This story is about Adam, who lives in an alternate version of London, where slavery still exists and immigrants are definitely considered second class citizens. His family runs a bookshop and Adam makes deliveries but it's often dangerous and Adam really wants to be an artist, which is forbidden to immigrants. One day, as he's running away from danger, he finds an injured tyger. He helps the tyger and finds out that the tyger is magic, in fact immortal and that he has a magical spark inside him. The tyger also suggests that he maybe part of the solution for the evils of the era. He joins forces with a girl he knows named Zadie and finds they have lots in common, including a big idea that the world could be a better place. There are big themes of immigrants and their contributions to new societies as well as a longing for the place they left, the power of imagination and creative thinking, and the acceptance of evil. It would be easy to draw parallels to today's political climate with this book. It has a big powerful message and I hope lots of kids get to read it.

In a 21st century in which slavery was never abolished and the British Empire still rules the world, a London boy gets caught up in a fantastical fight for the survival of all living things.

Adam Alhambra is a courier. His Middle Eastern Muslim immigrant parents have a Soho alterations shop in the Ghetto. Adam makes deliveries to the white patrons who live on the other side of the checkpoints that separate the Ghetto from wealthier parts of the city. While fleeing from a robber, Adam escapes through a hidden doorway and meets the immortal Tyger, one of many creatures who are extinct in his world. Adam agrees to help Tyger by finding the Guardians who can reopen the gateways between worlds and possibly stop the oppression stoked by a maleficent immortal named Urizen. Adam is assisted by his new friend Zadie True, a Black Muslim girl whose parents came from Timbuktu. With her help, they are able to find the gateway and bring Tyger to it. Tyger goes to a place where her wounds can be healed.

The fast-paced story, plot-driven narratives even as it delves into moral and philosophical questions of belonging, inequality, and unity in the face of efforts and manipulation. It is a novelized parable that explores all-too-timely social themes. I enjoyed this novel so much as I could find myself being part of Adam’s path and the immortal Tyger.

Thank you to the publisher and NetGalley for an advanced reader copy

Tyger by SF Said is a third person-POV Middle Grade fantasy set in an alternative history where the British Empire kept going and slavery was never abolished. Adam has spent his whole life trying to keep his head down as his family is ostracized for coming from the Middle East, including refraining from drawing. When he meets Tyger, an animal that should be extinct, he finally sees a path forward for things to change.

A major theme is in-fighting in relation to colonization and oppression. The lords have the wealth and backing in order to keep taking more and should be the targets of the ire of the common people, but when the land is taken from two shepherds, one of them turns his anger towards the people of color in his community. This is sadly something that we do see crop up over and over, the oppressed reach for the people they can hurt the easiest instead of the people doing the oppressing. It’s great to see this discussed in a children’s book and then have it clearly explained that it is a form of misdirection and all that frustration needs to be turned back to the people who are responsible, not the people who are the most vulnerable.

On top of the theme of in-fighting, this book also discusses slavery, racism, xenophobia, colonization, the extinction of animal species, and the treatment of children in these conditions. It doesn’t pull any punches and instead presents everything in a way that meets children where they are at while treating them like emotionally mature humans. I love it when books manage to strike this balance and do it well because it is so easy to get pedantic or make it feel like kids are being taught a lesson through a story but I didn’t feel that at all here. All of the lessons are woven in specularly.

The art is absolutely stunning. It’s all in black and white but the use of black is so rich and bold. The style is unique and detailed while also allowing room for small details to really shine. Illustrations should enhance a text and I definitely did feel that the ones here did while letting the text itself really shine.

Content warning for depictions of racism, xenophobia, extinction, and slavery

I would recommend this to young readers who want to explore alternative realities while tackling difficult subject matter and readers of Middle Grade looking for a book that treats it’s readers as mature individuals

Adam Alhambra lives in Soho, a part of London that is known for housing foreigners, but Adam often gets to venture outside the confines of his community to make deliveries for his family’s business. On one such excursion, Adam escapes from a thief who threatens both Adam’s money and his life, and Adam finds himself face to face with a Tyger—a creature who, by all accounts, should not exist. Even as the Tyger teaches Adam how to connect with his innate powers of perception, however, bad people are hunting the Tyger. Ultimately, it is up to Adam and newfound friends to protect the Tyger and help her return to her home before time runs out. This prophetic middle grade novel reads similarly to The Alchemist in that the Tyger is a spirit guide for Adam, inspiring him to reflect on his experience and his natural skills to see the world in a clearer light. Set in a fictional, alternate version of London, many of the landmarks are familiar to readers who know London well. However, the magic realism component of the story coupled with Adam’s unique circumstances separate this book from reality in a way that is both engaging and thought provoking. Brief chapters and frequent black and white illustrations make the book well suited to its target audience of middle grade readers, though the depth and intensity of the text will resonate with only a select group of youth. While there is a relatively narrow readership for this story, readers who do experience the novel will begin viewing the world in new ways, much like Adam himself does. Slow paced and intriguing, this unique picture book inspires thoughtful middle grade readers to consider the impact human behavior has on the world and how even the acts of a child can make a dramatic difference.

How to rate this book? It’s magical and I mean that with my whole heart. Tyger immediately makes me think of the poem “ Tyger, Tyger burning bright.” It’s a beautiful work that embodies the qualities of perseverance, perception, imagination, and creation, which it glorifies , quite well both as abilities all Humans possess and as supernatural forces of will. Adam and Zadie, two children of foreigners who have immigrated to London in an alternative universe where slavery and bigotry are at a higher level than ever, find themselves faced with helping and hiding a mysterious immortal being that has taken the form of an exstinct tyger but is in fact a luminous godlike force sent to teach them the powers within themselves. The tyger is being hunted by a man..or is he? Whom will stop at nothing to capture it and extinguish its light. Adam and Zadie show tremendous courage as they fight for their dreams, their families, their futures and the fate of their powerful but wounded friend. This book is a little bit like the His Dark Materials trio logo mixed with the Muslim culture and heritage and very much enthralling, deep, and harrowing. It both inspires and brings one to tears, seeing the children put through such tests and feats. Excellent.

Set in an alternate 21st century timeline where slavery is still legal in the British Empire, Adam Alhambra is a courier. His Middle Eastern Muslim parents have a Soho alterations shop. He makes deliveries for them to white patrons in the wealthier parts of the city. While fleeing from a robber, Adam escapes through a doorway and meets Tyger-an immortal animal thought to be extinct. Tyger asks for his help finding the Guardians who can reopen gateways to other worlds, so that the oppression of Urizen will be stopped. Adam agrees to help. Teaming up with Scheherazade “Zadie” True, a black Muslim girl from Timbuktu, the two set out to find the guardians. As they go along on their adventure, they are stalked by forces determined to destroy Tiger. Will they succeed?

The plot is well written, engaging, and full of adventure. The illustrations are black and white detailed sketches that complement the story. The characters are well developed, engaging, and believable. The world building is well drawn and draws the reader into the story. Readers who like fantasy, adventure, and alternate universes will want to pick this one up. Recommended for most library collections. 4 stars, Gr 5 to 9.

I concur with other reviewers who stated that this has the potential to become a middle grades classic. Important themes are tucked within a beautiful story, accompanied by magical illustrations. I think it will appeal to readers who enjoy A Wrinkle in Time.

Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher for providing the advanced digital copy of this book in exchange for my honest review.

A wonderful, semi-spiritual fantasy novel set in an alternate universe version of (Victorian?) London where slavery was never abolished and the British Empire expands over nearly the entire planet. Two young Muslim teenagers accidentally come into contact with a supposedly extinct tyger (the spelling used in the book) who is revealed to be the mortal embodiment of a god who has been in conflict with another immortal deity across timelines and universes since providing humans with a "spark" of infinite power. The children must quickly learn to use their new found powers to save the tyger while, inspired by the demonic efforts of the other deity, London begins to burn and fall into mob rule around them.

An extremely timely read, and a beautiful telling of what can happen when you hone your powers of perception, imagination and creativity. This book longs for and deserves classroom discussion and to be written about in essays.

Positives for this middle grade book:
Sparks imagination in the reader
Black and white illustrations throughout are amazing
The length will be appealing to readers of this age.

Areas that didn't hit home for me:
The simplicity of the tyger at the beginning being in danger and able to hide
I like the concept and the obvious societal differences, but the characters didn't really grab me.