Tiger Eyes by Judy Blume

Paperback Edition

Tiger Eyes is the fourth novel I've read by Judy Blume. I decided to read Tiger Eyes because it sounded like an interesting novel to read and is geared towards teens. Tiger Eyes has also been a banned book in the past. I enjoy reading banned books and usually try to read at least one banned book each year... It's always amazing to learn which books are banned/challenged ones and why they've been banned or challenged. I learned that Tiger Eyes has been banned "due to the story’s inclusion of teen drinking, death, and depression."

I really enjoyed reading Tiger Eyes by Judy Blume. This book is written for teens and deals with the sudden and unexpected loss of a parent due to murder. Davey, the leading female character, and her mother and her younger brother, Jason, must deal with the aftermath and the loss of Davey's father, who is shot while working at the convenience store he owns. Each family member deals with the loss and grief in their own way. Davey deals with depression and grief along with feelings of anger and she found it difficult to discuss her feelings about her father's death. We learn bits and pieces of what happened to Davey's father and how Davey feels about his death slowly over the course of Tiger Eyes. 

Davey does act out and rebel after her family moves to New Mexico after her father's death. Davey and family move in with her father's sister and her husband, whom are somewhat strict and over protective. Davey's mom checks out emotionally as she goes through her own depression and therapy due to her husband's death, and lets her in-laws do more of the parenting to her kids during this time.

Davey begins attending high school in New Mexico. She meets an older college boy with the nickname of Wolf and they become friends. Davey also makes friends with Jane, another high school student, who has a a drinking problem. By the end of the novel, Davey, her mom, and brother have resolved their issues for the most part and move back to Atlantic City to restart their lives back home.

The following is a plot summary for Tiger Eyes by Judy Blume from Amazon:

What does it take to recover from tragedy? This masterful Judy Blume novel has a fresh new look.

Davey Wexler has never felt so alone. Her father has just been killed—shot in a holdup at the 7-Eleven near their home. And now her mother has transplanted her and her little brother, Jason, to Los Alamos, New Mexico, to stay with family and recover.

But Davey is withdrawn, full of rage and fear and loneliness. Then one day, while exploring a canyon, she meets an older boy who calls himself Wolf. Wolf is the only one who understands her—the only one who can read her sad eyes. And he is the one who helps her realize that she must find a way to move forward with her life.

Davey is one of Judy Blume’s most hauntingly true human beings, capturing the deep ways a person can change that can’t be seen—only felt. Her story has been felt, deeply, by readers for decades.

Tiger Eyes by Judy is really well written. I hope you find the time to read this novel. I am giving Tiger Eyes by Judy Blume a rating of 4.5 stars out of 5 stars.

Until my next post, happy reading!