Goodreads Mobile | see what your friends are reading

Feb 24, 2008

Michelle rated it:

I really enjoyed this book! It is historical fiction set in Rome around 3rd century AD. Two tiger cubs are captured and brought to Rome. One is given to the emperor's daughter to be raised as her pampered pet. The other brother is taught to be a vicious man-eating fighter at the Colosseum. While there is description of the gladiators and animals slaughtering each other, there is also innocent, forbidden love between the princess and a slave. It demonstrates the social structure of Rome very viv More...

1 comment like (1 person liked it)

Oct 20, 2011

Carolyn rated it:

Listened to this book on c/d...wow!! The reader was fabulous!! I had the opportunity to visit the coliseum in Rome and reading this historical novel about the "entertainment" that went on in this arena was nothing short of amazing!! People are just down right bloodhthirsty...back in the time of ancient Rome and I'm sorry to say today also (look at TV and movies now!!). Although written for youth, the author did not sugar-coat the brutality of the "circus." Personally, it pret More...

0 comments like (1 person liked it)

Oct 13, 2010

Amber rated it:

This book was an absolute pleasure to read and overall I thought it was absolutely outstanding.

The book is about - as you may have guessed - two tiger cubs, who are captured by hunters and taken to Rome. Once in Rome they are separated, one (Boots) becomes a pet in the house of Caesar and the other (Brute) is caged underneath the Colosseum and trained to fight in the arena.

After a while, the story starts to focus more on Auriela - Caesar's daughter - and her cousin Marcus More...

0 comments like

Feb 10, 2009

Jan rated it:

This is a youth book. I've been teaching 7th grade Language Arts this school year, and I wanted to coordinate their literature curriculum with the state mandated social studies curriculum, so they would have an interdisciplinary literature experience.

Seventh graders here are supposed to study ancient civilizations from ancient Egypt up through Roman empire and medieval Europe. I must have read 25 different youth books to come up with the ones I chose. I wanted books that are histori More...

3 comments like

May 11, 2010

Heather rated it:

A unique setting: Rome in the days of a Caesar ruler, who maintains his power through (among other things) displays of violence in the circus. And yet, this is a story aimed at younger readers. I would suggest reading or listening to this book with your younger ones instead of on their own. I guess I'd rate it PG.

This book made me think more about people's fascination with violence. It was hard to imagine why people of that day loved the circus so much. But then I remembered t More...

0 comments like

Feb 12, 2012

Meredith rated it:

I love those rainy or snowy days when all you really want is to curl up on a comfy armchair by the fireplace and read. Well I had one of those days yesterday, and I discovered that this book is an amazing choice for a day like that. It is easy to follow since the setting is based in a time we have all probably learned about. Also, the language is very interesting because it incorporates some of the way people might have talked back then, yet is easy to understand. There are few characters and a More...

0 comments like

May 01, 2011

Phoebe rated it:

Two tiger cubs are captured and their mother killed. The cubs are shipped off to the glory and grandeur of Imperial Rome, the larger cub destined for the circus and the smaller one as a pet for Caesar's daughter. Banks' clever approach to telling her story involves different perspectives: that of each of the tigers, and of the people around them, so that the reader is completely captivated from page 1. Rich, sometimes quite gory details of Roman life, in the arena and out of it, make this ext More...

0 comments like

Dec 12, 2011

Patrice rated it:

Historic fiction written by the author of Indian in the Cupboard. I was instantly intrigued by the plot: Two baby tiger cubs are stolen from their mother in an African jungle and brought back to Rome. One is given to the Caesar's daughter as a pet, the other is destined to a life of killing at the Colosseum.

This book could have been brilliant. It was interesting, but it lacked details that could have made it great. Aurelia, the main character, the daughter of Caesar, wasn't fully deve More...

0 comments like

Jan 19, 2009

Terry rated it:

I really enjoyed this historical tale about two tigers who were taken away from their mother as cubs, brought to Rome, and then led two very different lives. One tiger was consigned to the circus (the fighting kind, not the kind with clowns) while the other led a life of luxury as a pet for Caesar's daughter. From early on, I figured the lives of the two tigers had to collide at some point, and I thought there was no way it was going to be pleasant. I won't give away the ending, but I was sat More...

0 comments like

May 24, 2009

Cheryl rated it:

This review has been hidden because it contains spoilers. To view it, click here

0 comments like

Feb 07, 2009

Cori rated it:

Fasinating! This is set in Ancient Rome and follows the life of two tiger cubs that are captured - one for the Emperor Caesar's daughter and the other for the circus. (And by 'circus' they mean the place where gladiators fight and christians are fed to lions. Not quite the kettle corn and ferris wheel kind!) It's fictional, only based on the facts of what life was like in ancient rome. I really really liked it.

Note: This is SO not for children. The tiger in the circus is trained as a More...

0 comments like

Sep 12, 2009

Sandy rated it:

I really enjoyed this audio book. I was caught totally by surprise when the time and location of the story were first introduced. And the character Marcus drove me crazy! I couldn't make up my mind whether to hate him, or to tolerate him, or to even possibly like him. Every time I'd decided he was a total jerk and worthless, he'd do something to redeem himself. His characterization was very intriguing. I enjoyed the historical setting and had some new insight into what life must have been like d More...

0 comments like

Oct 03, 2008

Paige rated it:

I LOVED this book because its so cute but sad at the same time. If you like stories about animals this is a good book for you also if you like Roman history. This book is about a girl named Arielia who's father is the Emporer of Italy, Ceaser. Caeser decides to give her daughter a gift so he gave her a tiger cub. The tiger cub had a twin brother who was also taken by hunters to Italy though he was sent to the Coloseum to fight the gladiators as part of what Romans called "the circus". More...

3 comments like

Sep 22, 2010

Amy rated it:

Tiger Tiger was not at all what I was expecting. It was better, albit shorter.

It was interesting to read a story written about that time period, with that perspective. (Ancient Rome, Caesar's daughter, chiefly) My only problem with the story was that I couldn't help wondering how realistic it would be for Caesar's daughter to develop the attitudes and ideas that she had, and especially at such a young age. Even so, you can't help liking her and rooting for her and her friends.

0 comments like

Aug 31, 2011

Breena rated it:

I ran across this book in my search for tyger tyger about a goblin princess. I quite enjoyed this one about two tiger brothers. It is so aparent that animals respond to our treatment of them. Somehow people still miss the fact that humans respond to how we are treated also. Parents especially will be held responsible for what happens in the home. Those building blocks of personality and attitude are built from day one.

0 comments like

Aug 05, 2011

Neill rated it:

Two tiger cub brothers are caught to be shipped to Imperial Rome – one as a pampered pet to the Emperor’s daughter and one to be used in the circuses in the Colosseum to fight Christians and gladiators. Aurelia is delighted with her pet but when she and her cousin, Marcus, let him get loose to play a trick on his young handler events compel her to view the result of their actions at the circuses she so hates.

0 comments like

Jun 07, 2009

Veronica rated it:

if you read it, do not read the front cover first! It was wierd, though: all teh time i was reading it, i thought that i had read the book before, even though i was certain i hadn't. Then, the very next day after i finished, i saw the movie based off of the book on tv and realized that, years ago, i had seen the movie and that was what was reminding me of the story- like i said: wierd

0 comments like

Jan 14, 2012

Victor rated it:

This book is really actually pretty interesting, but not with too much story in it. It really describes the roles of animals back then in the Roman time. And this book really gives a lot of great perspective of the Roman Life, for humans and animals. This book is pretty enjoyable, and ends with some satisfactory, but a few question might go unanswered.

0 comments like

Oct 12, 2011

Linda rated it:

I really enjoyed the historical setting of ancient Rome and almost gave it 5 stars. Although written for youth, the author did not sugar-coat the brutality of the "circus," which ordinarily would be a turn off for me, but was not. It created a necessary reality in the telling of this compelling short novel.

0 comments like

Sep 18, 2010

Inspired Kathy rated it:

I was surprised how much I enjoyed this book. I liked the book cover and had nothing else to listen to so I started Tiger, Tiger. I found myself drawn into the story and before I knew it I had finished the book.
Full review:
http://iamareadernotawriter.blogspot.com...

0 comments like

Jun 11, 2011

Bianca rated it:

This book is very touching. The two brothers who were once as close as they could be meet at the battle field. The younger one, had became the young teenage princess pet. The other one, the older one, not as lucky as his brother, trained to kill. B.o.B. book. You can borrow this from the school library.

0 comments like

Jan 08, 2011

Charles rated it:

An interesting little story. I was given this book as a present. It is not the type of book I usually read, but thought I would give it a go. The story doesnt move too quickly and it is not exciting, but when you read it you wont want to put it down. I think it would appeal to a younger audience.

0 comments like

Jul 05, 2010

Joni rated it:

This entirely fictional account of tigers in Caesar's palace is completely engaging. Tiger brothers come to Rome and one is given to Caesar's daughter. Although the story is short, there is a lot of depth. I didn't feel cheated at all. It was well done. And the narrator did an excellent job.

0 comments like

Feb 11, 2011

Maren rated it:

This is written by the author of The indinan int he Cupboard. I found it in the YA section of the library and dove right in. The story line was refreshing and I liked the ending even though it wasn't happily ever after. Finished it quick and enjoyed it thouroughly.

0 comments like

Apr 01, 2011

Jody rated it:

I really did enjoy this book so I'm not exactly sure why I'm giving it 3 stars instead of 4... I guess I was expecting a little more, somehow. It was a neat window into a particular time in history, but the story's ending didn't really do it for me.

0 comments like

Jun 14, 2009

Rachel rated it:

This is a young adult book, so it was a quick read, but a good story. It was about two baby tigers who were captured and brought to Rome. One was domesticated and given to Caesar's daughter for a pet. The other was trained to kill gladiators and Christians at the Colosseum.

0 comments like

Jun 10, 2009

Heather rated it:

Two tiger brothers are taken from their native home and separated. One is trained to fight in the Circus arena while the other is coddled and becomes the princesses exotic pet. Set in ancient Roman times, these two tigers' lives cross and tell an exciting tale of ancient life, love, and tragedy.

Cute story.

0 comments like

May 07, 2009

Mr. Steve rated it:

This is a super good historical fiction book taking place in ancient Rome. My concern is that I believe the title and cover will draw in animal lovers who would be mortified by the realistically brutal scenes in this book.

0 comments like

Jun 10, 2011

Maddie rated it:

Good book to read when you're bored. It is simple, relaxing- except for a few tense moments- and i quite liked it. I have no clue when I read it, but it was short enough to read in one sitting. Nice work Miss.Banks!

0 comments like

May 12, 2010

G rated it:

A very good, albeit short book about inhumanity and the worst parts of The Roman Empire. Inhumanity to other humans, slaves treated like dirt by Caesar, and cruelty to animals in the extreme.

0 comments like

reviews