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Music for Tigers

Book Hero Magic crafted this summary to help describe this book. While it's new and still learning, it may not be perfect - your feedback is welcome! Summary
In Music for Tigers, young violinist Louisa spends a summer in the remote Tasmanian rainforest with her eccentric relatives. She discovers that her family secretly maintain a sanctuary for the supposedly extinct Tasmanian tiger. As mining threatens the habitat, Louisa must connect with the shy tiger through her music to save this rare creature, forging bonds with family, nature, and her own heritage.
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Format: Hardback
$3499
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Book Hero Magic created this recommendation. While it's new and still learning, it may not be perfect - your feedback is welcome! IS THIS YOUR NEXT READ?

Ideal for readers aged 9 to 12, particularly those who enjoy middle-grade novels blending adventure, nature, and coming-of-age themes with a touch of mystery and cultural history.

Book Hero thinking about your next read

Kadarusman's award-nominated Tasmanian conservation story with four starred reviews, now in a quality paperback edition

  • 6,000+-copy print run
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  • Classroom reading guide available now

Book Hero Magic formatted this description to make it easier to read. While it's new and still learning, it may not be perfect - your feedback is welcome! Description

A White Raven Selection 2021

Age range 9 to 12

A young violinist discovers her mother's family secretly harbour a sanctuary for extinct Tasmanian tigers in the remote Australian rainforest.

From Governor General's Literary Award finalist Michelle Kadarusman comes a novel about a young violinist who discovers her mother's family secretly harbour a sanctuary for extinct Tasmanian tigers in the remote Australian rainforest.

Shipped halfway around the world to spend the summer with her mum's eccentric Australian relatives, middle schooler and passionate violinist Louisa is prepared to be resentful. But life at the family's remote camp in the Tasmanian rainforest is intriguing, to say the least. There are pig-footed bandicoots, scary spiders, weird noises and odours in the night, and a quirky boy named Colin who cooks the most amazing meals. Not the least strange is her Uncle Ruff, with his unusual pet and veiled hints about something named Convict Rock.

Finally, Louisa learns the truth: Convict Rock is a sanctuary established by her great-grandmother Eleanor—a sanctuary for Tasmanian tigers, Australia's huge marsupials that were famously hunted into extinction almost a hundred years ago. Or so the world believes. Hidden in the rainforest at Convict Rock, one tiger remains. But now the sanctuary is threatened by a mining operation, and the last Tasmanian tiger must be lured deeper into the forest. The problem is, not since her great-grandmother has a member of the family been able to earn the shy tigers' trust.

As the summer progresses, Louisa forges unexpected connections with Colin, with the forest, and—through Eleanor's journal—with her great-grandmother. She begins to suspect the key to saving the tiger is her very own music. But will her plan work? Or will the enigmatic Tasmanian tiger disappear once again, this time forever?

A moving coming-of-age story wrapped up in the moss, leaves, and blue gums of the Tasmanian rainforest where, hidden under giant ferns, crouches its most beloved, and lost, creature.

Series: The Tiger Trilogy

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  • Music for Tigers
    A White Raven Selection 2021 Age range 9 to 12 A young violinist discovers her mother's family secretly harbour a sanctuary for extinct Tasmanian tigers in the remote Australian rainforest. From Governor General's Literary Award finalist Michelle Kadarusman comes a novel about a young violinist who discovers her mother's family secretly harbour a sanctuary for extinct Tasmanian tigers in the...
    Hardback
    $3499
    Available
    Ships in 4-6 weeks

Book Hero Magic summarised reviews for this book. While it's new and still learning, it may not be perfect - your feedback is welcome! HOW HAS THIS BEEN REVIEWED?

Music for Tigers has been widely acclaimed, earning prestigious honours such as the White Raven Selection 2021, a USBBY Outstanding International Book, and recognition as a Kirkus Reviews Best Middle Grade Book of the Year 2020. Praised for its evocative storytelling and cultural richness, it was also a nominee and winner in numerous awards including the Northern Lights Book Awards and multiple young reader award lists.

Book Hero reading reviews

Book Details

INFORMATION

ISBN: 9781772780543

Publisher: Pajama Press

Format: Hardback

Date Published: 11 June 2020

Country: Canada

Imprint: Pajama Press

Illustration: 1 Maps

Audience: Children

DIMENSIONS

Spine width: 19.0mm

Width: 140.0mm

Height: 203.0mm

Weight: 748g

Pages: 192

About the Author

Michelle Kadarusman grew up in Melbourne, Australia, and has also lived in Indonesia and Canada. Her 2019 middle-grade novel Girl of the Southern Sea was a finalist for the Governor General's Literary Award and a Junior Library Guild selection. Her previous novel The Theory of Hummingbirds was a finalist for the Forest of Reading Silver Birch Award, the MYRCA Sundogs Award, and the SYRCA Diamond Willow Award. Michelle lives in Toronto, Canada, and is looking forward to soon spending more time in Australia.

Also by Michelle Kadarusman

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  • Berani
    WINNER: 2023 Environment Award for Children's Literature Berani tells the story of Malia, who has enjoyed a privileged upbringing in Indonesia. Now facing the prospect of leaving the homeland she cherishes due to her mother's wish to return to her own family abroad, Malia is adamant about staying. How can she leave when she is so committed to fighting for...
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  • The Theory of Hummingbirds
    An important #ownvoices novel by author Michelle Kadarusman celebrating best friends, hummingbirds, wormholes and loving who you are. A heartfelt #ownvoices story celebrating best friends, wormholes and loving who you are. Alba has been best friends with Levi since forever. They're both obsessed with hummingbirds and spend their lunchtimes hiding out in the school library. Alba normally doesn't mind that...
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  • Girl of the Southern Sea
    From Governor General's Literary Award finalist Michelle Kadarusman, an empowering novel about a girl from the slums of Jakarta who dreams of an education and the chance at a better life. From the time she was a little girl, Nia has dreamed up adventures about the Javanese mythical princess, Dewi Kadita. Now fourteen, Nia would love nothing more than to...
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  • Seabird
    Kadarusman beautifully brings Kartini to life with clarity and empathy in a story that's educational without being preachy and is a superb pick for readers interested in history and activism. Kirkus Reviews Inspired by the true story of a nineteenth century feminist, Seabird follows Kartini's early teen years as a young noble girl. Confined to the family home in preparation...
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  • Seabird
    'Kadarusman beautifully brings Kartini to life with clarity and empathy in a story that's educational without being preachy and is a superb pick for readers interested in history and activism.' Kirkus ReviewsInspired by the true story of a nineteenth century feminist.Seabird follows Kartini's early teen years as a young noble girl. Confined to the family home in preparation for an...
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  • Music for Tigers
    Shipped halfway around the world to spend the summer with her mum's eccentric Australian relatives, middle schooler and passionate violinist Louisa is prepared to be resentful. But life at the family's remote camp in the Tasmanian rainforest is intriguing, to say the least. There are pig-footed bandicoots, scary spiders, weird noises and odours in the night, and a quirky boy...
    Paperback
    $2999
    Available
    Ships in 4-6 weeks
  • Room for More
    Age range 5 to 8 Two wombats, two wallabies, a koala, and a tiger snake humorously squeeze into one burrow and reveal important truths about environmental disasters and the importance of welcoming refugees. When a fire sweeps through the Australian bush, wombats Dig and Scratch are glad to have a cool, damp burrow to keep them safe. But Dig notices...
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  • Girl of the Southern Sea
    An inspiring novel about good-luck magic, courage and the power of storytelling. A gifted student, Nia longs to attend high school so she can follow her dream and become a writer. She has notebooks filled with stories she's created about the mythological Dewi Kadita, Princess of the Southern Sea. But her family has barely enough money for food, let alone...
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