Tiger’s Curse by Colleen Houck

 

Title: Tiger’s Curse

Author: Colleen Houck

Publication Date: 2011

ISBN #: 1402784031

Number of Pages: 448

Trend: Tough Girls, romance, teens with abilities

Publisher: Splinter

Houck, C. (2011). Tiger’s Curse. New York, NY: Sterling Publishing Co., Inc.

Summary: A few years after Kelsey's parents died, Kelsey finds herself puttering through life.  Just graduated from high school and working at a temp. agency to pay for community college, little did Kelsey know that when she lands a temporary job at a circus that her whole life is about to change. When she meets the circus's tiger, she feel immediately drawn to the creature, and when a wealthy Indian business man buys the tiger, he offers her a job with all expenses paid to India to help care for the tiger. In India though she ends up being abandoned with the tiger on the streets of India and he runs into the jungle. Kelsey follows to discover that the tiger is no ordinary tiger, but a 300-year-old Indian prince (who still looks nineteen), who has been cursed to live as a tiger for the last three centuries. He can change into human form for only 24 minutes every day. Kelsey was some how chosen to help him break the curse and return him to human form forever. They begin a perilous journey that can lead them to their death or lead them into each others arms. 

Curricular connections: Certainly in regard to the setting of the book, India. There are many implications for readers to explore another part of the world through this book. In the library, especially right now since our summer reading program theme is “paws to read,” we have this book set up in display with other animal themed books. 

Review Sources: Publisher’s Weekly reviews Tiger’s Curse with a critical eye regarding Houck ambitious, but lagging, writing. This review also comments on the childish narration from a character that is supposed to be a high school graduate. Michael Cart of Booklist states, “Houck’s first novel is part Twilight, part Indiana Jones, and part fairy tale. Although her book--the first in a proposed series--is sometimes derivative, she tells a good story filled with chaste romance that will keep readers turning pages to the inconclusive ending”

Personal response:  I think that this novel dragged and I thought the characters were far too childish.  Everything seemed all too easy. It is hard to see that a book with a character, who is a high school graduate, 18 years old, would be written more for a 12-year-old reader. I also found that the idea that Ren’s clothes magically change form with him, so he’s never naked when he turns into a tiger, is a major copout.  That said, I am impressed that this author was able to self-publish her work, and then it get picked up for a publishing contract. I am sure her subsequent novels evolve with her craft.