The Tiger Rising is a 2001 children's book written by Newbery Medal winning author Kate DiCamillo.

[1] It is about a 12-year-old named Rob Horton who finds a caged tiger in the center of the woods near his home.

[2] Rob Horton is 12 years old and suffers from a strange, itchy rash on his legs that he knows isn't contagious.

Things begin to change when Rob discovers a caged tiger in the forest while wandering the woods.

Rob, who usually keeps his feelings locked away in an imaginary suitcase begins to involuntarily open up emotionally to Sistine.

Rob finally relents and releases the tiger, letting it run into the woods.

Rob's father is then seen holding the gun over the tiger in front of the Kentucky Star.

Cricket – Willie May's childhood pet parakeet that she lets go and eventually is thought to be killed by a snake.

Norton and Billy Threemonger – Two "redneck" brothers who bully Rob in school and on the bus.