts as the story goes on. The supporting characters are well drawn as well.
At times, the book does feel a bit too much like a science lecture. This is in part because of the conversations about the tigers as well as neurotypicals. It should be noted that it does not read like a speech or a “very important lesson”. The passages are closer to info dumps, but they don’t quite read like them.
The conversations between characters, especially between Louisa and other young people, feel very nature and organic. This is particularly true of the conversations between Colin and Louisa. I love the use of Colin as a character. The use of the old diary is interesting and is blended in quite well with the rest of the book. There is a sure change of voice in these sections.
Recommended.
bookishuniversee's review against another edition
hopeful
inspiring
reflective
- Loveable characters? Yes
4.0
Thank you to @newsouthbooks for sending me a review copy. In no particular way does this influence my opinion.
I’ve come to the point in my life were I’m transitioning into books intended for older individuals and haven’t been interested in many middle grade, however, one thing for sure is that no matter how old I am, I will pick a Michelle Kadarusman’s books.
Her style of writing and her unique three dimensional characters allowed the plot to flow effortlessly. I highly recommend picking up any of the author’s other books. All her books open a great conversation. This one open up about the extinction of animals, Tasmanian tigers. The book also featured a neurodivergent character, Collin. Whom is a very interesting and realistic character, you’re definitely going to fall in love with.
jeanetterenee's review against another edition
4.0
This is a lovely story for middle-grade readers with an interest in threatened and endangered species, or just nature in general. The tigers in the title are not really tigers at all. They are technically thylacines, doglike marsupials with stripes on their backs, hence the common name "Tasmanian tigers." If you harbor fantasies of someday spotting an animal that is believed to be extinct, this book may fuel your hopes. It does happen occasionally that someone finds a living member of a species thought to have been wiped out many decades ago.
The Tasmanian rain forest setting is appealing, and there are some useful lessons for youngsters. Louisa discovers that there are delightful adventures to be had if you step out of your comfort zone and open yourself up to new experiences and people. She makes a friend named Colin who is on the autism spectrum. Some of the narrative gets a bit didactic at times, but it might help kids understand that people who seem "weird" just have a different way of interacting with the world.
The Tasmanian rain forest setting is appealing, and there are some useful lessons for youngsters. Louisa discovers that there are delightful adventures to be had if you step out of your comfort zone and open yourself up to new experiences and people. She makes a friend named Colin who is on the autism spectrum. Some of the narrative gets a bit didactic at times, but it might help kids understand that people who seem "weird" just have a different way of interacting with the world.