Follow the Tiger

A coming-of-age novel with an adventurous, exotic plot: a combination that greatly appeals to young readers who, close in age to that of the protagonist, are themselves moving through a period of profound change in their lives. Clara is a city girl. She loves her routines, and her most defining trait is slowness – a slowness that earns her the classroom nickname “Clara the Snail”. Reluctantly, and only to celebrate her thirteenth birthday, she goes to join her father, who is working on the construction of a dam. Here, she is suddenly plunged into a completely different world. In the tropical forest, everything is new and everything must be learnt. For Clara, who has always disliked change, this is already a challenge. The real trial comes, however, when a devastating flood hits the jungle. A river of mud sweeps everything away, leaving her clinging to the branches of a tree, frozen with fear and with nothing to eat. When her friend Stef appears on that same branch, the story reaches its turning point: the encounter with the tiger. The quintessential symbol of courage and strength, but also of transformation, the tiger is not just a narrative device, but the “character” who helps Clara push beyond her limits and discover her own instinctive, wilder nature. A transformation that will make her more aware and self-confident, strengthened by new bonds of friendship, both human and animal.

Reading age: 11+

Segui la tigre
Luisa Mattia
Il Battello a Vapore, 2024