Tiger's Fall

by Molly Bang

A feisty little girl learns that physical disability can't limit her ability to make a difference.

Lupe loves nothing better than riding her father's horse, El Diablo. Fearless and agile, she rampages around her rural village in Mexico like a tigrilla (little tiger), which is her father's nickname for her. But one day Lupe falls while climbing a tree. Paralyzed from the waist down, she will never again be able to ride El Diablo. Her life might as well be over, she thinks.

At first Lupe is filled with rage and self-pity. Her family brings her to a center run by and for disabled people, to recuperate. Despite the evidence around her, she refuses to believe that disabled people can be happy and self-sufficient, and she can't believe that these people think their lives are worth living. But slowly the people and the spirit of the center help Lupe realize that she, too, has something to offer.

Award-winning author/illustrator Molly Bang brings emotional honesty and bravery to this compelling, fact-based story of coming to terms with disability.

Genres: Middle Grade, Disability, Childrens

112 pages, Hardcover

First published September 1, 2001

Reviews

[Mir · Rating 3 out of 5]

Lupe, the oldest child of farmers, is an active child who works and plays hard. When she falls from a tree and is paralyzed from the waist down, her family is ruined by the medical bills and the treatment doesn't even help. When she almost dies from infection, her parents send her to a special "village" where disabled people live together and help one another.

Although Lupe is fictional, the PROJIMO is a real center in Western Mexico. Sadly, it is in an area rife with drug smuggling and violence. Many parents are afraid to bring their children there, and few doctors want to work at such risk, so patients must provide most of the care to one another.

I'm uncertain as the intended audience for this book. It might soften the hearts of people who are insensitive to the disabled or don't care about the international problems of poverty and inadequate medical care, but I don't see those people reading such a book. It could be inspirational for those who've recently suffered disabling accidents, but I tend to suspect that the last thing a depressed, injured person wants is yet another "inspirational" gift. It isn't really suitable for younger children because of the sickeningly graphic descriptions of sores, infections, rotting flesh, etc.

I got this book because I like Bang's art, but there are only a few small black-and-white drawings here. Once I started the book I actually expected something a bit different from what I got, because it begins with the conflict between Lupe and her spoiled, rich cousin Angelica. Angelica sneers at rural ways and it is her dare to climb the forbidden fig tree that leads to Lupe's injury. We get a brief scene where Angelica visits her cousin in the hospital and is subdued in manner and dress. At that point I was expecting continued interaction between the girls and maybe something "redemptive" where each learns to respect the other's good points, but we never see Angelica and her parents again. Odd from a structural point of view but I guess realistic.

Don't read this if you are squeamish or depressed. Really, you could just skip the book and give some time or money to a charity.

[The Styling Librarian · Rating 5 out of 5]

Tiger’s Fall by Molly Bang – 3rd grade and up – Inspiring, beautiful, upsetting book about a little girl who has a terrible accident and has to figure out how to help herself and her family.

[Amanda Roddey · Rating 4 out of 5]

Tiger's Fall by Molly Bang

Bang, Molly (2001) New York, New York: Henry Holt and Co.
Target Audience: 5th-7th

Lupe begins the story as a fearless character who happens to have a tragic accident leaving her with a life-threatening infection and paralyzing her from the waist down. Due to this new disability, she is heartbroken and self-loathing as she is also brought to live in a center for disabled people. The people in the village show her and help her to see that they can still live a happy and fulfilling life. As you read you see her evolve from a girl pitying herself for her handicap, to someone who realizes that she can bring others something truly special about herself.
Tiger’s Fall is very beneficial to use in the classroom for multiple reasons. It shows students that despite major setbacks they have, they can still do unbelievable things; they just need to have courage and look within themselves. Another great thing about this book is that it discusses illness and disability, a topic rarely brought up. It also does so in a way that brings up the idea that anyone can have a disability. And despite this, disabilities don’t take away from the person themselves.

[Michele Knott · Rating 3 out of 5]

Most books about characters with a disability for middle graders are about how a character that is born with a disability over comes it. This book instead shows the struggle of being able bodied and then becoming disabled. The character has to fight through all the emotions and not only try harder but forget what it's like to be able to do some of these things. I like that the author didn't wrap the ending up into a neat package. Some things get resolved, but not all. I also liked the setting - the character lives in Mexico and is poor. Something else the author has to fight to overcome.
My one issue is with the writing. Transitions from scene to scene are often awkward or non-existent. This messed with the flow of the book.

[Krista the Krazy Kataloguer · Rating 4 out of 5]

This was a good description of someone with a handicap set in another country. Readers may appreciate that other countries may not have health care facilties conveniently located as we do in this country.

[Peggy Harkins · Rating 3 out of 5]

A little bit preachy, though well written.

[Kristina · Rating 4 out of 5]

The author is very straight to the point. It is based off a real place in Mexico. It reminds me of the story Pollyanna.