It's Test Day, Tiger Turcotte

by Pansie Hart Flood

Already so worried about the big second grade test that his stomach is upset, seven-year-old Tiger Turcotte, whose parents are African American, Meherrin Indian, and Hispanic, gets stuck on the question about race.

Genres: Childrens

72 pages, Paperback

First published January 1, 2004

Reviews

[Teresa Scherping Moulton · Rating 3 out of 5]

Second-grader Tiger Turcotte is nervous for his first big test at school. Lots of little things are going wrong with his morning, but he's brought his favorite pencils so that he'll have good luck. At the beginning of the test, Tiger's teacher tells them to only put one answer for each question. Tiger bubbles in his name, birthdate, grade, and teacher's name. But then a question stumps him. What is his race? Tiger's dad is black and Native American, and his mom is Latina. So what does that make Tiger? His teacher tells him one thing, but the parent volunteer says another. Will Tiger ever figure out where he belongs?

This is a sweet and relevant story, although it comes across as just a little didactic. There's definitely a lesson learned here, and it's wrapped up maybe a little too neatly. But then again, this is a story for fairly young readers, and they would probably not notice that aspect of it. I do think that there are plenty of kids who could relate to Tiger and understand how hard it is to neatly define their race.

I would recommend this book to kids in grades 2-3, plus some first graders who are reading a bit above their level. I think it has appeal for both boys and girls. Readalikes might include the Dyamonde Daniel books and possibly the Roscoe Riley Rules series.

[Jennie · Rating 4 out of 5]

Second grader, Tiger Turcotte, anxiously worries about a test he will be given at school. However, the real problem begins when Tiger is not sure which racial bubble to fill out – is he Black, Hispanic or Native American?

This is a great little story, and something I think a lot of children can relate to in an increasingly diverse world. The scene in which the teachers argue about Tiger’s ethnicity based on his skin color is especially troubling. It highlights the importance of inclusive school procedures.