NONFICTION BLOG #2: THE MAN-EATING TIGERS OF THE SUNDARBANS

NONFICTION BLOG #2: THE MAN-EATING TIGERS OF THE SUNDARBANS

Bibliographic Data

Briggs, Eleanor. 2001. THE MAN-EATING TIGERS OF THE SUNDARBANS. by Sy Montgomery. New York: Houghton Mifflin Company. ISBN: 0-618-07704-9

Summary

In this photo essay the reader is taken on a trip to the Sundarbans Tiger Reserve along the Bay of Bengal, between the countries of India and Bangladesh. About three hundred people a year are killed by the tigers of the Sundarbans and no one knows why. This book asks questions and shares findings from scientists and the natives to try to solve the mystery of the man eating tigers of the Sudarbans.

Critical Analysis

The layout of the book is very attractive. I was immediately drawn to the book because of the beautiful photography of the tiger on the cover as well as the title, THE MAN-EATING TIGERS OF THE SUNDARBANS. The author Sy Montgomery traveled to the Sundarbans on four separate expeditions searching for answers to the mysteries surround the tigers that live there. She listened to scientists and stories of the villagers who live by and respect the tigers on the reserve. I believe this sort of research and travel lead to a very accurately written nonfiction book. The layout is logical and there is a clear sequence to the information. There are six sections separated by titles much like chapters. The first section titled The Tiger is Watching serves as an introduction and attention grabber, where many questions and ideas on how to solve the mystery of the man eating tigers are posed to the reader. Other sections include A Visit to the Sundarbans, which serves to teach the reader about the natural wildlife of the Sundarbans, How Tigers Live, What the Scientists Say, What the Villagers Say and lastly Tiger Magic. The writing is clear, lively and exciting and avoids “talking down” to the reader. The writing encourages curiosity in the reader by sharing hypothesis from scientists and villagers stories to encourage critical thinking skills. Facts are presented but the author acknowledges that the answers are not black and white and therefore lead to more questions and inquiry. The photography complements the journey the reader is taken on to the Sundarbans. There are many pictures of wildlife, villagers, mangrove forests and close up photos of the tigers, which along with the personal voice of the writing make it seem as if the reader has been taken on a personal trip to the Sundarbans themselves. The back of the book includes a section on how to say some phrases in Bengali, statistics on tigers, other books on tigers and a list of organizations helping tigers.

Review Excerpt(s)

From School Library Journal
Gr 5-9-These unusual creatures of the Sundarbans-a mangrove forest stretching along the Bay of Bengal in India and Bangladesh-really do hunt and eat humans. Montgomery invites readers to journey with her to the region to better understand these elusive animals. "And here you-leave cars behind. You can get to the tigers' forest only by boat." She introduces several knowledgeable residents who describe their experiences. The author also explains many aspects of the rapid loss of the world's tiger population, the little understood behavior of this region's tigers, the lives and beliefs of local people, and the special features of the habitat and its role in supporting a chain of animal life. The largely conjectural knowledge of the tigers is handled carefully, but the lack of immediacy may tax the patience of readers expecting the more dramatic encounter with tigers suggested by the title and cover photo. The mysterious creatures are well concealed by the mangroves, and the few appearing here in handsome photographs are actually in captivity..-Margaret Bush, Simmons College, Boston
Copyright 2001 Cahners Business Information, Inc.

From Booklist
Gr. 4-7. The author of the acclaimed Snake Scientist (1999) has spun off this title from her 1995 adult book Spell of the Tiger, but this oversize volume has clearly been written with young people in mind. It immediately captures attention with fresh, engaging writing that turns a scientific study into a page-turning mystery. Montgomery carefully sets the place: a flooded forest called the Sundarbans Tiger Reserve, which runs along the bay dividing India from Bangladesh. It's the text, with as many questions as answers, that excites, as a fascinating topic meets a talented storyteller. Ilene CooperCopyright © American Library Association. All rights reserved Booklist, ALA, Starred Review : "Immediately captures attention with a fresh, engaging style that turns scientific study into a page-turning mystery. . . . A fascinating topic meets a talented storyteller."

Connections

Encantado: Pink Dolphin of the Amazon by Sy Montgomery

Man-Eaters of Kumaon (Oxford India Paperbacks) by Jim Corbett

Journey of the Pink Dolphins: An Amazon Quest by Sy Montgomery

Jungle Lore by Jim Corbett

The Man-eating Leopard of Rudraprayag (Oxford India Paperbacks) by Jim Corbett

Activities

Students can write to some of the organizations helping tigers for more information.