Tiger Heart by Penny Chrimes
Orion Children's Books, 2020. ISBN: 9781510107045.
(Age: 10+) Highly recommended.This is a fantasy story set
'magically' in the period of English life that the author describes
as "somewhere between the Georgians . . . and the Victorians" and in
the gutters of London. In this environment abandoned workhouse-girl
Fly works in extreme hardship as a chimney sweep. She manages to
escape her brutal 'boss', but finds herself in a cage with a tiger
instead. This however proves to be a delightful meeting and the
tiger recognises her immediately as someone who needs his
guardianship, but also someone who has far more worth than her
blackened and ragged outward appearance would suggest. With the
ability to communicate together and also to use some magical skills
to obfuscate and distract, the pair work together with the
assistance of other 'gutterlings', to save other animals destined
for life as caged entertainments for the wealthy toffs of London.
Woven in the story are magical moments of good and evil, and Fly
must do her best to survive and escape London with her menagerie.
The second half of the story has Fly escaping from another brutal
and shady character who has connection to her hidden past life. The
love and connection between Fly and the Tiger is deep and moving and
leads then both to a changed life.
Penny Chrimes has written a delightful fantasy, with some historical
detail woven together with a fantasy country and despotic
governance. The gentle tale of friendship and fantasy powers and
concern for creatures who are powerless is delightful. The language
of the London guttersnipes is delightfully quirky (a glossary is
included at the end of the book) and adds touches of humour . . .
leaving the reader with a 'gigglemug'! Young readers will enjoy the
adventure and the inventiveness of the poor children as they survive
in extreme situations and try to outwit adults, and the presence of
a benevolent tiger to provide wisdom and care is also appealing.
Themes: Poverty; Animals; Fantasy; Friendship.
Carolyn Hull