Book Descriptions
for Tiger Moon by Antonia Michaelis
From The United States Board on Books for Young People (USBBY)
Street urchin and clever thief, Farhad spies a trinket sparkling in a lotus pond. As soon as he retrieves the bauble, a bolt of lightning bearing Lord Krishna blocks Farhad’s escape. The silver locket has thrust him between Krishna and the Demon King, Ravana. Proclaiming the amulet identifies Farhad as his designated hero, Krishna discloses that Farhad is destined to save his daughter before the next full moon, when the Demon King plans to marry her. The only obstacles? Traversing the length of India, finding and defeating Ravana, and battling the Demon King and his minions all the way. Farhad’s helper? A magnificent white tiger. 2009 USBBY Outstanding International Books List, 2009 Batchelder Honor. lmp
Originally published as Ti germond in German by Loewe Verlag Germany, in 2006. Translated by Anthea Bell.
From the Publisher
Fate brings together a talking tiger, a doomed princess, and a rascally thief in a thrilling, old-fashioned tale from an exciting, internationally acclaimed new talent.
How does a story of India begin?
Does it begin with the three rivers—the Ganges, the Yamuna, the unseen Sarasvati pouring her dreaming waters down from the snowy mountains to the hot, dry plain?
Like other great storytellers of India, newcomer Antonia Michaelis weaves a tale that is grand in spirit and earthy in humor. She introduces the young thief Farhad, master of many disguises but not of his own heart, who, with the help of a sarcastic tiger, must save a Hindu princess from marriage to a demon king. It is the unlikely friendship between boy and tiger, and the sacrifice their journey demands, that is the soul of this lushly told, beautifully felt novel.
F&P Level: Z+
F&P Genre: F
Praise for Tiger Moon from the foreign press
“The most beautiful and important adolescent book of the season” —Libri Harry Pooh
“Antonia Michaelis has succeeded in writing a wonderful and exciting novel, which is thrilling to the last page. You want to read more of her!” —Der Tagesspiegel
F&P level: Z+F&P level: Z+