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Tiger Eyes
Davey has never felt so alone in her life. Her father is dead (shot in a holdup) and now her mother is moving the family to New Mexico to try to recover. Climbing in Los Alamos Canyons, Davey meets mysterous Wolf, who seems to understand the rage and fear she feels. Slowly, with Wolf's help, Davey realizes that she must get on with her life. But when will she be ready to leave the past behind? Will she ever stop hurting?
218 pages, Paperback
First published January 1, 1981
About the author
Judy Blume
220 books10k followersJudy Blume spent her childhood in Elizabeth, New Jersey, making up stories inside her head. She has spent her adult years in many places doing the same thing, only now she writes her stories down on paper. Adults as well as children will recognize such Blume titles as: Are You There God? It's Me, Margaret; Blubber; Just as Long as We're Together; and the five book series about the irrepressible Fudge. She has also written three novels for adults, Summer Sisters; Smart Women; and Wifey, all of them New York Times bestsellers. More than 80 million copies of her books have been sold, and her work has been translated into thirty-one languages. She receives thousands of letters a year from readers of all ages who share their feelings and concerns with her.
Judy received a B.S. in education from New York University in 1961, which named her a Distinguished Alumna in 1996, the same year the American Library Association honored her with the Margaret A. Edwards Award for Lifetime Achievement. Other recognitions include the Library of Congress Living Legends Award and the 2004 National Book Foundation's Medal for Distinguished Contribution to American Letters.
She is the founder and trustee of The Kids Fund, a charitable and educational foundation. She serves on the boards of the Author's Guild; the Society of Children's Book Writers and Illustrators; the Key West Literary Seminar; and the National Coalition Against Censorship.
Judy is a longtime advocate of intellectual freedom. Finding herself at the center of an organized book banning campaign in the 1980's she began to reach out to other writers, as well as teachers and librarians, who were under fire. Since then, she has worked tirelessly with the National Coalition Against Censorship to protect the freedom to read. She is the editor of Places I Never Meant To Be, Original Stories by Censored Writers.
Judy has completed a series of four chapter books -- The Pain & the Great One -- illustrated by New Yorker cartoonist James Stevenson. She has co-written and produced a film adaptation of her book Tiger Eyes, and is currently writing a new novel.
Judy and her husband George Cooper live on islands up and down the east coast. They have three grown children and one grandchild.
Judy received a B.S. in education from New York University in 1961, which named her a Distinguished Alumna in 1996, the same year the American Library Association honored her with the Margaret A. Edwards Award for Lifetime Achievement. Other recognitions include the Library of Congress Living Legends Award and the 2004 National Book Foundation's Medal for Distinguished Contribution to American Letters.
She is the founder and trustee of The Kids Fund, a charitable and educational foundation. She serves on the boards of the Author's Guild; the Society of Children's Book Writers and Illustrators; the Key West Literary Seminar; and the National Coalition Against Censorship.
Judy is a longtime advocate of intellectual freedom. Finding herself at the center of an organized book banning campaign in the 1980's she began to reach out to other writers, as well as teachers and librarians, who were under fire. Since then, she has worked tirelessly with the National Coalition Against Censorship to protect the freedom to read. She is the editor of Places I Never Meant To Be, Original Stories by Censored Writers.
Judy has completed a series of four chapter books -- The Pain & the Great One -- illustrated by New Yorker cartoonist James Stevenson. She has co-written and produced a film adaptation of her book Tiger Eyes, and is currently writing a new novel.
Judy and her husband George Cooper live on islands up and down the east coast. They have three grown children and one grandchild.
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 1,266 reviews
May 20, 2012
It seems that Judy Blume catches a lot of flak these days. Yes, her books are dated, and perhaps even a little juvenile when compared to contemporary YA. Even so Tiger Eyes is a book which, I believe, still stands the test of time. This is the story of fifteen year old Davey, who has lived her entire life in Atlantic City with her parents and little brother. One night, Davey's father is shot to death during a robbery while working at his grocery store. In attempt to get their lives back together, Davey, her mother and brother temporarily move to Los Alamos, NM to spend a few weeks with relatives.
Judy Blume packs a lot into this novel. Of course there is death, dying and letting go. She also touches on family dynamics, depression, friendship, alcoholism, peer pressure, and of course a little bit of teen lurve. Not the super stable, super intense, solid relationship teen lurve which is featured in just about every YA these days. But the sweet, unsure, I-kinda-like-you-and-I-think-you-might-like-me-too tentative relationships which border on dating and friendship. What I love about Tiger Eyes is that there is no big revelation. Circumstances don't suddenly change and so much is left unresolved. Somehow, the open-endedness in this novel makes it more realistic. The one subject we do get closure on is the most important; Davey learns to deal with her grief. She also starts to understand a little bit about who she is and what she wants out of life. And isn't that the most important lesson in any YA novel?
People who haven’t read Judy Blume, or perhaps are afraid to revisit old favorites of hers (and discover they may not have stood the test of time) should give this one a try. It is a novel I wholeheartedly recommend to all lovers of realistic YA.
Judy Blume packs a lot into this novel. Of course there is death, dying and letting go. She also touches on family dynamics, depression, friendship, alcoholism, peer pressure, and of course a little bit of teen lurve. Not the super stable, super intense, solid relationship teen lurve which is featured in just about every YA these days. But the sweet, unsure, I-kinda-like-you-and-I-think-you-might-like-me-too tentative relationships which border on dating and friendship. What I love about Tiger Eyes is that there is no big revelation. Circumstances don't suddenly change and so much is left unresolved. Somehow, the open-endedness in this novel makes it more realistic. The one subject we do get closure on is the most important; Davey learns to deal with her grief. She also starts to understand a little bit about who she is and what she wants out of life. And isn't that the most important lesson in any YA novel?
People who haven’t read Judy Blume, or perhaps are afraid to revisit old favorites of hers (and discover they may not have stood the test of time) should give this one a try. It is a novel I wholeheartedly recommend to all lovers of realistic YA.
November 7, 2017
To say that this is a re-read seems somewhat insufficient. At the tender age of ten, I purchased this gem and proceeded to read it, perhaps five or six dozen times. It’s where I first heard of the Grateful Dead. I asked my mom what it meant, her reply of “How the hell should I know?” was not helpful. (Don’t worry, only eight years later, I totally figured it out).
To this day, some three decades later, I still recall entire passages from Tiger Eyes and all calico cats will forever be known to me as “Minka”.
You can imagine my delight and sheer excitement upon discovering my cherished, dog-eared copy sitting on a shelf. Sure, I have a to-read list longer than I am tall, but there was no way that book was going back on the shelf until I read it one more time. I had to know—was it really as good as I remember? And, even if it is still all that, does it stand the test of time? So much has changed in thirty years, can I recommend this book to Middle Grade and Young Adult readers today?
Yes and absolutely!
Davey’s story still resonates and yes, I still cried.
To this day, some three decades later, I still recall entire passages from Tiger Eyes and all calico cats will forever be known to me as “Minka”.
You can imagine my delight and sheer excitement upon discovering my cherished, dog-eared copy sitting on a shelf. Sure, I have a to-read list longer than I am tall, but there was no way that book was going back on the shelf until I read it one more time. I had to know—was it really as good as I remember? And, even if it is still all that, does it stand the test of time? So much has changed in thirty years, can I recommend this book to Middle Grade and Young Adult readers today?
Yes and absolutely!
Davey’s story still resonates and yes, I still cried.
March 8, 2023
3.5
Judy Blume does for teen girls what I think Stephen King has done for teen boys— these two authors just can get into the heads of teens and embody what it means to be on the cusp of adulthood.
I’m so many decades removed from being 15 going on 16 but this book easily brought those days back and the feelings— oy vey, the angst.
What Blume also gets is grief— on all levels. Alternately I felt for Davey (our teen main character), her Mom, and her brother. I even felt for her Aunt and Uncle who often bear the brunt of Davey’s anger but in a quiet manner provide her with parenting when her Mom cannot.
There’s growth here, puppy love, finding a way to fit in, and most importantly, facing circumstances that are unimaginable and life altering.
A storyline dealing with a new teen friend slightly misses the mark for me— it seems carelessly added on and the resolution is quite shallow. But it could be that this thread just didn’t age well considering today’s youth issues.
I’m glad I read it— but it is probably best read by a teen. And although it was highly readable, it was not my fave Blume book.
Judy Blume does for teen girls what I think Stephen King has done for teen boys— these two authors just can get into the heads of teens and embody what it means to be on the cusp of adulthood.
I’m so many decades removed from being 15 going on 16 but this book easily brought those days back and the feelings— oy vey, the angst.
What Blume also gets is grief— on all levels. Alternately I felt for Davey (our teen main character), her Mom, and her brother. I even felt for her Aunt and Uncle who often bear the brunt of Davey’s anger but in a quiet manner provide her with parenting when her Mom cannot.
There’s growth here, puppy love, finding a way to fit in, and most importantly, facing circumstances that are unimaginable and life altering.
A storyline dealing with a new teen friend slightly misses the mark for me— it seems carelessly added on and the resolution is quite shallow. But it could be that this thread just didn’t age well considering today’s youth issues.
I’m glad I read it— but it is probably best read by a teen. And although it was highly readable, it was not my fave Blume book.
September 10, 2020
I’m sure he will come back one day and find my letters, and when he does, he will understand. I feel certain that we will see each other again. It just won’t be today.
This was one of my favourite books of all time when I was younger, and it really left an imprint on me: I can trace pieces of myself (small, but there) to when I first discovered Tiger Eyes, twelve years and a lifetime ago.
Mainly I remember it for Wolf, the older Hispanic boy who becomes Davey's companion in the canyon, and whom she develops a major crush on. (Yes, Judy Blume is almost single-handedly responsible for my sexual awakening. That line about Davey and Wolf making love on sun-warmed rocks and raising fat babies?? I literally remember it word for word to this DAY.)
But I realize now that what really got me is this book's depiction of grief and losing your dad. I learned about loss and mourning in this book before I even had the language to describe what I was reading, what I was feeling. I was eleven and my heart hurt for reasons I couldn't articulate, and it's a feeling—a literary experience—that I've been chasing ever since.
May 18, 2017
1st time reading: 4 stars.
2nd time reading: rating to come
On hold @ pg 114. I spilled my ice cream shake on this and this is boring me. I'll continue this some other time.
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This is a reread because I was organizing my bookshelf and came across my old copy of this AND I READ THE WORD WOLF AND I JUST HAD TO REREAD IT OKAY? This was also my first Judy Blume book which I remember loving.
2nd time reading: rating to come
On hold @ pg 114. I spilled my ice cream shake on this and this is boring me. I'll continue this some other time.
---
This is a reread because I was organizing my bookshelf and came across my old copy of this AND I READ THE WORD WOLF AND I JUST HAD TO REREAD IT OKAY? This was also my first Judy Blume book which I remember loving.
October 6, 2018
Rating for this audiobook is a 4.5 rating. I read along on a print copy while the audio played in the background. It would be nice to hear more books by this narrator, Emma Galvin, as I like her voice and tone that she brought to this book.
I really enjoyed this book even though the subject matter can be pretty heavy at times. For most of the time I felt quite in tune with Davie, the main character, as her personality and mood are very similar to mine when I was going through a change around her age. Moving to a different place and not knowing how long you'll stay there is something I can definitely understand, and dealing with people trying to control your life when you aren't entirely sure what you want to do. Ms. Blume did a good job expressing these emotions without making it sound overly dramatic, which could be easily done since Davie is 15-16 years old.
There was a bit of a sad and random moment that I felt was unnecessary as it didn't really add anything to the plot. Davy has a friend named Jane who said that all Hispanic men want "to rape Anglo women" when they're on a shopping trip to Santa Fe, Arizona. I can genuinely say that it's sad but not surprising that racism exists. Still it was just at that moment and it didn't really change the friendship or how Jane thinks. Maybe that is the point but I still think it was unnecessary for the story. I love Wolf aka Martin Ortiz as he seems like a good person to be around. Quiet, no pressure, and a good personality make me want to be his friend like Davie was. There was a hint at mutual feelings but I'm glad Ms. Blume didn't go that route as it was nice to read about a boy/girl friendship without romance. Plus Wolf is 20 and Davie is a minor so I would prefer if he didn't go to jail because of misunderstanding. Plus he’s Mexican so that would have proven Jane and others like her right, and I personally couldn’t stand to see that happen. I wouldn't mind a sequel about a relationship in the future but doubt it will happen since this is a stand alone and the story works the way it is.
I really enjoyed this book even though the subject matter can be pretty heavy at times. For most of the time I felt quite in tune with Davie, the main character, as her personality and mood are very similar to mine when I was going through a change around her age. Moving to a different place and not knowing how long you'll stay there is something I can definitely understand, and dealing with people trying to control your life when you aren't entirely sure what you want to do. Ms. Blume did a good job expressing these emotions without making it sound overly dramatic, which could be easily done since Davie is 15-16 years old.
There was a bit of a sad and random moment that I felt was unnecessary as it didn't really add anything to the plot. Davy has a friend named Jane who said that all Hispanic men want "to rape Anglo women" when they're on a shopping trip to Santa Fe, Arizona. I can genuinely say that it's sad but not surprising that racism exists. Still it was just at that moment and it didn't really change the friendship or how Jane thinks. Maybe that is the point but I still think it was unnecessary for the story. I love Wolf aka Martin Ortiz as he seems like a good person to be around. Quiet, no pressure, and a good personality make me want to be his friend like Davie was. There was a hint at mutual feelings but I'm glad Ms. Blume didn't go that route as it was nice to read about a boy/girl friendship without romance. Plus Wolf is 20 and Davie is a minor so I would prefer if he didn't go to jail because of misunderstanding. Plus he’s Mexican so that would have proven Jane and others like her right, and I personally couldn’t stand to see that happen. I wouldn't mind a sequel about a relationship in the future but doubt it will happen since this is a stand alone and the story works the way it is.
October 25, 2012
I have never read a Judy Blume book before, and I felt vaguely embarrassed when I checked this out from the library. There's no nostalgic link for me to any of Blume's books, so I'll admit I was worried about how I would like this book.
But all you Blume-hards (what?) can relax about the three star rating up there, because when I say I "liked" this book I really do mean it. The thing is, I became so invested in some of the plotlines that when they failed to reach a satisfying conclusion I felt like I had been cheated. There were a few conversations that I felt really needed to be had in order for the story to be fully developed emotionally, but no dice.
The emotions Blume does choose to tackle, however, are done very well. The protagonist, Davey, is reeling from the murder of her father and its effects on her family. The three left over find it impossible to deal with their grief at home, so end up relocating to New Mexico to stay with an aunt and uncle. The healing process that Davey, her mother, and her younger brother begin is realistic and worth reading.
I was engaged right away by the friendship she built with the enigmatic Wolf, and while I wish more had come of that, I think the time she spent with him was just right. It was enraging at times to read about her uncle Walter, who I think I was supposed to feel sympathetic toward by the end-- no thank you. The relationship between Davey and her mother was especially well done, and I think Blume's simple writing style brought more to the table than I first anticipated. She tells the story honestly, with an unflinching steadfastness to what feels true. I wanted to read what felt right, which is a bit different, so even though this book was effective and quietly powerful, it didn't satisfy me fully as a reader.
But all you Blume-hards (what?) can relax about the three star rating up there, because when I say I "liked" this book I really do mean it. The thing is, I became so invested in some of the plotlines that when they failed to reach a satisfying conclusion I felt like I had been cheated. There were a few conversations that I felt really needed to be had in order for the story to be fully developed emotionally, but no dice.
The emotions Blume does choose to tackle, however, are done very well. The protagonist, Davey, is reeling from the murder of her father and its effects on her family. The three left over find it impossible to deal with their grief at home, so end up relocating to New Mexico to stay with an aunt and uncle. The healing process that Davey, her mother, and her younger brother begin is realistic and worth reading.
I was engaged right away by the friendship she built with the enigmatic Wolf, and while I wish more had come of that, I think the time she spent with him was just right. It was enraging at times to read about her uncle Walter, who I think I was supposed to feel sympathetic toward by the end-- no thank you. The relationship between Davey and her mother was especially well done, and I think Blume's simple writing style brought more to the table than I first anticipated. She tells the story honestly, with an unflinching steadfastness to what feels true. I wanted to read what felt right, which is a bit different, so even though this book was effective and quietly powerful, it didn't satisfy me fully as a reader.
October 31, 2008
The Book I read was Tiger Eyes by Judy Blume. This book is an old favorite of mine, that I decided to re-read. I first read this book when I was about eleven years old, and decided to re-read it because I saw it in my nightstand table, when I was looking for a book I owed the school. The book takes place in New Jersey, where the main character fifteen year old Davey Wexler's father is murdered in Atlantic City, in a store that he works in. After her father is murdered Davey deals with the death of her father and the death of ehr family. Though the rest of ehr family is still physically intact, mentally they becaome unstable. Davey's mother starts becoming an alcoholic to deal with her husband's passing, and Davey and her family is forced to move to New Mexico inorder to coap with the ordeal.
The book is a very good book because it is realistic. The troubles that come with the drastic loss of her father, reflects to loss of self for Davey. The book also shows the side of a mother left with two children and no husband, and what she may do to cope with her stress. Davey's mother becomes an alcoholic, while Davey and her younger brother deal with the loss of their father, their home, and in someways their mother. Others should read it because of its reality, how it demonstrates that everything you have can be taken away from you, and in some cases you may have to accept some of the things life throws at you.
The type of person that would enjoy this book is probably the type of person who enjoys Judy Blume books. Most of her books have the theme of loss and gain. The reader who enjoys seeing the internal transformation of the main character over a period of time, that is not demonstrated in superficial or unrealistic manner will enjoy this book. The story is intriguing, and it keeps the reader interested. The conflict in the story is very realistic, and someone who may have lost a loved one can enjoy this book as well, because it would be something they can relate to.
The book is a very good book because it is realistic. The troubles that come with the drastic loss of her father, reflects to loss of self for Davey. The book also shows the side of a mother left with two children and no husband, and what she may do to cope with her stress. Davey's mother becomes an alcoholic, while Davey and her younger brother deal with the loss of their father, their home, and in someways their mother. Others should read it because of its reality, how it demonstrates that everything you have can be taken away from you, and in some cases you may have to accept some of the things life throws at you.
The type of person that would enjoy this book is probably the type of person who enjoys Judy Blume books. Most of her books have the theme of loss and gain. The reader who enjoys seeing the internal transformation of the main character over a period of time, that is not demonstrated in superficial or unrealistic manner will enjoy this book. The story is intriguing, and it keeps the reader interested. The conflict in the story is very realistic, and someone who may have lost a loved one can enjoy this book as well, because it would be something they can relate to.
October 10, 2017
I'm sure I read this as a kid, but I don't remember it at all. Maybe my friends older sister never had Tiger Eyes?
Judy Blume just gets me. I myself have just suffered a loss and I knew i needed something to bring me a bit of light. This book was absolutely everything I needed right now. At the end I cried, put it down and I felt a bit better. Thank you for the therapy Judy xx
Judy Blume just gets me. I myself have just suffered a loss and I knew i needed something to bring me a bit of light. This book was absolutely everything I needed right now. At the end I cried, put it down and I felt a bit better. Thank you for the therapy Judy xx
June 18, 2020
Tiger Eyes turned out to be the best Judy Blume book I've ever read. I finished it and felt better. Not happy, no, but sad and better. I wanted this book to change something in my life. I know it depends on my actions and I need to have some courage... At least it made me think about it.
June 16, 2019
“Each of us must confront our own fears, must come face to face with them. How we handle our fears will determine where we go with the rest of our lives. To experience adventure or to be limited by the fear of it.”I liked the last half more than the first, but, overall, it was an engaging story about both coming of age and overcoming grief.
It was very realistic the way it was handled, though I did find her family infuriating at times: her mother completely vacated and left her kids to be raised by her overbearing sister and her control-freak of a husband while she dealt with what had happened. On one hand, parents are humans with feeling and they go through traumas like everybody else, on the other hand, kids don't ask to be born into this world and being a parent is a 24/7 job so you can't just tune out like that and leave your children at the mercy of people who were a little better than strangers just a while back. I appreciated how it was all concluded though.
January 13, 2009
Judy Blume actually signed this much-loved dog-eared paperback of mine and it is one of my most prized possessions. Sadly, I have tried giving it to tons of my 8th grade girls and they just aren't feeling it. But now that Twilight has made chastity hot, I may try it again!
April 30, 2015
***SPOILER ALERT***
It's crazy how in just a second, your life can change in an instant. You might even experience pain in this just one second. Well, the pain in this book is dealing with the loss of a family member. It's extremely hard to just think, "that person isn't here anymore." In this realistic fiction book, you will see how Davey continues to live her life, although it isn't easy.I enjoyed reading this book, every bit of it. Can you really fully move on from something that happened? I recommend this book to anyone who feels that there isn't a brighter side to life, or to anyone who needs a bit of motivation.
The setting of my book takes place at first in Atlantic City, New Jersey, while the majority of the book takes place in Los Alamos, New Mexico. 15 year old Davey had just lost her father. Unfortunately her father was shot while working at their store. Davey's mother thinks it's a good idea to move to New Mexico with their aunt and uncle to try and recover from this tragic experience. While being there at first, Davey isn't so satisfied with staying there, until one day she goes for a bike ride and just thinks about her father. She comes to a canyon and remembers all the stories Bitsy (their aunt) had told her about the many accidents that have happened. Since Davey was thinking about her dad, she went to the bottom of the canyon, knowing the many risks that can happen and simply called out "daddy!" A few minutes later a boy shows up. The boy helped her climb back up, he calls himself Wolf and Davey tells him to call her Tiger. Aside from meeting him, many things start occurring in the house. For instance, their mom is constantly getting headaches and simply feels lost without her husband. Davey tries the best she can to help out around the house and with her brother, Jason. It seems as if wolf is the only one who can truly understand her, who could see the sadness in her eyes. He knows those eyes don't shine as bright as they used to. Little by little, with Wolf's help, Davey soon realizes she needs to get on with her life, but will she be able to move on? Will the pain go away? Would they be able to get a new fresh start at Atlantic City again? I'd say the type of conflict is person vs self because in the end, it'll be their choice to whether move on or not, and to believe that there's a lot ahead of them.
I really loved some of the quotes they had in this book. For example one is, "You have sad eyes Tiger." he says. "a bright smile, but sad eyes."
He waits for me to say something, I don't.
"You want to talk about it?" He asks.
"No, maybe someday." I tell him. "Maybe someday I'll tell you about it, but not today." The reason being why this quote stood out to me is because sometimes we simply don't know why we're feeling down. I mean, there might be a ton of reasons why we are, but you don't really know which reason it is. In this case, she misses her father but doesn't want to say, because all it will do is bring back memories, and well, some memories cause us pain and or happiness. Maybe they cause us pain because we know those were one of the best memories that won't occur again. Another quote that I liked was, "Because some changes happen deep down inside of you. And the truth is, only you know about them. Maybe that's the way it's supposed to be." This is describing that the events or changes that happen to you, should only be known by you. Sometimes we prefer it that way, it's better that way because nobody can judge you or say something. I honestly never really thought about that until I read this book, and looking back it's understandable. She changed. Completely. And maybe she only wants herself to know because it makes her feel good and there's absolutely nothing wrong with that.
This book was very well written in my opinion. It's incredible how even with so much going on, she was able to move on and to me that shows bravery. Because it hurts when you lose something or someone you love, she was able to keep going like the warrior she is.
I loved how Davey and Wolf connected. Why? Well, they both had lost someone special. Their dad's. I thought that was appropriate because the reason why Wolf understood the pain Davey was going through, is because he was on the edge of losing his father. It was his time. Davey wasn't ready yet, she didn't see it coming because it'll all came in the blink of an eye. You could honestly feel their emotions. Their pain. Whether it's that you lost someone, know someone who did, or anything for that matter. I definitely understood she tough times she was going through. I mean the fact that she lost her father, had to move to Mexico, and plus go to school there and make new friends that wouldn't last because they'd return to their real home. I've lost someone that I loved so much. That person was helpful and was always there for me when I needed someone. I'm thankful that person got to be a part of my life, still is, and always will be. She taught me that there will be times when you feel like you're alone and it seems as if nobody is there, but truth is, a whole bunch of people care. The best escape she suggested was music. Music is a way for me to just kind of relax and it somehow reminds me of her. She loved music, the majority of the time she would just listen to music all day, and I can see why now.
I give this book a 5 starts because it's such a very detailed and well written book, filled with amazing quotes and a great message behind it. The message to me that I received was, no matter what you're going through, you're going to overcome it. Just like the saying "if you want the rainbow, you have to deal with the rain." Meaning, if you want positive outcomes, you have to deal with obstacles. It all depends on how you see it. I recommend this to people who need a spark of motivation or to anyone really, it's an incredible book.
It's crazy how in just a second, your life can change in an instant. You might even experience pain in this just one second. Well, the pain in this book is dealing with the loss of a family member. It's extremely hard to just think, "that person isn't here anymore." In this realistic fiction book, you will see how Davey continues to live her life, although it isn't easy.I enjoyed reading this book, every bit of it. Can you really fully move on from something that happened? I recommend this book to anyone who feels that there isn't a brighter side to life, or to anyone who needs a bit of motivation.
The setting of my book takes place at first in Atlantic City, New Jersey, while the majority of the book takes place in Los Alamos, New Mexico. 15 year old Davey had just lost her father. Unfortunately her father was shot while working at their store. Davey's mother thinks it's a good idea to move to New Mexico with their aunt and uncle to try and recover from this tragic experience. While being there at first, Davey isn't so satisfied with staying there, until one day she goes for a bike ride and just thinks about her father. She comes to a canyon and remembers all the stories Bitsy (their aunt) had told her about the many accidents that have happened. Since Davey was thinking about her dad, she went to the bottom of the canyon, knowing the many risks that can happen and simply called out "daddy!" A few minutes later a boy shows up. The boy helped her climb back up, he calls himself Wolf and Davey tells him to call her Tiger. Aside from meeting him, many things start occurring in the house. For instance, their mom is constantly getting headaches and simply feels lost without her husband. Davey tries the best she can to help out around the house and with her brother, Jason. It seems as if wolf is the only one who can truly understand her, who could see the sadness in her eyes. He knows those eyes don't shine as bright as they used to. Little by little, with Wolf's help, Davey soon realizes she needs to get on with her life, but will she be able to move on? Will the pain go away? Would they be able to get a new fresh start at Atlantic City again? I'd say the type of conflict is person vs self because in the end, it'll be their choice to whether move on or not, and to believe that there's a lot ahead of them.
I really loved some of the quotes they had in this book. For example one is, "You have sad eyes Tiger." he says. "a bright smile, but sad eyes."
He waits for me to say something, I don't.
"You want to talk about it?" He asks.
"No, maybe someday." I tell him. "Maybe someday I'll tell you about it, but not today." The reason being why this quote stood out to me is because sometimes we simply don't know why we're feeling down. I mean, there might be a ton of reasons why we are, but you don't really know which reason it is. In this case, she misses her father but doesn't want to say, because all it will do is bring back memories, and well, some memories cause us pain and or happiness. Maybe they cause us pain because we know those were one of the best memories that won't occur again. Another quote that I liked was, "Because some changes happen deep down inside of you. And the truth is, only you know about them. Maybe that's the way it's supposed to be." This is describing that the events or changes that happen to you, should only be known by you. Sometimes we prefer it that way, it's better that way because nobody can judge you or say something. I honestly never really thought about that until I read this book, and looking back it's understandable. She changed. Completely. And maybe she only wants herself to know because it makes her feel good and there's absolutely nothing wrong with that.
This book was very well written in my opinion. It's incredible how even with so much going on, she was able to move on and to me that shows bravery. Because it hurts when you lose something or someone you love, she was able to keep going like the warrior she is.
I loved how Davey and Wolf connected. Why? Well, they both had lost someone special. Their dad's. I thought that was appropriate because the reason why Wolf understood the pain Davey was going through, is because he was on the edge of losing his father. It was his time. Davey wasn't ready yet, she didn't see it coming because it'll all came in the blink of an eye. You could honestly feel their emotions. Their pain. Whether it's that you lost someone, know someone who did, or anything for that matter. I definitely understood she tough times she was going through. I mean the fact that she lost her father, had to move to Mexico, and plus go to school there and make new friends that wouldn't last because they'd return to their real home. I've lost someone that I loved so much. That person was helpful and was always there for me when I needed someone. I'm thankful that person got to be a part of my life, still is, and always will be. She taught me that there will be times when you feel like you're alone and it seems as if nobody is there, but truth is, a whole bunch of people care. The best escape she suggested was music. Music is a way for me to just kind of relax and it somehow reminds me of her. She loved music, the majority of the time she would just listen to music all day, and I can see why now.
I give this book a 5 starts because it's such a very detailed and well written book, filled with amazing quotes and a great message behind it. The message to me that I received was, no matter what you're going through, you're going to overcome it. Just like the saying "if you want the rainbow, you have to deal with the rain." Meaning, if you want positive outcomes, you have to deal with obstacles. It all depends on how you see it. I recommend this to people who need a spark of motivation or to anyone really, it's an incredible book.
September 22, 2018
Rating for this audiobook is a 4.5 rating. I read along on a print copy while the audio played in the background. It would be nice to hear more books by this narrator, Emma Galvin, as I like her voice and tone that she brought to this book.
I really enjoyed this book even though the subject matter can be pretty heavy at times. For most of the time I felt quite in tune with Davie, the main character, as her personality and mood are very similar to mine when I was going through a change around her age. Moving to a different place and not knowing how long you'll stay there is something I can definitely understand, and dealing with people trying to control your life when you aren't entirely sure what you want to do. Ms. Blume did a good job expressing these emotions without making it sound overly dramatic, which could be easily done since Davie is 15-16 years old.
There was a bit of a sad and random moment that I felt was unnecessary as it didn't really add anything to the plot. Davy has a friend named Jane who said that all Hispanic men want "to rape Anglo women" when they're on a shopping trip to Santa Fe. I can genuinely say that it's sad but not surprising that racism exists. Still it was just at that moment and it didn't really change the friendship or how Jane thinks. Maybe that is the point but I still think it was unnecessary for the story. I love Wolf aka Martin Ortiz as he seems like a good person to be around. Quiet, no pressure, and a good personality make me want to be his friend like Davie was. There was a hint at mutual feelings but I'm glad Ms. Blume didn't go that route as it was nice to read about a boy/girl friendship without romance. Plus Wolf is 20 and Davie is a minor so I would prefer if he didn't go to jail because of misunderstanding. I wouldn't mind a sequel about a relationship in the future but doubt it will happen since this is a stand alone and the story works the way it is.
I really enjoyed this book even though the subject matter can be pretty heavy at times. For most of the time I felt quite in tune with Davie, the main character, as her personality and mood are very similar to mine when I was going through a change around her age. Moving to a different place and not knowing how long you'll stay there is something I can definitely understand, and dealing with people trying to control your life when you aren't entirely sure what you want to do. Ms. Blume did a good job expressing these emotions without making it sound overly dramatic, which could be easily done since Davie is 15-16 years old.
There was a bit of a sad and random moment that I felt was unnecessary as it didn't really add anything to the plot. Davy has a friend named Jane who said that all Hispanic men want "to rape Anglo women" when they're on a shopping trip to Santa Fe. I can genuinely say that it's sad but not surprising that racism exists. Still it was just at that moment and it didn't really change the friendship or how Jane thinks. Maybe that is the point but I still think it was unnecessary for the story. I love Wolf aka Martin Ortiz as he seems like a good person to be around. Quiet, no pressure, and a good personality make me want to be his friend like Davie was. There was a hint at mutual feelings but I'm glad Ms. Blume didn't go that route as it was nice to read about a boy/girl friendship without romance. Plus Wolf is 20 and Davie is a minor so I would prefer if he didn't go to jail because of misunderstanding. I wouldn't mind a sequel about a relationship in the future but doubt it will happen since this is a stand alone and the story works the way it is.
December 5, 2008
I read this book when I was in elementary school. Which now that I think about it, may have been too young. But I have always fancied myself an advanced reader, especially when I was younger. Let's start at the beginning, with the book's cover. When I read this, I used to stare at the cover between readings. I know there were different covers but this is the one I read over and over - it's a haunting picture. As marketing folks know, packaging can make or break a product and I am certain the same can be said for book jackets.
Anyway - on to the story. It's about a young girl that sees her father murdered (or found him murdered - it's been since the 80's that I last read this...)and how she deals with that trauma, growing up, etc.
Typical Judy Blume teenage angst combined with the the traumatic loss of a parent. If you haven't read it and even if you aren't a teenager - the story captures feelings that we have all had at some point I highly recommend it.
Anyway - on to the story. It's about a young girl that sees her father murdered (or found him murdered - it's been since the 80's that I last read this...)and how she deals with that trauma, growing up, etc.
Typical Judy Blume teenage angst combined with the the traumatic loss of a parent. If you haven't read it and even if you aren't a teenager - the story captures feelings that we have all had at some point I highly recommend it.
April 17, 2020
This book really surprised me. It's forty years old and I wasn't sure how relevant it would be now, but the themes of grief and family still resonate. I think the biggest difference is how teenagers seem to grow up faster now with social media and access to information. Davey is only fifteen, but it's a very different fifteen compared to now. I really felt for her, not only was her dad murdered in front of her, but her mom uproots them across the country and checks out. Her aunt and uncle are racist and immediately take over parenting. When her uncle tells Davey her parents wasted their lives and then slaps her, I wanted to jump into the book to defend her. Her mom also wasn't a good parent for most of the story, she was too caught up in her grief to talk to her daughter or get her help. She just let Davey drown.
This really impacted me and I got very attached to Davey. I'm glad her friendship with Wolf never moved beyond that, he's way too old for her at this point. He just helped her deal with her grief and that was sweet. The ending is hopeful and I found this to be a great read.
This really impacted me and I got very attached to Davey. I'm glad her friendship with Wolf never moved beyond that, he's way too old for her at this point. He just helped her deal with her grief and that was sweet. The ending is hopeful and I found this to be a great read.
December 17, 2012
I'm writing this just days after some wretched little scumbag murdered 20 schoolchildren in Connecticut, and that tragedy gives added dimension to this book: Davey, a 15-year-old white girl in Atlantic City, New Jersey, has to face something no child should have to deal with: the murder of her father. The situation could be another maudlin weeper, but in the hands of Judy Blume the story is concise and honest. Davey and her family go to Los Alamos, New Mexico, for recovery from the trauma.
Davey never dwells in self-pity. It's refreshing to watch Davey try to cope with her feelings while adjusting to the somewhat weird (to her) cultural landscape of New Mexico, which Blume captures nicely. Davey attends the local high school and meets a nice conventional white boy named Reuben. Davey hikes in a wild canyon and meets an unconventional Hispanic boy named Wolf. Wolf is attracted to Davey's "tiger eyes," as he calls them. Will there be romance?
Blume, by the way, is great at mixing culture and race into the story with a naturalness that seems entirely unforced. She resists her usual urge to teach Important Life Lessons and lets the story unfold briskly, smoothly. We like Davey because, as Wolf recognizes, she has a tiger spirit: a strength, a grace, a clear eye.
Davey is a splendid character, a middle-class girl with whom I can easily identify (and I'm a 65-year-old male).
This is Judy Blume in full bloom. Even the minor characters are deftly drawn and step off the page. The author keeps the focus on Davey, where another writer might be tempted to follow what could be fascinating subplots such as Davey's high school friend, Jane, who has a drinking problem. While I'd love to know more about Jane — there are hints of deep secrets driving her to drink — and I'd love to read more about Wolf, who becomes somewhat more conventional while still intriguingly different — Blume exercises ruthless economy and sticks with Davey. Ultimately, it's the right choice. Always leave the reader wanting more. And trust the reader to connect the dots, of which there are plenty. Reflecting on the story after I finished reading, I could see the hints of where Jane and Wolf were likely to go.
Here is the senseless gun violence of the USA shattering another loving family. The ending isn't exactly happy (how could it be?), but Davey keeps growing, and the family starts healing. How she grows, and how they try to heal, is great reading.
Davey never dwells in self-pity. It's refreshing to watch Davey try to cope with her feelings while adjusting to the somewhat weird (to her) cultural landscape of New Mexico, which Blume captures nicely. Davey attends the local high school and meets a nice conventional white boy named Reuben. Davey hikes in a wild canyon and meets an unconventional Hispanic boy named Wolf. Wolf is attracted to Davey's "tiger eyes," as he calls them. Will there be romance?
Blume, by the way, is great at mixing culture and race into the story with a naturalness that seems entirely unforced. She resists her usual urge to teach Important Life Lessons and lets the story unfold briskly, smoothly. We like Davey because, as Wolf recognizes, she has a tiger spirit: a strength, a grace, a clear eye.
Davey is a splendid character, a middle-class girl with whom I can easily identify (and I'm a 65-year-old male).
This is Judy Blume in full bloom. Even the minor characters are deftly drawn and step off the page. The author keeps the focus on Davey, where another writer might be tempted to follow what could be fascinating subplots such as Davey's high school friend, Jane, who has a drinking problem. While I'd love to know more about Jane — there are hints of deep secrets driving her to drink — and I'd love to read more about Wolf, who becomes somewhat more conventional while still intriguingly different — Blume exercises ruthless economy and sticks with Davey. Ultimately, it's the right choice. Always leave the reader wanting more. And trust the reader to connect the dots, of which there are plenty. Reflecting on the story after I finished reading, I could see the hints of where Jane and Wolf were likely to go.
Here is the senseless gun violence of the USA shattering another loving family. The ending isn't exactly happy (how could it be?), but Davey keeps growing, and the family starts healing. How she grows, and how they try to heal, is great reading.
December 29, 2020
I was fairly obsessed with both Judy Blume and Paula Danziger. They wrote about real teenage issues and I read and reread all of their books numerous times. This was no exception. I have not read it in close to four decades, so I was very interested to see how I would feel about it at my age. I was thrilled to find that Blume had not lost her “bloom” so to speak. Corny much? O_o
This story is about loss and grief, but in true Judy Blume style so much more is addressed. Davey is a 15 year old girl who loses her father in a convenience store shooting. The convenience store is located in Atlantic City and owned by her parents. Her mother, in an effort to escape the grief runs across the country to her sister and brother in law who live in Los Alamitos.
Davey is having a tough time. Anyone would who lost a parent so violently and suddenly, not to mention the stress of leaving everything familiar. When the stay is extended, Davey and her younger brother Jason are enrolled in school in Los Alamitos. As part of her healing and grieving process Davey takes up hiking, becomes a candy striper, is in the school musical and makes a few friends. Unfortunately, her closest friend has problems of her own.
There are issues all over the place. The death of Davey’s father is the catalyst for the story, but there is so much more going on. Just like in real life. Grief, depression, alcoholism, heavy-handed parenting by people who are not actually parents, crushes, and so, so much more. I really enjoyed the story this time around. There were a few things that surprised me, but when I thought about when it was actually written, I was no longer surprised.
Judy Blume still holds (most of) the appeal she had when I was young.
This story is about loss and grief, but in true Judy Blume style so much more is addressed. Davey is a 15 year old girl who loses her father in a convenience store shooting. The convenience store is located in Atlantic City and owned by her parents. Her mother, in an effort to escape the grief runs across the country to her sister and brother in law who live in Los Alamitos.
Davey is having a tough time. Anyone would who lost a parent so violently and suddenly, not to mention the stress of leaving everything familiar. When the stay is extended, Davey and her younger brother Jason are enrolled in school in Los Alamitos. As part of her healing and grieving process Davey takes up hiking, becomes a candy striper, is in the school musical and makes a few friends. Unfortunately, her closest friend has problems of her own.
There are issues all over the place. The death of Davey’s father is the catalyst for the story, but there is so much more going on. Just like in real life. Grief, depression, alcoholism, heavy-handed parenting by people who are not actually parents, crushes, and so, so much more. I really enjoyed the story this time around. There were a few things that surprised me, but when I thought about when it was actually written, I was no longer surprised.
Judy Blume still holds (most of) the appeal she had when I was young.
February 12, 2015
I loved this book as a preteen and read it over and over again.
Reading 15+ years later and I still love it.
I have more compassion for the mother in the books this time around I suppose.
The setting of Los Alamos sounds like absolute hell o me today. Though I do recall thinking that maybe being in a boring place wouldn't be so bad many years ago.
Regardless of age this is an excellent teen book.
Just be sure to explain to a teen of today what a card catalog is; as this book is long before the Internet was around.
Reading 15+ years later and I still love it.
I have more compassion for the mother in the books this time around I suppose.
The setting of Los Alamos sounds like absolute hell o me today. Though I do recall thinking that maybe being in a boring place wouldn't be so bad many years ago.
Regardless of age this is an excellent teen book.
Just be sure to explain to a teen of today what a card catalog is; as this book is long before the Internet was around.
June 16, 2013
Timeless story. A teen dealing with love and loss told in a very authentic voice. The secondary characters were equally as authentic. A very relatable story, regardless of age.
September 16, 2022
One of Judy Blume's books for "older" teens, I had never read this one before. I loved it! I can see why many say this is her best book.
January 24, 2015
"You have sad eyes, Tiger," he says. "A bright smile but sad eyes."
This was a very very well done story. Loss of a parent shouldn't be easy for any family. It should be messy and angry, full of secrets and tantrums and a lot of days spent NOT leaving your bed. I thought that was the best part of this book - that Davey was never perfect and she never tried to be. She didn't go through stages and she didn't handle things right.
Shuffled off to live in a strange area, Davey tries to find a new world without her dad.
I'm so sad that this is being banned, even so many years later. I don't think the language, drinking (not by Davey) or depression are anything we should dodge or avoid in teen books. It doesn't glorify it or make it seem "cool" (and I could name NUMEROUS other YA books that do!). This is a great cautionary tale but also a REAL story, that shows we are all human.
My only regret in this book But my regret/sad part are just too true to life that I can't fault the book for it.
This was a very very well done story. Loss of a parent shouldn't be easy for any family. It should be messy and angry, full of secrets and tantrums and a lot of days spent NOT leaving your bed. I thought that was the best part of this book - that Davey was never perfect and she never tried to be. She didn't go through stages and she didn't handle things right.
Shuffled off to live in a strange area, Davey tries to find a new world without her dad.
I'm so sad that this is being banned, even so many years later. I don't think the language, drinking (not by Davey) or depression are anything we should dodge or avoid in teen books. It doesn't glorify it or make it seem "cool" (and I could name NUMEROUS other YA books that do!). This is a great cautionary tale but also a REAL story, that shows we are all human.
My only regret in this book But my regret/sad part are just too true to life that I can't fault the book for it.
February 18, 2014
I read this book when I was 13 and enjoyed the book. It was about this girl named Davey who had to move with her little brother and mom to move in with their aunt and uncle in New Mexico after her father was killed in a robbery at his store. She then meets this mysterious guy named Wolf who knows how she is feeling and tries to help her move on. I recommend this to all fans of YA. There is even a movie of this book out on DVD and it was pretty good as well but be sure to read the book first before you watch the film.
April 21, 2023
This is still a magnificent book. I read it so many times when I was younger; I found Davey’s story so compelling. After hearing Judy Blume talk about it in the new documentary, I wanted to read it again. It really is a fantastic story about grief—especially how grief manifests throughout a family.
February 22, 2022
"This town suffers from a chronic case of the blahs." (p. 153)
After the sudden, violent death of her father, fifteen-year-old Davey and her family move from to Los Alamos, New Mexico to be cared for by Aunt Bitsy and Uncle Walter. As the months pass by, Davey grows through her grief.
I think the reason I liked this book so much was that I, like Davey, was once a fifteen-year-old girl living in Los Alamos, New Mexico (albeit in the mid-1990s rather than the 1980s). Judy Blume nails the setting; I could picture Davey's surroundings perfectly because they'd been so similar to my own. Aunt Bitsy's comments about how great the schools are and how safe the town is were the same kinds of comments I'd heard all the time growing up, and teens hanging out at the pedestrian overpass near Diamond Drive or at the local Pizza Hut all seemed about right. I appreciated that the themes of race and the ethics of nuclear weapons were both included. For most readers, this is a book about grief -- but for me, it was a tribute to my adolescence in the Atomic City.
Clean readers: I seem to remember adults in my life discouraging Judy Blume's books (except for the Fudge ones), and it's probably because there's lots of making out in this book, along with alcohol abuse and, obviously, the violence surrounding the dad's murder. Still, I don't think it's any more shocking than today's YA novels.
After the sudden, violent death of her father, fifteen-year-old Davey and her family move from to Los Alamos, New Mexico to be cared for by Aunt Bitsy and Uncle Walter. As the months pass by, Davey grows through her grief.
I think the reason I liked this book so much was that I, like Davey, was once a fifteen-year-old girl living in Los Alamos, New Mexico (albeit in the mid-1990s rather than the 1980s). Judy Blume nails the setting; I could picture Davey's surroundings perfectly because they'd been so similar to my own. Aunt Bitsy's comments about how great the schools are and how safe the town is were the same kinds of comments I'd heard all the time growing up, and teens hanging out at the pedestrian overpass near Diamond Drive or at the local Pizza Hut all seemed about right. I appreciated that the themes of race and the ethics of nuclear weapons were both included. For most readers, this is a book about grief -- but for me, it was a tribute to my adolescence in the Atomic City.
Clean readers: I seem to remember adults in my life discouraging Judy Blume's books (except for the Fudge ones), and it's probably because there's lots of making out in this book, along with alcohol abuse and, obviously, the violence surrounding the dad's murder. Still, I don't think it's any more shocking than today's YA novels.
April 3, 2018
I was a massive fan of Judy Blume as a teenager, at the time there weren't the huge range of YA books that we have now and she was one of the few writers that I could turn to when I wanted to read a book about teenagers with real problems, ones that I could relate to. Recently Judy Blume visited the UK and I got the chance to attend an event with her and I can't tell you how excited I was to meet the author who wrote some of my favourite childhood books. It had been a long time since I'd read any of her work though so I decided to re-read a couple of her books before the event.
The first one I re-read was Forever and while I did still really enjoy it I have to admit in a lot of ways it was quite dated and I'm not sure if teens today would love it as much as I did when I was younger. Tiger Eyes has a different feel to it, although it lacks modern conveniences such as mobile phones and the internet (no those things really didn't exist when I was a child and doesn't that make me feel old LOL), it didn't feel quite so out of touch as Forever did. I'm not quite sure why that is but it doesn't really matter, it just meant that I enjoyed Tiger Eyes as much as I always used to.
Davey is just fifteen years old when her father is murdered during a robbery of their family store. She is completely devastated by his loss and since her mother has completely fallen apart she is feeling lost and alone. Her aunt and uncle offer to take the whole family in so that they can get away from the memories of what happened and Davey finds her life completely uprooted. She's living across the country away from all of her friends and forced to attend a new school where everyone has grown up together and she is the outsider. Her mother and young brother, Jason, seem to be thriving under the care of her aunt and uncle but she is suffocating with their strict rules and more lonely than she's ever been in her life. Can Davey find a way to put the pieces back together and be happy again?
Tiger Eyes is a coming of age story but most of all it's a story of loss and grief, it's about coping with the aftermath of something horrific and realising that life does go on even when you really don't want it to. It's about losing someone you love but it's also about realising how important the people left behind are to you, it's about family bonds and making new friends. There are just so many lessons to be learnt from this book and Davey's story is a heartfelt and emotional one. I grieved with her and I felt her loneliness but I also smiled when she started to move forward in her life and I enjoyed seeing her family learn how to lean on each other in their grief. Although there is a hint of romance it is by no means the main focus of the story but that doesn't matter because this book is so much more.
Whether you're an old Judy Blume fan, like me, looking to recapture childhood memories or someone who has never read one of her books before I would definitely recommend giving Tiger Eyes a try. It's a beautiful story and one that I'm sure will still be relevant in another 30 years.
The first one I re-read was Forever and while I did still really enjoy it I have to admit in a lot of ways it was quite dated and I'm not sure if teens today would love it as much as I did when I was younger. Tiger Eyes has a different feel to it, although it lacks modern conveniences such as mobile phones and the internet (no those things really didn't exist when I was a child and doesn't that make me feel old LOL), it didn't feel quite so out of touch as Forever did. I'm not quite sure why that is but it doesn't really matter, it just meant that I enjoyed Tiger Eyes as much as I always used to.
Davey is just fifteen years old when her father is murdered during a robbery of their family store. She is completely devastated by his loss and since her mother has completely fallen apart she is feeling lost and alone. Her aunt and uncle offer to take the whole family in so that they can get away from the memories of what happened and Davey finds her life completely uprooted. She's living across the country away from all of her friends and forced to attend a new school where everyone has grown up together and she is the outsider. Her mother and young brother, Jason, seem to be thriving under the care of her aunt and uncle but she is suffocating with their strict rules and more lonely than she's ever been in her life. Can Davey find a way to put the pieces back together and be happy again?
Tiger Eyes is a coming of age story but most of all it's a story of loss and grief, it's about coping with the aftermath of something horrific and realising that life does go on even when you really don't want it to. It's about losing someone you love but it's also about realising how important the people left behind are to you, it's about family bonds and making new friends. There are just so many lessons to be learnt from this book and Davey's story is a heartfelt and emotional one. I grieved with her and I felt her loneliness but I also smiled when she started to move forward in her life and I enjoyed seeing her family learn how to lean on each other in their grief. Although there is a hint of romance it is by no means the main focus of the story but that doesn't matter because this book is so much more.
Whether you're an old Judy Blume fan, like me, looking to recapture childhood memories or someone who has never read one of her books before I would definitely recommend giving Tiger Eyes a try. It's a beautiful story and one that I'm sure will still be relevant in another 30 years.
August 21, 2009
Ever wondered how it feels like to lose a member of your family? In this book, Blume decribes a girl named Davey and how she managed to get on with her life after a critical incident that just occured. That day, Davey and Hugh, her boyfriend was at the backyard of her father's store making out. All of a sudden, they hear gunshots. It all happened too fast for either one of them to grab it. Ever since Davey's father was shot in the chest and killed, Davey never felt the way she does before. She feels depressed and alone all the time. Blume uses alot of imagery and sensory details to grab the reader's attention.
"It's cold and gray. I wait for two hours, but he doesn't show. I ride home slowly with tears in my eyes. I can't seem to get rid of the empty feeling that started last night and won't go away." (Blume, 135).
In this quote, the author expresses Davey's thoughts. She emphasizes that this world is too overwhelming for her. Everywhere and everything seems to strike fear in her as if she's paranoid. Later on in the book, she meets a guy named Wolf. Even though she seems skeptical about him, she knows that Wolf is the only person in this world that understands how she is feeling right now, since he too is losing his father.
In my opinion, I didn't really enjoy reading this book. Yes, the book draws you in and you feel as if you're Davey herself, but it doesn't have the elements that would put you in tears like some books do. Blume tries to make this book heart-breaking, but it just doesn't Blume writes the book in present and future tense, which also makes it hard to keep up and understand what the protagonist is saying. The most dissapointing part was the ending. It didn't go like it was suposed to. We knew what was going to happen at the end. Problem gets resolved, and a happy ending, but there wasn't enough. Nothing happened. Everything was the same. I can't even discribe it. It was not a cliff hanger, since it didn't keep the readers thinking. It didn't even feel like an ending. It's as if she just stopped writing in the middle of the book. The ending is what counts for a good book, and that blew it. That's why I'm rating this book a 2 out of 5.
"It's cold and gray. I wait for two hours, but he doesn't show. I ride home slowly with tears in my eyes. I can't seem to get rid of the empty feeling that started last night and won't go away." (Blume, 135).
In this quote, the author expresses Davey's thoughts. She emphasizes that this world is too overwhelming for her. Everywhere and everything seems to strike fear in her as if she's paranoid. Later on in the book, she meets a guy named Wolf. Even though she seems skeptical about him, she knows that Wolf is the only person in this world that understands how she is feeling right now, since he too is losing his father.
In my opinion, I didn't really enjoy reading this book. Yes, the book draws you in and you feel as if you're Davey herself, but it doesn't have the elements that would put you in tears like some books do. Blume tries to make this book heart-breaking, but it just doesn't Blume writes the book in present and future tense, which also makes it hard to keep up and understand what the protagonist is saying. The most dissapointing part was the ending. It didn't go like it was suposed to. We knew what was going to happen at the end. Problem gets resolved, and a happy ending, but there wasn't enough. Nothing happened. Everything was the same. I can't even discribe it. It was not a cliff hanger, since it didn't keep the readers thinking. It didn't even feel like an ending. It's as if she just stopped writing in the middle of the book. The ending is what counts for a good book, and that blew it. That's why I'm rating this book a 2 out of 5.
August 19, 2018
Just finished re-reading one of my favorites for what seems like the millionth time (but the first time in a long while.) It still holds steady at #2 in My Top 3 Judy Blume Novels of All Time. (The others are It's Not the End of the World and Otherwise Known as Sheila the Great.)
I did a re-read because I wanted to watch the film adaptation - and I was so glad I did (on both counts!) It's a fairly quiet - but not boring! - book that translated into an equally quiet - but not boring! - movie. Directed by Judy Blume's son, actress Willa Holland was cast perfectly as Davey. I was captivated by her, and mostly her. Other actors were questionable, and I definitely wanted more Jason.
However, it was faithful to the book in ways that were small but satisfying (the Dracula cape, the Christmas candle, the dancing bear.) I was pleased that in the movie, Davey and Wolf actually kiss instead of her just fantasizing about it. And watching the death scene instead of reading it was sad in an entirely different way.
PLUS, I SPOTTED JUDY BLUME!!! Enough said.
I did a re-read because I wanted to watch the film adaptation - and I was so glad I did (on both counts!) It's a fairly quiet - but not boring! - book that translated into an equally quiet - but not boring! - movie. Directed by Judy Blume's son, actress Willa Holland was cast perfectly as Davey. I was captivated by her, and mostly her. Other actors were questionable, and I definitely wanted more Jason.
However, it was faithful to the book in ways that were small but satisfying (the Dracula cape, the Christmas candle, the dancing bear.) I was pleased that in the movie, Davey and Wolf actually kiss instead of her just fantasizing about it. And watching the death scene instead of reading it was sad in an entirely different way.
PLUS, I SPOTTED JUDY BLUME!!! Enough said.
December 29, 2020
I love this book, even now as an adult. Perhaps more so as an adult. I think as young girl I loved this with adoration for Judy Blume, because she wrote to me without treating me like a child, because it was what I thought a love story written just for my age. As an adult, I loved it because Judy Blume will always be the first author I was in awe of, because it was great nostalgia, and because now I see how much Judy Blume really packed into this book and how well written it is. It was realistic and not cheesy as most YA books tend to be. I could now also peel myself away from what I thought was a book about teenage love and see it for what it really was: a book about dealing with grief, family dynamics, and a girl coming to terms with who she is. Just beautiful. I loved it. Brought tears to my eyes. This still holds up as a five star book for me.
P.S. I watched the movie Judy Blume's son directed. I was a little afraid to watch it for fear it would ruin the story but he did a great job. I actually really liked it and they picked a good Davey and Wolf. The actress looks a little like the drawing of the girl on the cover, which is exactly how I always pictured Davey in my head.
P.S. I watched the movie Judy Blume's son directed. I was a little afraid to watch it for fear it would ruin the story but he did a great job. I actually really liked it and they picked a good Davey and Wolf. The actress looks a little like the drawing of the girl on the cover, which is exactly how I always pictured Davey in my head.
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