I absolutely loved A Little Princess by Frances Hodgson Burnett when I was younger, and this book gave me the best vibes when I started reading it. Sahira walks between two cultures, her Indian/Muslim culture with her mother and her London-born/Christian culture with her father. The thing that connects the two is her love for her tigers/for animals in general. When her parents die from an illness and she is forced to go to an orphanage in London, she doesn’t know how she will cope. Between being forced to hide where she’s really from, change her name, disobey one of the religions she has followed since she was born, and leave her tigers behind; Sahira is miserable.

The tigers are definitely one of the best parts of this whole book, Sahira has such a connection with animals. I want to see her truly be able to express her gift, but I don’t see that happening too soon in the story. The other orphans at the orphanage have such unique personalities.

I would recommend this book to anyone looking for a new MG fiction novel.

Thank you to Netgalley and to the publisher for giving me a free advanced copy in exchange for an honest review.

This was a retelling from The Little Princess. However, I could find no resemblance to the original. There were also some scenes that did not make much sense. Overall, I expected more and for it to be a faithful retelling. Instead, I got less and was disappointed.

This book was sold to me as a "Little Princess--with tigers!" sort of story, which intrigued me right off the bat. I've always enjoyed historical fiction with an element of the "underdog," and this story seemed like it would fit that bill.

Upon receiving the book and diving a little deeper into it, I realized that it was much more of a religious story than I anticipated. I also wasn't particularly comfortable when I realized the author is a white woman writing a Christian narrative about a character of color. Ultimately, it wasn't for me and I ended up not finishing this book. Thank you for the opportunity to read it.

An absolutely solid read. Golding combines the culture clash and grief with the historical setting well. It's not a part of history we hear much about, making for more compelling reading though it does require a bit more explanation of setting. Our hero is a bit too perfect, too morally superior, but still interesting.

I'm so sorry but I didn't like it that much.

If it wasn't an ARC I might have DNF-d it.
The problem is I did not get from this book what I expected. I thought it is something else I guess. I don't know if it's me or the synopsis, but we just didn't understand each other.
Secondly, the writing really wasn't what I expected. Honestly, it didn't read much as a middle-grade I expected a much more lighthearted read.
It just wasn't for me.
You might like it. I didn't that much.

This was a quick middle grade. It was more religious than I was expecting and even the religious aspect was quite conflicting when they also included lessons from Charles Darwin. it was quite obvious that it was not own voice.... it took me a while to pick this one up and if it wasn’t a NetGalley read I probably would have DNFd

I really enjoyed this book. It was easy to read and follow the plot line. I loved the characters and their personalities. Would recommend.

Sounds like a really great book, but I requested it thinking it was a graphic novel. This would be awesome if it were adapted!

DNF because it made me so uncomfortable with some of the things said in the book, so I will not be continuing on with my read or even buying a copy of it.

The Tigers in the Tower is a quick read geared toward middle grade readers. The story centers around Sahira, who is grieving the loss of her parents, and her determination to fulfill her father’s wishes to protect the tigers. Sahira’s journey is an emotional one with her facing many challenges, prejudice, and conflict. She is painted as a vivid character and her emotions and passion shine through in the writing. There are a lot of characters introduced along the way - some middle grade readers may need to take notes as a strategy to remember all of their roles. I enjoyed the incorporation of the animals in this story, as well.

Some of my favorite quotes from this novel:
“Don’t worry. Like Sinbad, I’ve travelled to places they’ve never been, faced down threats they can’t imagine. They haven’t met anyone like me before.”

“Did Sahira care? Not a whit. In fact, she was pleased they didn’t like it.”

“See: you do understand London.” Only when thinking of it like a jungle, Sahira decided. The beasts at the top – the lions like Wellington – did not want to give any territory to other creatures, defending the pride of the privileged. Hyenas like the Newtons liked it most when the jungle was lawless and the lion sleeping in his den. Having the lion employ – Sahira tried to think of a suitable comparison to policemen – elephants to drive off the hyenas from the grazing population was doubtless an unwelcome shock to the scavengers.”

I received a copy of this title from the publisher via NetGalley. This did not affect the content of my review and all opinions are my own.

I have just finished reading The Tigers in the Tower by Julia Golding and I have a feeling it will sit with me for quite a while. This book is middle grade historical fiction of the highest order. The story centres around Sahira whose father was an English gentleman and mother was a Persian lady. As such in 1830 she is seen as an outcast wherever she goes. She doesn't seem to be wanted by her English relatives or her Indian ones. She finds herself alone and unwanted in a country that she doesn't know with only 2 tigers are her link to her previously happy life; for sadly her parents died on the journey from India to England.

My heat went out to Sahira right from the beginning of the story. This is a fierce, proud and spirited young girl trying to hold her head high and remain positive and resilient when her whole world has been taken away from her. From the beginning I found myself hoping that someone would show Sahira some kindness, and got emotional at even the smallest acts of kindness shown to her, such was the amount of empathy I felt for her plight. I don't know if it is because I am a parent or because I am a teacher, but I just really felt for her.

As I read the book I became more drawn into the world of Georgian London and became more and more invested in Sahira and the array of characters that were to become her friends (and enemies). Sahira embodied the character of her tigers through the story and showed fierce determination in trying to keep them safe, fierce determination as well in the will to not give into the bullies who only showed her cruelty and spite.

At it's heart this is a story about finding your place in the world, it's about character and staying true to what is right, it's about family and friendship. Through the story Sahira learns to deal with her plight and the message that people adapt and are resilient sings through clearly.

The story is beautifully written and evokes the feeling of the time vividly. The world of the Tower of London menagerie is one I know little about (only what I have read whilst visiting the Tower on a trip to London a few years ago) but it is absolutely fascinating. Also seeing famous characters like the Duke of Wellington and Robert Peel brought to life (however briefly they were in the story) was a bit of a thrill for me.

What really made the story for me though was the characters. Apart from Sahira herself, there are the people who befriend her including Mr Cops the head of the Menagerie, Ned the bootboy, Bobby, son of Robert Peel and a few others. They become almost an adopted family for Sahira and show their true value towards the end of the story.

I'm unashamed to say that I had a lump in my throat by the end of this book. Reading it was tense at times, but only because my heart ached with the cruelty that had been shown to Sahira by the Newton twins and Mr Pence, who ran the orphanage that Sahira found herself in. I spent the first half of the story cheering at every show of strength and defiance from Sahira as she showed the same fierceness as her tigers and refused to bow to her tormentors and the second half of the story desperately hoping that there would be hope for Sahira and an end to the cruelty that had been directed towards her. I won't spoil the ending of the story for you but it was a faced paced whirlwind of a ride by the end and I was left extremely satisfied by the conclusion.

This book would be perfect for aged 9+ but I am sure some children slightly younger would enjoy it as well. The language is rich and vibrant and really evokes the times and characters. I would recommend this book to anyone who loves a character rich story, especially if they are also fans of historical fiction.

The Tigers in the Tower by Julia Golding is one of the best books I read this year.

The novel is set in London in the 1830s. Sahira is on a ship to England to get a better education. Unfortunately, her parents die on the journey, on the sea. Sahira is shunned both in India and in England. Her mother is a Muslim and her father is a Britisher which is unconventional both in India and England.

Sahira lands in London with her pets, two tigers. Sahira is taken to an orphanage with a cruel and greedy caretaker. Her only hope in her life is her two tigers which were taken to a menagerie. Sahira manages to get a job at the menagerie to take care of the tigers but the owner wants to sell them. Will Sahira be able to save her tigers and keep them under her care?

I loved the ‘Indian Princess’ character reference of Sahira and glimpses of her life in India with her parents. Sahira is shown as a brave and smart girl, who fights for the things that matter. She faces bullies at the orphanage, makes new friends, and seeks help at unexpected places to save her tigers. The situations that Sahira landed in almost broke my heart. As I approached the end, I almost prayed that Sahira’s life should turn over for the better.

The Tigers in the Tower is a modern classic that is worth reading. Thank you @netgalley and @lionhudson for the ARC.

(3.5) I’ve been watching a lot of Alfonso Cuarón’s work recently. One of my last classes before graduating was about cinema and literature and his work was the focus of one the biggest projects for the class. So when I read about this book that promised to be similar to A Little Princess, I was intrigued.
The Tigers in the Tower is the story of Sahira, a girl who loses her family when they embark on a journey that would take them to England. Alone in an unknown country, she decides to find a way to make her parent’s last wish come true: make sure Rama and Sita, the two Indian tigers traveling with them, are taken care of and looked after.
In order to do so, Samira goes on a fantastical adventure around London, discovering friends and allies in the most unexpected places.
This book was great; it reminded me why I love MG books so much. It touches many hard topics like racism, colorism, abuse and bullying, making sure to do so in a respectful way. Although the ending wasn’t my favorite, I still feel like it’s a great, quick read.

When I read about this book, it sounded like an adventure about Sahira and her tigers. Unfortunately, this book just wasn't for me. The Tigers in the Tower turned out to be rather religious (don't get me wrong, nothing is wrong with that), but it just felt like too much out times. On top of quite a few events with racism that doesn't ever seem to get solved, this story felt wrong to me.

I'm normally a pretty fast reader, but the pacing in this book made it feel like it took me forever. For a lot of the book barely anything happens. A lot of times it's Sahira having a hard time and not being treated very well honestly. When I read about this book I expected more of an adventure and maybe some fantasy elements. If I didn't have certain things I needed to get done, I don't know if I would've finished this one.

The only positive point for me was seeing Sahira fight for herself and the tigers. Also, the friends she makes along the way have their moments.

The only reason why I wanted to read this book is that the cover featured a non-white character and because it was a middle grade. I have never in my life stumbled across a diverse middle-grade, and I was down for what this book had to offer.

Sahira is the main character, and the story starts with her on a boat, sailing from India to England. On her way there, Sahira’s parents die, and the poor girl becomes an orphan. Found on new land, and being different from everyone else, Sahira has to find a way to save the only thing her father had left her; the tigers.

I simply loved this book not only because the main character wasn’t white, but also because it deals with judgment for being different. We all have to learn that somebody being different, doesn’t necessarily mean scary. Sahira is so inspiring as a character, that you will always have a place for her in your heart. She keeps being put down by others for being an abbreviation from the norm, but she never gives up. She takes it all and comes back stronger than before.

Even if the book gives an overall hopeful feeling, it is still sad. An orphanage is a depressing place, but as usual, Sahira does not let the demons eat her alive. Sometimes she just needs a hug, and I would be happy to be the one who offers!

The Tigers in the Tower is an exquisite historical middle grade, and I could see it in school libraries at some point. The only downside is that Julia is white, and she hasn’t been through what Sahira experiences (racism and judgements), therefore she does not talk from experience. What is good about this novel is that Julia recognizes the problems of racism and tries as much as she can to bring light to what it does to kids, and not only.

It was a fantastic read!! An amazing story representing Indian ethnicity. Exotic magical adventure with colourful characters and vivid imagination. Fast paced and short read. I really like the incorporation of animals in this story.
Recommend to all children !!

As soon as I saw the words “A Little Princess” in the blurb I knew I had to read this book. Growing up I adored the movie “A Little Princess” and I even remember crying in elementary school over Sara and her situation at the boarding school. It is a story that has stayed with me all the way to adulthood. What Julia Golding did with this spin on that classic story just amazes me. The stories of India folklore that Sara tells during her time in the boarding school come to life in Golding’s The Tigers in the Tower.

I knew that I liked Sahira from the moment we first meet her on the pages of this story. She is resilient, kind, smart, and quick-witted. All of these traits served her so well over the course of her journey. She manages to make friends, fend off bullies, and make her own way in the world, which is not a small feat for an Indian girl plunged into a world of prejudices against her. Sahira is the definition of someone rising above their circumstances. She took her life into her own hands and decided that no adult was going to make her feel bad about being herself in their world.

The story elements in The Tigers in the Tower were nicely paced and made for a lovely, quick read. I believe that many middle grade-aged children will be able to appreciate the social issues that are tackled in this novel as well as the importance of being kind to any person of any background. The animal facts in this book are also very interesting and fit really well within the plot. These extra little facts didn’t feel random at all and it boosted Sahira’s background in taking care of wild animals.

This book is definitely getting a re-read from me in the near future and this book is something I will be planning on sharing with my future children (I hope they have a love for reading lol).

"A Little Princess" meets "The Jungle Book" in this beautiful tale of a brave girl holding on to hope and fighting for her loved ones.

Sahira is the star of the story. She goes through so much in the tale. She faces bullying, racism and nearly loses all the things she holds dear to her heart. At times, I wanted to go into the pages and hug and support her for what she goes through. Yet, she remains strong and fights against all odds. Even the supporting characters like Mr. Pence, Mr. Rummage, Ann, and Emily add nicely to the story.

Moreover, the author writes the story in such a whimsical and charming manner. At times, I felt like I was reading an old children’s classic. Also, the story gets intense as the plot progresses. I loved the scenes where Sahira faces Mr. Cops to save Rama and Sita from Jamrach. The author also does a beautiful job of describing the animals. On a side note, I did not know what a marmoset till I read this story.

However, I would have liked the author to space the cast evenly in the plot. It felt like there were a lot of names thrown in only for specific parts of the story. For instance, characters like John and Bobby show up in the latter half of the tale. Even the ending felt rushed with a sudden twist that I did not expect.

Apart from that, this was a charming tale. I would recommend this story if you like middle-grade adventures or tales set with Indian characters and animals. Overall, I enjoyed reading The Tigers in the Tower.

The Tigers in the Tower is an enchanting tale full of action and adventure.

Sahira's family is traveling to England to deliver two tigers to the menagerie in London. However, they fall prey to sickness leaving Sahira alone in the care of people who want nothing to do with her.

With such a heart-wrenching beginning, the book commanded my attention and did not leave it till the last page. Golding skilfully captures Sahira's feelings. She is a free-spirited girl. However, she is now not only an orphan but is also trapped in a patriarchal society. As if being a girl was not enough of a punishment, she also must deal with the prejudice against her dark skin, a by-product of being a mixed-race child. Double whammy!

Alas! If the girl's woes could end here. Orphaned on the ship while traveling to England, she could not even fully process her grief before she has to learn to live in a miserable orphanage. Again, Golding poignantly sketches how dejected Sahira feels about being uprooted from her childhood home and having to deal with vicious bullies in the orphanage. I felt her anger at being patronized by people who did not know her culture.

Yet, even in this utter darkness, our girl remains brave and befriends some souls who help her survive.

However, it was the scenes involving the animals that I admired the most, especially, the scenes with Rama and Sita, the tigers. Golding conjures vivid imagery of the various animals encountered in the book.

Being an Indian, I also wholeheartedly treasured the Indian representation in the book. Sahira's mother was Indian, belonging to the city of Hyderabad. The descriptions of the exotic spices, food, garments, and the bazaar of Calcutta (now Kolkata) were accurate. I could feel myself standing there with Sahira as she reminisced about her visit to the bazaar of Calcutta looking at the various stalls selling a variety of merchandise.

Moreover, there are some clever analogies between life in the jungle and human survival.

Sahira was undoubtedly my favorite character in The Tigers in the Tower. I was rooting for her throughout the book as she fought against every injustice meted out to her. When she could not and instead chose to retreat because she was on the weaker ground, I applauded her intelligence. She was indeed a brave heroine. Further, she is supported by an able cast of supporting characters, whether be it her friends in the orphanage, the kind Mr. Cops, the cruel Mr. Pence, or the pompous people she befriends in the menagerie.

To conclude, regal descriptions of the wildlife, a poignant sketch of the life of an orphan girl, sensitive portrayal of bullying and racism, a fast pace, and a happy ending make Julia Golding's The Tigers in the Tower worth reading. I heartily recommend this middle-grade fiction to adventure lovers.