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Summary
Summary
From Governor General's Literary Award finalist Michelle Kadarusman comes a novel about a young violinist who discovers her mother's family secretly harbor a sanctuary for extinct Tasmanian tigers in the remote Australian rainforest
Shipped halfway around the world to spend the summer with her mom's eccentric Australian relatives, middle schooler and passionate violinist Louisa is prepared to be resentful. But life at the family's remote camp in the Tasmanian rainforest is intriguing, to say the least. There are pig-footed bandicoots, scary spiders, weird noises and odors in the night, and a quirky boy named Colin who cooks the most amazing meals. Not the least strange is her Uncle Ruff, with his unusual pet and veiled hints about something named Convict Rock.
Finally, Louisa learns the truth: Convict Rock is a sanctuary established by her great-grandmother Eleanor--a sanctuary for Tasmanian tigers, Australia's huge marsupials that were famously hunted into extinction almost a hundred years ago. Or so the world believes. Hidden in the rainforest at Convict Rock, one tiger remains. But now the sanctuary is threatened by a mining operation, and the last Tasmanian tiger must be lured deeper into the forest. The problem is, not since her great-grandmother has a member of the family been able to earn the shy tigers' trust.
As the summer progresses, Louisa forges unexpected connections with Colin, with the forest, and--through Eleanor's journal--with her great-grandmother. She begins to suspect the key to saving the tiger is her very own music. But will her plan work? Or will the enigmatic Tasmanian tiger disappear once again, this time forever?
A moving coming-of-age story wrapped up in the moss, leaves, and blue gums of the Tasmanian rainforest where, hidden under giant ferns, crouches its most beloved, and lost, creature.
Reviews (2)
Kirkus Review
Unlike the rest of her nature-obsessed family, Louisa wants to be a musician, not a biologist. But when Louisa's mother finds out that the Australian government is about to destroy the Tasmanian rainforest camp their family has managed for decades, she insists that Louisa leave Toronto and spend the summer on the strange, small island with her even stranger uncle Ruff. But when Uncle Ruff gives Louisa a copy of her great-grandmother's journal, Louisa becomes fascinated with her family's history of secretly protecting endangered species, including the mysterious Tasmanian tiger, widely regarded as extinct. With the help of her new friend and neighbor Colin--a boy who has autism spectrum disorder--Louisa deepens her connection with her family's land, with history, and with her love of music. Kadarusman masterfully creates a lush, magical world where issues associated with conservation, neurodiversity, and history intersect in surprising and authentic ways. The book's small cast of characters (principals seem all white) is well drawn and endearing. Crucially, the author acknowledges the original, Indigenous inhabitants of the land as experts, something rarely seen in books about environmental degradation. Louisa's narratorial voice strikes the right balance of curiosity, timidity, and growing confidence, and her character's transformation feels both incredibly natural and incredibly rewarding to behold. A beautiful conservation story told in a rich setting and peopled with memorable characters. (Fiction. 10-14) Copyright (c) Kirkus Reviews, used with permission.
Booklist Review
The Tasmanian Tarkine is the last place Lou wants to spend her summer vacation. A dedicated violinist, she would rather spend her days practicing for her youth orchestra audition than with her Uncle Ruff, a veterinarian who lives up to his name. After practicing one night, Lou encounters a Tasmanian tiger--an animal declared extinct over 80 years ago. Lou eventually learns that her family helped secretly breed and preserve a group of Tasmanian tigers on an island known as Convict Rock after the last known one died in captivity. When Convict Rock is threatened by the building of a new bridge, Lou and her uncle must find a way to save the tigers. Author Michelle Kadarusman deftly incorporates Australian history into this middle-grade book that reads like a love letter to the unique flora and fauna of the Tasmanian Tarkine. The author's note at the end gives more historical information about the Tasmanian tiger and efforts to preserve other endangered species. Music for Tigers is perfect for young readers interested in ecology and preservation.
