Tiger Eyes [Mass Market Paperback]

Judy Blume (Author)

Book Description

Publication Date: July 15, 1982

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 the Los Alamos canyon, Davey meets the mysterious Wolf, who can read Davey’s “sad eyes.” Wolf is the only person who seems to understand the rage and fear Davey 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 and move toward the future? Will she ever stop hurting?

Editorial Reviews

From the Publisher

After Davey's father is killed in a hold-up, she and her mother and younger brother visit relatives in New Mexico. Here Davey is befriended by a young man who helps her find the strength to carry on and conquer her fears. "This is a masterly novel."--Jean Fritz, The New York Times Book Review. Dorothy Canfield Fisher Award, An ALA Best Book for Young Adults.

From the Inside Flap

After Davey's father is killed in a hold-up, she and her mother and younger brother visit relatives in New Mexico. Here Davey is befriended by a young man who helps her find the strength to carry on and conquer her fears. "This is a masterly novel."--Jean Fritz, The New York Times Book Review. Dorothy Canfield Fisher Award, An ALA Best Book for Young Adults.

See all Editorial Reviews

Product Details

• Reading level: Ages 12 and up
  
• Mass Market Paperback: 224 pages
• Publisher: Laurel Leaf (July 15, 1982)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 0440984696
• ISBN-13: 978-0440984696
• Product Dimensions: 4.3 x 0.6 x 6.9 inches
• Shipping Weight: 4 ounces
• Average Customer Review: 4.6 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (85 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #711,931 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

More About the Author

Judy Blume spent her childhood in Elizabeth, NJ, 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; Superfudge; Blubber; Just As Long As We're Together; and Forever. She has also written the best-selling novels Wifey; Smart Women; and, Summer Sisters. More than 75 million copies of her books have been sold, and her work has been translated into twenty-six languages.
She receives thousands of letters each month 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 that American Library Association honored her with the Margaret A. Edwards Award for Lifetime Achievement. She has won more than ninety awards, none more important than those coming directly from her youngest readers.
She serves on the boards of the Author's Guild, currently as Vice President; the Society of Children's Book Writers and Illustrators, where she sponsors an award for contemporary fiction; and the National Coalition Against Censorship, working to protect intellectual freedom. In Spring 2002, Judy was a spokesperson for the Cheerios "A Book for Every Child" literacy campaign which benefited Reading is Fundamental, America's largest literacy organization. She is also the founder and trustee of The Kids Fund, a charitable and educational foundation.
Judy's first book in the Fudge series, Tales of a Fourth Grade Nothing, was published in 1972. She is thrilled to be celebrating its 30th Anniversary with the publication of Double Fudge. Just as generations of fans have loved the Fudge books, generations of Judy's family have inspired them. Thirty years ago, Fudge was inspired by her son, Larry, and now Double Fudge was written at the request of her grandson, Elliot.
Judy lives on islands up and down the East Coast with her husband George Cooper. They have three grown children and one grandchild.

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

19 of 19 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Exceptional and Touching, June 10, 2007

By 

Amy Graham (Scottsdale, AZ) - See all my reviews
(REAL NAME)   

This review is from: Tiger Eyes (Paperback)

I read this because it's on the ALA's list of 100 Most Frequently Challenged Books (1990-2000) and I'm slowly working my way though the list. This is one of the few Judy Blume books I managed to miss when I was younger and I have to say, I'm quite surprised that it's on this list at all. I found absolutely nothing objectionable about the book at all. I agree that the subject matter might be unpleasant to some, but for anyone who's experienced (or might experience) the sudden (and possibly violent) loss of a loved one (and everyone does at some point in their lives) this book is an exceptional read. Not only does it deal with one families struggle to deal with the sudden, violent death of their father/husband it also deals with other types of loss and grief issues. Included in this book are the difficulty of being childless for a couple that wants children (the aunt and uncle), Wolf's experiences with the inevitable loss of his father to cancer, Jane's drinking to cope with the intense and often unrealistic expectations of her family and her own fears about wanting to live her own life but being afraid to at the same time. Tiger Eyes manages to convey an intensity of emotion with regards to each family members fear, grief, anger, and depression...and manages to do it without being depressing or having the main character wallow in it. The struggles of Davey and her Mother are very real, they "feel" authentic, you get a depth of emotion in the reading and I think that is what makes this an excellent book. I think it's a shame anyone would try to censor this, to pretend that death doesn't occur or that there aren't difficult issues in families that lead to children and/or parents making bad/self-destructive choices. I think it's a very good thing that there are books like this that allow readers to enjoy a good story and realize that we are each human and must come to terms with our problems as best we can. I give Tiger Eyes five stars and two thumbs up...highly recommended!!

11 of 11 people found the following review helpful:

4.0 out of 5 stars Coping and moving on from loss at 15 years-old, June 14, 2004

By 

QUEEN_OF_EVERYTHING (Outside Philly) - See all my reviews

This review is from: Tiger Eyes (Mass Market Paperback)

Davey Wexler is merely 15 years old when her father is shot to death in a hold-up that takes place at his 7-11 store. His death means that he's not only gone for good, but that a ton of new changes are to follow. It means Davey, her mother, and her younger brother, Jason, will be moving to New Mexico to cope. It also means leaving behind the old life, along with other people she loves, such as her best friend, Lenaya, and her boyfriend, Hugh.

It takes awhile for reality to settle in over the denial Davey should naturally - and does - feel. It's ever-so hard for her to believe that, at the funeral, it is her father's body in the casket and not someone else's. She contemplates life without him and wonders if it is feasible. Perhaps this book should be titled It's Not the End of the World, rather than Judy's middle school read about divorce and how it affects a suburban family. This novel is titled TIGER EYES because Davey has gorgeous hazel eyes.

Once she arrives at Los Alamos, she naturally feels what one might feel. She's nervous about meeting people, about making new friends. She worries about how her life at a new high school will turn out. Although many parts of this story are intense, the entire novel flows smoothly and believably together and is not at all aimed at shocking audiences through violence like some may think. True to form, Judy addresses how to cope with loss and creates likable characters. I feel lucky I have yet to experience the death of a loved one and hope I don't have to any time soon. But it's something today's youth faces daily, so why not address it in modern-day literature? That's an especially wonderful way to go about it, a great way to reach readers.

After therapy, Davey's mother decides it's time to move back to New Jersey. Much of Blume's books take place in New Jersey because that is where she grew up and she still resides there today. With the Wexlers moving back home, we sense a return to normalcy. However, Los Alamos really has become normalcy for Davey. She's grown accustomed to it and it feels just like home. She knows the environment and has made friends as well. Still, it's as if she left her New Jersey life on hold and she realizes moving home will complete her experience in coping over her father's death. She simply needs to pick up the place where she left off.

You will (or should!) enjoy this book whether you've lost someone you cherished or you have yet to make it through such a harrowing experience. This YA novel frankly makes me wish Judy would bring us some more of her YA stuff - and SOON!

19 of 22 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars A realistic approach to a loss in the family, October 26, 2000

By 

jasenao (Dothan, Alabama, USA) - See all my reviews

This review is from: Tiger Eyes (Mass Market Paperback)

"Tiger Eyes" is mainly about a death in the family and how it almost tears a family apart. Davey's father gets shot and killed during a robbery at his convenience store. It makes Davey and her mom real depressed, so they decide that they need a change in scenery. They go to stay with Davey's aunt and uncle in New Mexico until Davey and her mom get back on their feet. While there, she will experience some major turmoil with her aunt and uncle, but to ease it up a little, she meets Wolf while she's exploring a canyon, and he's somewhat going through the same thing she is. Davey has to find a way to help her mom and herself get over the tragedy, while trying to do what she can to put her life back together.

"Tiger Eyes" is a great book, and it's realistic. Judy Blume does a great job in making the reader see the pain and grief that can happen when something like that occurs, while keeping the reader wanting to read more and more. If you like good realistic books, "Tiger Eyes" would be a great one to get.