Music for Tigers

by Michelle Kadarusman

Overview

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

Shipped halfway around the world to spend the summer with her mom’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 odors 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.

Product Details

ISBN-13:	9781772783285
Publisher:	Pajama Press Inc.
Publication date:	11/05/2024
Pages:	216
Product dimensions:	5.50(w) x 8.00(h) x 0.00(d)
Age Range:	8 - 12 Years

About the Author

Michelle Kadarusman grew up in Melbourne, Australia, and has also lived in Indonesia and Canada. Her middle-grade 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. Her 2019 novel Girl of the Southern Sea is a Junior Library Guild selection. Michelle lives in Toronto, Canada, and is looking forward to soon spending more time in Australia.

Editorial Reviews

Praise for Music for Tigers

A 2021 USBBY Outstanding International Book

A 2021 White Raven Selection

A 2020 Washington Post KidsPost Summer Book Club selection!

2020 Northern Lights Book Awards: Middle-Grade Cultural Category Winner

2021 Green Earth Book Award longlist

2021-2022 Cypress Fairbanks ISD Horned Toad Tales shortlist

2021 Forest of Reading Silver Birch Fiction Award nominee

2022 MYRCA Sundogs Award nominee

A 2020 Kirkus Reviews Best Middle Grade Book of the Year

2023-2024 Pennsylvania Young Reader's Choice Award Nominee

A CBC Books "The best Canadian YA and middle-grade books of 2020" selection

2020 Quill & Quire Books of the Year Honourable Mention

2020 CCBC Best Books for Kids & Teens selection

2020 Junior Library Guild selection

2020 OLA Best Bets List selection

2020 CBC Books “12 middle-grade and YA books to read this summer” selection

2021 Hamilton Review of Books’ Independently Published Bestseller List: October, Kids #1

2022 Rocky Mountain Book Award Runner-up

2022-2023 Lectio Book Award Nominee

2023 Nevada Young Readers’ Award Nominee

★ STARRED REVIEW “Kadarusman masterfully creates a lush, magical world where issues associated with conservation, neurodiversity, and history intersect in surprising and authentic ways….Crucially, the author acknowledges the original, Indigenous inhabitants of the land as experts…A beautiful conservation story told in a rich setting and peopled with memorable characters.”—Kirkus Reviews Starred Review

★ STARRED REVIEW “Incorporating themes of diversity and environmental preservation into her adventure, Kadarusman (Girl of the Southern Sea) creates a story straight out of adolescent daydreams....Compassionate and endearing, Music for Tigers hits all the right notes.”—Shelf Awareness Starred Review

★ STARRED REVIEW “A stirring tale that will inspire young readers to take to heart our collective responsibility as stewards of the planet, Music for Tigers is a coming-of-age story with a conservation twist.”—Foreword Reviews Starred Review

★ STARRED REVIEW “In her third outstanding middle-grade novel – after Theory of Hummingbirds and Girl of the Southern Sea – Kadarusman continues to be a clear, insightful, and humourous guide to unfamiliar experiences and settings, and in this case species. She’s unearthed the fascinating history of an extinct animal and entwined it with a heartfelt story of a dedicated family whose good deeds have run up against the ever-encroaching, commerce-driven modern world.”—Quill & Quire Starred Review

“Throughout Music for Tigers, Kadarusman provides interesting information about Tasmania’s Tarkine rainforest, its original human inhabitants and the variety of wildlife that has lived there, before and after European settlers destroyed a way of life.”—Washington Post KidsPost

“Author Michelle Kadarusman deftly incorporates Australian history into this middle-grade book that reads like a love letter to the unique flora and fauna of the Tasmanian Tarkine….Music for Tigers is perfect for young readers interested in ecology and preservation.”—Booklist

“A well-told and timely story, which gently but firmly addresses topics such as environmental impact, endangered species, neurodiversity, friendship, bullying, and being your best self....A solid choice for middle grade collections providing a balanced and comprehensible voice to the environmental discussion for young people.”—School Library Journal

“Michelle Kadarusman engages young readers with a carefully laid trail of compelling tidbits....This is a book about the wonders of nature, the importance of conservation supported by indigenous connections to the land, and the need for persistence in the face of adversity.”—Canadian Children’s Book News

“Conjuring up a lush rainforest-y world that radiates an almost magical atmosphere, the author successfully combines historical facts with an engaging tale about topical issues, such as the threat to the Australian flora and fauna by mining and logging companies.”—The White Ravens

“A good story in an unusual setting. Written for readers 8-12 years of age, especially animal lovers.”—Winnipeg Free Press

"In this new novel for kids aged nine to 12 years, author Michelle Kadarusman imagines the Tasmanian tiger having survived at a secret sanctuary in the remote Tarkine rainforest."—The West Australian

“Verdict: Students who enjoy nature stories, especially those who are interested in cryptid species, will enjoy this book….This character and setting driven plot appeals on many levels and introduces a setting not well represented in children’s books in the United States. I recommend it for middle school and public libraries.”—Oregon Coast Youth Book Preview Center

“[P]rovides an uncommon but insightful blending of science and art….[A] fun, engaging read for middle grade children, one that will appeal to many different readers because of its diverse themes and subjects. Louisa’s relationships with Colin and Rufus are delightful to read, and the novel covers important topics with delicacy and grace. Music for Tigers is a heartwarming story of personal growth and friendship that will draw readers in with its charm. Highly Recommended.”—CM Magazine

“A vividly descriptive Middle-Grade work with an ecological focus—enriched by elements of music, friendship, and atypical neurology….I would readily recommend this for young contemporary fiction and nature lovers. There’s some great potential here for building empathy, educating on species extinction, and expanding familiarity with neurological diversity—all while steeping readers in the atmosphere of an incredibly unique biome.”—YA Books Central

“There is art within the pages of Music for Tigers....Music for Tigers is a statement, albeit a songful one, of our impact on the natural world for our own purposes, destroying critical habitats and species. It implores us to step up and put conservation and preservation measures in place...”—CanLit for LittleCanadians

“Michelle Kadarusman has captured the essence and detail of the Australian bush in every word and detail of the story. Her magnificent writing makes it easy to imagine the imagery of the Talkine rainforests.”—Kids’ Book Review

“Nature, preserving wildlife and family are the key ingredients across the book that are woven together in short chapters. The book flowed effortlessly and Kadarusman is a wonderful writer.”—Blue Fairy Tales

“Kadarusman has woven a story with beautiful use of language that captivates from the first sentence… Music for Tigers contains something very special: the magic of a story well told, that not only demands to be read from cover to cover, but ensures the gently presented messages wrapped within the text remain in the memory for a long time.”—Blue Wolf Reviews

“[Kadarusman’s] 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.”—bookishuniversee

“[Music for Tigers] has important conservation themes set in a real landscape that is almost magical in its dense lushness and beauty. It is told as a contemporary mystery using sensory, artistic images inspired by nature.”—The Weekend Australian

“This stunning story of conservation, hope, and individuality will make readers dream of what may lie hidden in the untouched wilderness.”—A Mighty Girl

From the Publisher

04/03/2020

Gr 5–7—The last place Louisa wants to be for the summer is the middle of the Tasmanian bush with an uncle she barely knows. She should be back home in Canada, relentlessly practicing violin for her orchestra audition. But with her biologist parents studying a frog habitat away from home, Louisa finds herself halfway around the world on an unrequested adventure. She always considered herself a musician and quite unlike her animal crazy family, but will the summer uncover secrets about the past to change her mind? Could it be her musical talents run deeper in her family line than she ever expected? And then there is Colin, a boy with autism spectrum disorder who is overflowing with knowledge about her new surroundings but oblivious about how to handle his bullies. Saving the last of a supposedly extinct species, caring for baby Tasmanian devils, facing her fears, and standing up for what's right are just a few of the adventures in store for Louisa. This is a well-told and timely story, which gently but firmly addresses topics such as environmental impact, endangered species, neurodiversity, friendship, bullying, and being your best self. Some of the vocabulary could be daunting for developing readers but short chapters and narrative style make a fantastic amount of information highly accessible. VERDICT A solid choice for middle grade collections providing a balanced and comprehensible voice to the environmental discussion for young people.—Emily Beasley, Omaha Public Schools

School Library Journal

★ 2020-02-09
Unlike the rest of her nature-obsessed family, Louisa wants to be a musician, not a biologist.

But when Louisa’s mother finds out that the Australian government is about to destroy the Tasmanian rainforest camp their family has managed for decades, she insists that Louisa leave Toronto and spend the summer on the strange, small island with her even stranger uncle Ruff. But when Uncle Ruff gives Louisa a copy of her great-grandmother’s journal, Louisa becomes fascinated with her family’s history of secretly protecting endangered species, including the mysterious Tasmanian tiger, widely regarded as extinct. With the help of her new friend and neighbor Colin—a boy who has autism spectrum disorder—Louisa deepens her connection with her family’s land, with history, and with her love of music. Kadarusman masterfully creates a lush, magical world where issues associated with conservation, neurodiversity, and history intersect in surprising and authentic ways. The book’s small cast of characters (principals seem all white) is well drawn and endearing. Crucially, the author acknowledges the original, Indigenous inhabitants of the land as experts, something rarely seen in books about environmental degradation. Louisa’s narratorial voice strikes the right balance of curiosity, timidity, and growing confidence, and her character’s transformation feels both incredibly natural and incredibly rewarding to behold.

A beautiful conservation story told in a rich setting and peopled with memorable characters. (Fiction. 10-14)

Kirkus Reviews