Through the Tiger's Eye Book

A girl and her mischievous younger brother are enticed into a world of adventure and danger in this contemporary fantasy story. Lucy and Ricardo are sad and confused when their parents separate and they move with their mother into a creepy old mansion on the edge of town. There are strange powers at work in the old house, and the children find themselves traveling back and forth between their home and a war-torn foreign country where the children of the freedom fighters are being held captive. Together with two children who have escaped from captivity, Lucy and Ricardo help free the others and reunite them with their families. They learn to stop their sibling bickering and work together through their dangerous mission. A tiger, a monkey, and a snake with supernatural powers assist and encourage the children in their heroic efforts.

Heather Rader - KLIATT

If your parents separate, you move to the worst house in Kurrawong, and your only company is your annoying little brother, you might think all is lost. But in fact something is found. The strange mermaid house Lucy and Ricardo live in has a rug that becomes more detailed and vibrant each day. It inspires dreams about a foreign country, a parallel universe that is entered through a time tunnel in their backyard. They discover the children there are forced to work in sweatshops by Bull soldiers and live under terrible conditions. What if they could rescue those children, and their survival depended upon Lucy and Ricardo unraveling the mysteries of the rug, the dragon chest, and the tiger-cat that always accompanies them? How far would they be willing to go? This adventure-mystery is fast-paced and well written. There are the real issues like sibling rivalry and family problems as well as the precognitive dreams and children gifted with the eyes of the tiger, the echolocation of a bat, and the sensitivity of a snake. A theme of resilience against the odds prevails. There is violence, but it is not gratuitous. KLIATT Codes: J—Recommended for junior high school students. 2005, Independent Publishers Group, 288p., Ages 12 to 15.