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The Tiger Who Sleeps Under My Chair
Steeped in the natural history of Mary Anning's Jurassic coast, a powerful dual timeline story about fossils, friendship and a family secret finally come to light.
London, 1880s: High up under the eaves of her father's townhouse, twelve-year-old Emma Linden lives and never goes out. Her dream is to follow in the footsteps of Mary Anning, the famous fossil hunter. But Emma is kept hidden away from all the world, science and study, the tools that keep her mind well. When Emma's brother, James, begins to speak obsessively of a tiger gifted to the Natural History Museum, everything she holds certain begins to crumble. Their only refuge is Kersbrook, the magical family home on the Devon coast.
Devon, 2023: After Rosie Linden has been found, missing for four days and four nights, no one believes her when she says she has turned into a tiger. A surprise inheritance and an unlikely friendship guide Rosie as she begins her journey to recovery. But as the mysteries around her family history threaten to unravel, past and present blur and a shadow looms. Tigers are prowling once more...
A beautifully told story full of hope and healing, empathy and acceptance, which challenges our perceptions of, and how we value, those who see things differently. For 9+
London, 1880s: High up under the eaves of her father's townhouse, twelve-year-old Emma Linden lives and never goes out. Her dream is to follow in the footsteps of Mary Anning, the famous fossil hunter. But Emma is kept hidden away from all the world, science and study, the tools that keep her mind well. When Emma's brother, James, begins to speak obsessively of a tiger gifted to the Natural History Museum, everything she holds certain begins to crumble. Their only refuge is Kersbrook, the magical family home on the Devon coast.
Devon, 2023: After Rosie Linden has been found, missing for four days and four nights, no one believes her when she says she has turned into a tiger. A surprise inheritance and an unlikely friendship guide Rosie as she begins her journey to recovery. But as the mysteries around her family history threaten to unravel, past and present blur and a shadow looms. Tigers are prowling once more...
A beautifully told story full of hope and healing, empathy and acceptance, which challenges our perceptions of, and how we value, those who see things differently. For 9+
320 pages, Paperback
Published February 2, 2023
70 people want to read
About the author
Hannah Foley
2 books1 followerIn 2018, Hannah won the Kelpies Prize with her first novel for children, The Spellbinding Secret of Avery Buckle. In 2023, her second novel, The Tiger Who Sleeps Under My Chair, will be published by Zephyr Books.
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Displaying 1 - 27 of 27 reviews
February 7, 2023
A dual timeline intertwining the stories of Emma and James in the late 1800s with Rosie and Jude in a modern day setting, focusing on mental health, friendship and putting yourself first
I loved how the two time periods slowly began to link, allowing you to see links between the main characters, even if some of them were as sad then as they are now.
A beautiful little story.
I loved how the two time periods slowly began to link, allowing you to see links between the main characters, even if some of them were as sad then as they are now.
A beautiful little story.
October 25, 2022
I found this story utterly compelling. A beautifully woven rich story set in 2 time periods. A family connection, as well as plot events, bind the 2 narratives together really well. The portrayal of mental illness is gently handled and very appropriate for children. I loved the connection to Mary Anning too. Friendship, bravery, history and enough mystery to keep you turning the pages: would highly recommend.
February 12, 2023
NetGalley
Set in two time periods, the story tells of different generations of the Linden family, whose members suffer from episodes of psychosis, but who find comfort and support in loyal, loving friendships.
This is one of the few novels for younger teenagers that tackles mental illness and it does so in a meaningful, relatable way; I can see this novel being extremely useful in breaking down stigma and creating an opening for honest discussion.
As well as being a great book for discussing mental health, it also paid huge tribute to Mary Anning and touched on women’s rights in C19th; always a winner for me.
Although I sort of got the metaphor of the tiger, I almost wished this hadn’t been included by the end as I thought it started to get a bit lost and could detract from the real issues. It would have been even better if it could have allowed the issue of mental illness to stand alone, without the complication of suggesting there was some kind of therianthropy going on. There were also some scene jumping issues where the reader hadn’t quite been given enough information to follow the plot. But all in all, this is a good story which will be enjoyed by a target audience of 9-14 year olds.
Thanks to Netgalley for this eARC.
Set in two time periods, the story tells of different generations of the Linden family, whose members suffer from episodes of psychosis, but who find comfort and support in loyal, loving friendships.
This is one of the few novels for younger teenagers that tackles mental illness and it does so in a meaningful, relatable way; I can see this novel being extremely useful in breaking down stigma and creating an opening for honest discussion.
As well as being a great book for discussing mental health, it also paid huge tribute to Mary Anning and touched on women’s rights in C19th; always a winner for me.
Although I sort of got the metaphor of the tiger, I almost wished this hadn’t been included by the end as I thought it started to get a bit lost and could detract from the real issues. It would have been even better if it could have allowed the issue of mental illness to stand alone, without the complication of suggesting there was some kind of therianthropy going on. There were also some scene jumping issues where the reader hadn’t quite been given enough information to follow the plot. But all in all, this is a good story which will be enjoyed by a target audience of 9-14 year olds.
Thanks to Netgalley for this eARC.
February 12, 2023
This heartfelt, gripping, page-turning story is one of the best books I've read in recent years. I was thinking about the characters and story for days after finishing the final page. Important, clever and thoroughly enjoyable! I'm afraid my review can't possibly do it justice.
This is a powerful story, told through the experiences of two characters, who each live in different time periods. It follows them and their young friendships/family groups - one in Victorian England & the other in Devon UK from 2023-2027. There are mysterious and fascinating connections discovered between their tales. With themes of friendship, family, mental illness, the power of landscape and the history of women in science - the story's cleverly revealed through interwoven dual narratives. The mystery and drama builds in one time zone, often leaving us on cliffhanger chapter endings when the narrative shifts to the other time period. A definite page turner.
The characters are beautifully portrayed and I became fully invested in their lives. The different time periods offer contrast and similarity, enriching each thread and allowing for further mystery and intrigue. There are subtle suggestions of possible supernatural or other-worldly explanations for events, adding to what is primarily a fact based, eye-opening tale.
There's even further facts at the end for readers who want to learn more about the real life events and people mentioned in the story.
I highly recommend this book to 8+ children and adults. It's a book that I hope will be used in schools, talked about in book groups and recommended to friends and family to enjoy.
I adored the author's first magical and fantastical novel. But The Tiger Who Sleeps Under My Chair has blown me away. I rarely re-read books as an adult but I already want to read this one again. It has now become one of my all time favourite books!
This is a powerful story, told through the experiences of two characters, who each live in different time periods. It follows them and their young friendships/family groups - one in Victorian England & the other in Devon UK from 2023-2027. There are mysterious and fascinating connections discovered between their tales. With themes of friendship, family, mental illness, the power of landscape and the history of women in science - the story's cleverly revealed through interwoven dual narratives. The mystery and drama builds in one time zone, often leaving us on cliffhanger chapter endings when the narrative shifts to the other time period. A definite page turner.
The characters are beautifully portrayed and I became fully invested in their lives. The different time periods offer contrast and similarity, enriching each thread and allowing for further mystery and intrigue. There are subtle suggestions of possible supernatural or other-worldly explanations for events, adding to what is primarily a fact based, eye-opening tale.
There's even further facts at the end for readers who want to learn more about the real life events and people mentioned in the story.
I highly recommend this book to 8+ children and adults. It's a book that I hope will be used in schools, talked about in book groups and recommended to friends and family to enjoy.
I adored the author's first magical and fantastical novel. But The Tiger Who Sleeps Under My Chair has blown me away. I rarely re-read books as an adult but I already want to read this one again. It has now become one of my all time favourite books!
February 16, 2023
A beautifully written story contrasting mental health issues across two different eras. Both timelines were wonderfully intertwined, with a beautiful backdrop of Devon. Can’t wait for this author’s next creation!
May 20, 2023
I couldn't put this book down. I would describe this novel as having an 'epic' feel due to the expanse of time periods, geographical locations, geology and 'expansive' exploration of human experience.
Despite the suggested category of 'young fiction' as an adult reader I wouldn't have necessarily have been able to attribute an age bracket to this novel because to me the narrative theme itself is timeless. We discussed the book in our (adult) book group and one of the questions was; 'should the depiction of mental illness have been more realistic'? This sparked a great discussion around the use of story/narrative to describe feelings. Not one person will experience a physical or mental illness or an impactful life event in the same way. 'Clinical symptoms' will vary and we questioned how far they go in helping us describe our own experiences, or to understand and empathise with someone else. The fact that the author chose to depict mental illness through the narrative of a transformation into another species gave a unique and powerful insight into how 'clinical' symptoms may make someone feel. We discussed how potentially a description of mental illness experience can portray an 'absence' of a 'normal' state of mind, whereas we loved how the tiger narrative introduces a different angle; of transformation. Nothing was 'taken away' from the characters who experienced mental health challenges, they were not described by the author as 'lesser', but as having different characteristics in that moment. Characters were upheld for difference. Wouldn't it be amazing if that intention could translate into real life more often. Our book group felt this was a respectful and empowering way to view these situations, despite the challenges and gave us a different perspective on some personal situations.
We also liked how the author had included 'tips' on supporting each other with mental illness but these did not feel like 'clunky insertions' but a natural part of the character narratives.
Personally I loved the narrative style, the story telling was vivid and visceral. I can almost smell the attic, the porch of Kersbrook, and have an image of the search in the snow imprinted on my mind's eye. Regarding the flourish of magic at the end (did she or didn't she?!), I loved this inclusion as a challenge to consider what we perceive as reality and how far we let that go. Reality is broad and untamed, and it often feels hard to understand it especially from different points of view. This was perfectly depicted and addressed in this novel.
Despite the suggested category of 'young fiction' as an adult reader I wouldn't have necessarily have been able to attribute an age bracket to this novel because to me the narrative theme itself is timeless. We discussed the book in our (adult) book group and one of the questions was; 'should the depiction of mental illness have been more realistic'? This sparked a great discussion around the use of story/narrative to describe feelings. Not one person will experience a physical or mental illness or an impactful life event in the same way. 'Clinical symptoms' will vary and we questioned how far they go in helping us describe our own experiences, or to understand and empathise with someone else. The fact that the author chose to depict mental illness through the narrative of a transformation into another species gave a unique and powerful insight into how 'clinical' symptoms may make someone feel. We discussed how potentially a description of mental illness experience can portray an 'absence' of a 'normal' state of mind, whereas we loved how the tiger narrative introduces a different angle; of transformation. Nothing was 'taken away' from the characters who experienced mental health challenges, they were not described by the author as 'lesser', but as having different characteristics in that moment. Characters were upheld for difference. Wouldn't it be amazing if that intention could translate into real life more often. Our book group felt this was a respectful and empowering way to view these situations, despite the challenges and gave us a different perspective on some personal situations.
We also liked how the author had included 'tips' on supporting each other with mental illness but these did not feel like 'clunky insertions' but a natural part of the character narratives.
Personally I loved the narrative style, the story telling was vivid and visceral. I can almost smell the attic, the porch of Kersbrook, and have an image of the search in the snow imprinted on my mind's eye. Regarding the flourish of magic at the end (did she or didn't she?!), I loved this inclusion as a challenge to consider what we perceive as reality and how far we let that go. Reality is broad and untamed, and it often feels hard to understand it especially from different points of view. This was perfectly depicted and addressed in this novel.
March 4, 2023
Very engaging novel, with a sunny feel to it despite half of it being set in Victorian times, and a lot of its contents concerning mental health. Back when, Emma has been locked up in her attic rooms to learn from books, not allowed to have any emotions or contact with anyone, in case she does the embarrassing thing and has a turn. All she has from the outside world are letters from her student brother, and memories of a summer at the seaside on the Jurassic coast. Nowadays, Jude finds a girl in his English class after she's been AWOL for four days, talking oddly about tigers – the same subject with which Emma's brother is fascinated. Jude has a disappointment in his own life, and finds time with her as she heals both therapeutic and fun.
What we have then are the two individual storylines, the ups and downs of which can be quite soapy at times, and the slow drip-drip of the connections between the two. This is frustrated, however, by a complete lack of realism – someone has one box of things to go through and does it one item per day, seemingly. Why? Nobody would ever do it like that, whatever their mental state. This makes for an incredibly contrived situation, which perhaps the target reader can miss or ignore, but older readers will definitely find a flaw.
Luckily, however, what replaces it is the bulk of the plot, and it's just a sterling achievement. Touching on the fantasy, or fantastical (or magical realism, or whatever you want to call it), it's a gripping drama. Peopled with likeable characters, whatever their mental situation, the whole thing packs a lot in, from the sexism of science back in Mary Anning's day to modern quests for a family's truth. The ropey delay forced on someone then, is soon forgotten, and memories are left of a compellingly different read, that probably deserves four and a half stars.
What we have then are the two individual storylines, the ups and downs of which can be quite soapy at times, and the slow drip-drip of the connections between the two. This is frustrated, however, by a complete lack of realism – someone has one box of things to go through and does it one item per day, seemingly. Why? Nobody would ever do it like that, whatever their mental state. This makes for an incredibly contrived situation, which perhaps the target reader can miss or ignore, but older readers will definitely find a flaw.
Luckily, however, what replaces it is the bulk of the plot, and it's just a sterling achievement. Touching on the fantasy, or fantastical (or magical realism, or whatever you want to call it), it's a gripping drama. Peopled with likeable characters, whatever their mental situation, the whole thing packs a lot in, from the sexism of science back in Mary Anning's day to modern quests for a family's truth. The ropey delay forced on someone then, is soon forgotten, and memories are left of a compellingly different read, that probably deserves four and a half stars.
January 22, 2023
The Tiger Who Sleeps Under My Chair
By Hannah Foley
Published by Head of Zeus
What a gorgeous story told with pure passion for friendship, loyalty and trust.
With the natural history of Mary Anning's Jurassic Coast in the background of this dual-timeline, hidden stories unfold between 1884 and 2022. Emma Linden dreams of following in the footsteps of the famous fossil-hunter, Mary Anning on the Jurassic Coast. But Emma's world crumbles when her brother James becomes obsessed with a glassy-eyed tiger at the museum. More than a hundred years later, her descendant Rosie Linden goes missing, her mind full of prowling tigers. With her new friend Jude, Rosie uncovers family secrets buried like layer upon layer of rock. Together they must sift the past to find the truth and heal the present. Praise for Hannah Foley 'A great friendship story, fascinating, intricate and hopeful.' Hilary McKay author of The Skylarks' War '[An] expansive story about mental health, hidden stories and friendship.' The Bookseller One to Watch 'A bold, courageous and important book.' Sophie Kirtley author of The Wild Way Home
Friendship hope secrets mental health
Joanne Bardgett - teacher of littlies, lover of Children’s literature
#Netgallery
#headofzeus
#hannahfoley
By Hannah Foley
Published by Head of Zeus
What a gorgeous story told with pure passion for friendship, loyalty and trust.
With the natural history of Mary Anning's Jurassic Coast in the background of this dual-timeline, hidden stories unfold between 1884 and 2022. Emma Linden dreams of following in the footsteps of the famous fossil-hunter, Mary Anning on the Jurassic Coast. But Emma's world crumbles when her brother James becomes obsessed with a glassy-eyed tiger at the museum. More than a hundred years later, her descendant Rosie Linden goes missing, her mind full of prowling tigers. With her new friend Jude, Rosie uncovers family secrets buried like layer upon layer of rock. Together they must sift the past to find the truth and heal the present. Praise for Hannah Foley 'A great friendship story, fascinating, intricate and hopeful.' Hilary McKay author of The Skylarks' War '[An] expansive story about mental health, hidden stories and friendship.' The Bookseller One to Watch 'A bold, courageous and important book.' Sophie Kirtley author of The Wild Way Home
Friendship hope secrets mental health
Joanne Bardgett - teacher of littlies, lover of Children’s literature
#Netgallery
#headofzeus
#hannahfoley
December 9, 2022
The tiger who sleeps under my chair
Earc:NetGalley
Publisher: @Head of Zeus, Zephyr
Publication Date: 2 Feb 2023
Genre: Children's, Teens and Young Adult
Emma
Some of the wording seems synomos and not suitiable for all younger readers. For teens I wouod say 13 + due to the context of this book.
The book was quite different from what I expected, but I still enjoyed it. I thought it was some kind of magic mystery where someone suddenly turns into a tiger, but it ended up being a mental health discussion with family ties and a background interest in fossils ( This is because the story is something else that ties the two stories together, plus I love dinosaurs, so I still enjoyed it.
I liked that mental health was discussed in children's books. I've never come across a book like that. I don't suffer from mental illness myself so I can't say for sure, but I think it's important for children to be informed and know they're not alone.
I also liked the way it was written. I will definitely consider reading other books by this author in the future!
#NetGalley #bookstagram#bookreview #mentalhealth #TheTigerWhoSleepsUnderMyChair
Earc:NetGalley
Publisher: @Head of Zeus, Zephyr
Publication Date: 2 Feb 2023
Genre: Children's, Teens and Young Adult
Emma
Some of the wording seems synomos and not suitiable for all younger readers. For teens I wouod say 13 + due to the context of this book.
The book was quite different from what I expected, but I still enjoyed it. I thought it was some kind of magic mystery where someone suddenly turns into a tiger, but it ended up being a mental health discussion with family ties and a background interest in fossils ( This is because the story is something else that ties the two stories together, plus I love dinosaurs, so I still enjoyed it.
I liked that mental health was discussed in children's books. I've never come across a book like that. I don't suffer from mental illness myself so I can't say for sure, but I think it's important for children to be informed and know they're not alone.
I also liked the way it was written. I will definitely consider reading other books by this author in the future!
#NetGalley #bookstagram#bookreview #mentalhealth #TheTigerWhoSleepsUnderMyChair
April 20, 2023
⭐⭐⭐⭐
"The Tiger Who Sleeps Under My Chair" by Hannah Foley is a beautifully written, middle-grade novel that tells the story of Emma Linden who dreams of following in the footsteps of Mary Anning, and of Rosie Linden who after going missing for four days has to deal with her own mental health issues. The dual timeline plot, set in London in the 1880s and Devon in 2023, follows the same family lineage and is steeped in natural history surrounding the Jurassic Coast.
The author has done an amazing job of tackling mental health issues and presenting them in a way that younger readers can relate to. The novel emphasizes the importance of empathy, acceptance, and support, which are essential for healing. The friendships between the characters are heartwarming and add depth to the story.
The cover of this book immediately catches your attention with its beautiful artwork. I loved how Hannah Foley included history surrounding Mary Anning, which adds another layer to the plot. Overall, "The Tiger Who Sleeps Under My Chair" is an excellent read that combines adventure, mystery, history, and personal growth, all wrapped up in one captivating story.
**ARC Via NetGalley**
"The Tiger Who Sleeps Under My Chair" by Hannah Foley is a beautifully written, middle-grade novel that tells the story of Emma Linden who dreams of following in the footsteps of Mary Anning, and of Rosie Linden who after going missing for four days has to deal with her own mental health issues. The dual timeline plot, set in London in the 1880s and Devon in 2023, follows the same family lineage and is steeped in natural history surrounding the Jurassic Coast.
The author has done an amazing job of tackling mental health issues and presenting them in a way that younger readers can relate to. The novel emphasizes the importance of empathy, acceptance, and support, which are essential for healing. The friendships between the characters are heartwarming and add depth to the story.
The cover of this book immediately catches your attention with its beautiful artwork. I loved how Hannah Foley included history surrounding Mary Anning, which adds another layer to the plot. Overall, "The Tiger Who Sleeps Under My Chair" is an excellent read that combines adventure, mystery, history, and personal growth, all wrapped up in one captivating story.
**ARC Via NetGalley**
December 29, 2022
Big thank you to Netgalley for providing me with an eARC!
This is one of those books that you walk away from feeling empowered. The resolution was sad but the messages the story contained were so good and hopeful that I couldn't help but leave it feeling optimistic. My favorite thing about this book was the empathy the characters had for one another. Today's world is all about looking out for yourself and doing whatever it takes to protect your image even if it comes at the expense of someone else. But this book was so refreshing because it centered around characters who cared more about each other's well-being than anyone's approval.
I loved Jude's character in particular. He didn't see Rosie as fragile or feel like he needed to treat her any differently because of her mental illness but consistently encouraged and affirmed her all throughout the story. And as I mentioned above, I admired his courage to pursue a friendship with Rosie no matter what anyone at their school might think of him.
This book uses a dual-timeline and I had a little trouble towards the end when the past and present started to overlap keeping the Linden family history straight but, other than that, I think this format really worked for the story and I enjoyed the suspense which came with waiting to return to Emma or Jude's story-line. Finally, I liked how this book feels accessible for all ages. It's not too long and it can be a great mental health conversation starter for families.
Overall, I'm so happy that I read this book and would definitely recommend it! Happy Reading :)
This is one of those books that you walk away from feeling empowered. The resolution was sad but the messages the story contained were so good and hopeful that I couldn't help but leave it feeling optimistic. My favorite thing about this book was the empathy the characters had for one another. Today's world is all about looking out for yourself and doing whatever it takes to protect your image even if it comes at the expense of someone else. But this book was so refreshing because it centered around characters who cared more about each other's well-being than anyone's approval.
I loved Jude's character in particular. He didn't see Rosie as fragile or feel like he needed to treat her any differently because of her mental illness but consistently encouraged and affirmed her all throughout the story. And as I mentioned above, I admired his courage to pursue a friendship with Rosie no matter what anyone at their school might think of him.
This book uses a dual-timeline and I had a little trouble towards the end when the past and present started to overlap keeping the Linden family history straight but, other than that, I think this format really worked for the story and I enjoyed the suspense which came with waiting to return to Emma or Jude's story-line. Finally, I liked how this book feels accessible for all ages. It's not too long and it can be a great mental health conversation starter for families.
Overall, I'm so happy that I read this book and would definitely recommend it! Happy Reading :)
February 20, 2025
C-5
A-7
W-4
P-3
I-4
L-5
E-4
Personally, I found this book quite young for me (teen), and think it would be better aimed at children or pre-teens. I had to read it for school and so I was already apprehensive when it came to starting the book as our school isn't known for the best taste in books. As I was reading I found it quite hard to relate to the characters as they all seamed quite young, although as I found out in the later half of the book they were supposed to be young adults, who were university age? The setting however was quite enjoyable, along the coast in Kersbrook, and I liked seeing the comparisons between the modern day characters and the older ones.
The book was themed around mental illnesses although for me it felt like Emma and Rosie's conditions were just left as this sort of unknown which I didn't really appreciate as I was intrigued into finding out more of their conditions.
A-7
W-4
P-3
I-4
L-5
E-4
Personally, I found this book quite young for me (teen), and think it would be better aimed at children or pre-teens. I had to read it for school and so I was already apprehensive when it came to starting the book as our school isn't known for the best taste in books. As I was reading I found it quite hard to relate to the characters as they all seamed quite young, although as I found out in the later half of the book they were supposed to be young adults, who were university age? The setting however was quite enjoyable, along the coast in Kersbrook, and I liked seeing the comparisons between the modern day characters and the older ones.
The book was themed around mental illnesses although for me it felt like Emma and Rosie's conditions were just left as this sort of unknown which I didn't really appreciate as I was intrigued into finding out more of their conditions.
November 2, 2022
This book was so different to what I was expecting, but I did enjoy it anyway. I thought it would be a bit like a magical mystery about someone who turned into a tiger out of the blue, but it ended up being more of a discussion on mental health with connections to family and a background interest in fossils (which was not relevant to the story, aside from being something else to connect the two narratives, but again I enjoyed it anyway because I love dinosaurs. Who doesn’t?)
I thought it was nice to have mental health be a discussion in a children’s book, it’s not something I’ve come across before. I can’t say the accuracy as I don’t have psychosis myself but I do think it’s an important thing for children to have information to, and to know they aren’t alone.
I loved the writing style too. I would definitely consider reading other things by this author in future!
I thought it was nice to have mental health be a discussion in a children’s book, it’s not something I’ve come across before. I can’t say the accuracy as I don’t have psychosis myself but I do think it’s an important thing for children to have information to, and to know they aren’t alone.
I loved the writing style too. I would definitely consider reading other things by this author in future!
January 21, 2023
Garo folklore speaks of turning into a tiger as a way of explaining mental illness. Mental illness is the theme of this book. A dual narrative from the present day and Victorian times tells the story of two young people from the same family who are struggling with mental health issues. The modern day approach is far more sympathetic than the Victorian approach which was to lock people away in mental asylums.
There are links to fossils and the work of Mary Anning as the family home is located on the Jurassic Coast.
This book was not what I was expecting but I quite enjoyed the story of friendship and support in times of adversity.
I received a free copy of this book via NetGalley in exchange for an honest review.
There are links to fossils and the work of Mary Anning as the family home is located on the Jurassic Coast.
This book was not what I was expecting but I quite enjoyed the story of friendship and support in times of adversity.
I received a free copy of this book via NetGalley in exchange for an honest review.
December 12, 2022
A beautifully woven story that is set across dual timelines with a family connection linking the intertwining stories. Shifting between London in the 1880s and Devon in 2023, this is a story that shines a light on perceptions and treatment of mental health. And whilst this is without a doubt key to the story, the thing that kept me turning pages was the friendships between the characters and that ever niggling little mystery of the tiger. It’s a story of hope, of empathy and of those who see the world differently. Magical storytelling with beautiful writing.
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January 24, 2023I received a free copy of this ARC in exchange for an honest review
This historical piece is admittedly confusing and hard to follow at times and by the end, I was still trying to work out how the two POVs were connected. I did rather enjoy Emma’s storyline and the interesting points raised about how mental health would be treated in Victorian times, The titular tiger’s first scene was powerful and raised questions about how the story would ultimately go by the end even if said end fell rather flat.
All in all an ok read. But only that.
This historical piece is admittedly confusing and hard to follow at times and by the end, I was still trying to work out how the two POVs were connected. I did rather enjoy Emma’s storyline and the interesting points raised about how mental health would be treated in Victorian times, The titular tiger’s first scene was powerful and raised questions about how the story would ultimately go by the end even if said end fell rather flat.
All in all an ok read. But only that.
May 28, 2023
I can't pinpoint exactly why this is my favourite read of the year so far except that I flew through it in a matter of days. The two different viewpoints; the take on mental health as embodying a tiger; wishing that James would get better; and the emotions I went through reading it. If a book can make you laugh, cry and feel like you're there with Jude and Rosie in the modern day and Emma, James and Olivier in the past then you know it's a good book. I will have to re-read it just to enjoy it again. Would definitely recommend.
February 3, 2023
I loved this story that I found moving, compelling and thought provoking. The author did an excellent job in dealing with the dual timeline and with an issue like mental health.
The plot is well developed and I loved the storytelling.
Highly recommended.
Many thanks to the publisher for this arc, all opinions are mine
The plot is well developed and I loved the storytelling.
Highly recommended.
Many thanks to the publisher for this arc, all opinions are mine
April 28, 2025
I absolutely loved this book.
I enjoyed the two time lines along side each other, the fierce love and passion of care among friends.
The way mental health has been addressed and how understanding of it has grown, and how that understanding still needs growth.
A satisfying and honest ending, just a beautifully written book. Thank you.
I enjoyed the two time lines along side each other, the fierce love and passion of care among friends.
The way mental health has been addressed and how understanding of it has grown, and how that understanding still needs growth.
A satisfying and honest ending, just a beautifully written book. Thank you.
September 30, 2024
This is a beautifully written book about family and friendship covering dual timelines. It addresses the way mental health was treated in both periods and attempts to destigmatise mental illness for younger readers while still telling a great story and being easy to read.
May 2, 2023
This is an excellent middle grade book with the grown up theme of mental health. I really liked the split narrative between the Victorian period and modern day. Highly recommended.
June 15, 2023
4+ something about it, really enjoyed it
November 21, 2023
A great book about mental health spanning generations. Bonus interview with author at the end is wonderful.
November 22, 2024
A beautifully written novel. Thoroughly recommend.
October 6, 2023
The Tiger Who Sleeps Under My Chair - Hannah Foley -
Overall I really enjoyed this book, it broached the subject of mental health in a clever and simplistic way that made it easily accessible for younger readers and yet still appealed to this miserable old git.
It delivered a message and lessons without preaching or labouring the point which allowed the reader to soak it up organically.
I felt that it was a great tool to help children understand mental health suffering.
I did think that the first few chapters regarding Emma seemed to move a tiny bit too fast. I needed a little bit more description of surroundings, etc and a slightly calmer pace to establish the previous events that had lead to the story.
I also felt that the children from the 19th century chapters all acted very adult for their years, seeming to get away with making choices that should have got them in to trouble.
It may have helped to know all of the children’s ages to picture them more clearly and understand the freedoms that they were granted. If James and Olivier were teens creeping up on adulthood, then it made more sense.
I’d actually forgotten Emma’s age, perhaps because of her naïveté, as a result of her imposed isolation and therefore imagined her more as a ten year old and it was only when I got to around page 200 that the ages of those in 2023 were revealed.
I really did like the modern chapters though. They flowed really well and were easy and clear to understand. They felt more appropriate for the younger reader, because while they were still essentially dealing with the topic of mental health, they covered it so simply and it would obviously be a more recognisable world for them. I could see the TV series ‘Hollyoaks’, ‘Heartstopper’ and ’Sex Education’ in what I read, because of their more teenage storylines.
I liked the way that the two time periods were written in different ways. Emma’s was a narrated style and Jude’s was a first person perspective. It helped to separate the situations alongside appropriate language and slang to indicate the generational differences.
And the small illustrations throughout added character and charm, as well as something to keep kids interested as they looked through the book, with an idea that they would want to know what might be drawn on the next page.
There were a couple of proof reading and editorial moments that I might have changed or added to. Some occasions where things had moved too fast without a full explanation. Emma returned to a room I didn’t know that she had left and Jude’s Mum knew things that he hadn’t explained, but that’s me being really nit-picky, as I would hope people would be with my own works in order to help me move forward with my writing.
I also liked the various notes and additions at the back of the book and thought that it was another great example of how to teach empathy to a younger audience and give interesting information about things that had been referenced throughout.
If you start kids learning empathy and sympathy nice and early eventually we can build a better future.
I can’t wait to see what this author comes up with next and I hope that it is along the same lines, because it was a pleasure to read this one.
8.09/10.
Overall I really enjoyed this book, it broached the subject of mental health in a clever and simplistic way that made it easily accessible for younger readers and yet still appealed to this miserable old git.
It delivered a message and lessons without preaching or labouring the point which allowed the reader to soak it up organically.
I felt that it was a great tool to help children understand mental health suffering.
I did think that the first few chapters regarding Emma seemed to move a tiny bit too fast. I needed a little bit more description of surroundings, etc and a slightly calmer pace to establish the previous events that had lead to the story.
I also felt that the children from the 19th century chapters all acted very adult for their years, seeming to get away with making choices that should have got them in to trouble.
It may have helped to know all of the children’s ages to picture them more clearly and understand the freedoms that they were granted. If James and Olivier were teens creeping up on adulthood, then it made more sense.
I’d actually forgotten Emma’s age, perhaps because of her naïveté, as a result of her imposed isolation and therefore imagined her more as a ten year old and it was only when I got to around page 200 that the ages of those in 2023 were revealed.
I really did like the modern chapters though. They flowed really well and were easy and clear to understand. They felt more appropriate for the younger reader, because while they were still essentially dealing with the topic of mental health, they covered it so simply and it would obviously be a more recognisable world for them. I could see the TV series ‘Hollyoaks’, ‘Heartstopper’ and ’Sex Education’ in what I read, because of their more teenage storylines.
I liked the way that the two time periods were written in different ways. Emma’s was a narrated style and Jude’s was a first person perspective. It helped to separate the situations alongside appropriate language and slang to indicate the generational differences.
And the small illustrations throughout added character and charm, as well as something to keep kids interested as they looked through the book, with an idea that they would want to know what might be drawn on the next page.
There were a couple of proof reading and editorial moments that I might have changed or added to. Some occasions where things had moved too fast without a full explanation. Emma returned to a room I didn’t know that she had left and Jude’s Mum knew things that he hadn’t explained, but that’s me being really nit-picky, as I would hope people would be with my own works in order to help me move forward with my writing.
I also liked the various notes and additions at the back of the book and thought that it was another great example of how to teach empathy to a younger audience and give interesting information about things that had been referenced throughout.
If you start kids learning empathy and sympathy nice and early eventually we can build a better future.
I can’t wait to see what this author comes up with next and I hope that it is along the same lines, because it was a pleasure to read this one.
8.09/10.
January 9, 2024
The Tiger Who Sleeps Under My Chair by Hannah Foley manages to broach severe mental illness whilst remaining a heartfelt, gripping, page-turning story. Written with enormous empathy, the book shows young readers that successful treatments are available. Still, it is also realistic in that it shows that mental illness can recur and is not always cured in the same way an infection or broken bone might be. It also covers the importance of non-medical treatment.
The book is told through the experiences of two characters living in different periods. It follows them and their young friendships/family groups - one in Victorian England & the other in Devon, from 2023-2027. Mysterious and fascinating connections are discovered between their tales, with themes of friendship, family, mental illness, landscape power, and women's history in science - the stories are cleverly revealed through interwoven dual narratives.
Both timelines unfold beautifully, gently pulling the reader into the story's heart and holding them tight. The characters are perfectly realised, as is the setting, and the sensitive exploration of the mental health issues involved seems spot on.
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