Status
Available
Call number
Genres
Collections
Publication
Hodder Children's Books (2005), Paperback, 224 pages
Description
Five young warrior-monk brothers survive an insurrection and must use the ancient arts to avenge their Grandmaster.
User reviews
LibraryThing member mattlhm
Jeff Stone's Tiger (The Five Ancestors, Book 1) takes the reader to 17th century China in order to witness the fleeing of Fu, a prepubescent Buddhist monk caught up in a power grab that results in the destruction of Cangzhen, his temple home. Leading the assault on the temple is Ying, a teenage
Show More
wunderkind of a warrior whose out for revenge and the chance to possess the knowledge and prominence that will place him above all men, including a witless emperor contracting his services. Tiger' plays out like any of a number of clumsy, ragtag kung fu movies from the 1970s. Characters speak somber thoughts that aspire to be philosopical but come off as merely trite and curt in their delivery. And it's a stretch to believe that a teenage boy such as Ying, the story's antagonist, could command the respect and loyalty of men in high places that are years older. Of course, the author uses this character's age to attract teenage readers, but Ying's persistent anger and sniping at the adults he commands make him essentionally one-dimensional. As this book is the first in a series, Ying's character may evolve into one of substance and believability in the sequels that follow. Here, it only goes to detract from a better story around it. This book can be used as a companion piece to sixth grade history on the topics of China and Buddhism. Show Less
LibraryThing member heidilove
wow. this is a great book. nicely conceived and carried through, i can't wait for the rest.
LibraryThing member JRlibrary
If you do not trust people, you make them untrustworthy.
"I fear the one kick you've practiced ten thousand times, not the ten thousand kicks you've practiced only once."
"I fear the one kick you've practiced ten thousand times, not the ten thousand kicks you've practiced only once."
LibraryThing member numbert
This is a great series made off the popular chineese tale of the five ansestors. In each of the books you folow each of the charectors through the same story but from different perspectives getting farther in the plot each time. It is an excellent series for anyone who is interested in chineese
Show More
history or martial arts. I was fortunete enough to meet the author at a book store and more of the series should be on the way. Show Less
LibraryThing member nevinr3
A interesting series, very informational. Action packed. I was interested like a dog and a fire hydrant,.
LibraryThing member kairstream
Author Jeff Stone presented at IRA Regional Conference in 2010. Books include high interest for reluctant readers. Stories include martial arts and characters take on characteristics of the animal but they don't morph.
LibraryThing member benfulton
Really liked this. The author dances an amazing dance around giving his characters superpowers - every second you expect the tiger child to morph into a tiger or display superhuman tigerlike strength or something - but it doesn't happen. Although the main character is identified tightly with a
Stone also has the most precise descriptions of martial arts fights I've ever seen in a fiction book. It's just not that often you are told exactly how and why to use a horse stance in a fight, and have it backed up with solid examples. In addition, one scene where a character attempts to execute a difficult kick without proper training, and hurts himself rather badly in the process, is really priceless.
Others have said that these are good books to start non-readers off with, but I'm not sure - I think the drama is built up painstakingly enough that new readers will lose interest fairly quickly. I think the best target reader is the kid who reads a lot and maybe needs a little push to get interested in doing something physical. The author's lucid descriptions of power under control, and the consequences of failing to have either power or control, should really capture the imagination of a bright child.
Show More
tiger, at least through the end of this book he remains strictly human - a highly trained, child prodigy of a fighting warrior monk human, to be sure - but still a human.Stone also has the most precise descriptions of martial arts fights I've ever seen in a fiction book. It's just not that often you are told exactly how and why to use a horse stance in a fight, and have it backed up with solid examples. In addition, one scene where a character attempts to execute a difficult kick without proper training, and hurts himself rather badly in the process, is really priceless.
Others have said that these are good books to start non-readers off with, but I'm not sure - I think the drama is built up painstakingly enough that new readers will lose interest fairly quickly. I think the best target reader is the kid who reads a lot and maybe needs a little push to get interested in doing something physical. The author's lucid descriptions of power under control, and the consequences of failing to have either power or control, should really capture the imagination of a bright child.
Show Less
LibraryThing member tygers_eye
This book was a great type of Chinese Kung fu history.I loved how the cover showed the essence of the book-a picture of the main character of the story's face, and then showed a picture of their name. I thought this book was unique, and was a suspensely riveting story that anyone woul want to read.
LibraryThing member mirrani
Tiger is a great book for young readers who want a simple plot with lots of action. The character is a kung fu trained monk with the spirit and fighting style of a tiger. The plot if full of martial arts, plans for revenge and the typical lessons one would expect in a story from China set in the
Show More
1600's. This was a very difficult book to put down, and thanks to the easy writing style it was a very satisfying experience that fit into one sitting. A must-read for young fans of martial arts. Show Less
LibraryThing member brandib90
"Tiger" is a great book that shows the evolution of a Chinese monk through the years growing up at this Martial Arts temple. This book is the story of Tiger and his "brothers" growing into their "powers" and learning that they need to stop a rouge monk from their past. This boo would be a great
Show More
book for students to lose themselves in because there is no moral behind this book. The main purpose of this book is to entertain, and the readers will learn a lot about the different martial arts styles in this series. Show Less
Awards
Great Stone Face Book Award (Nominee — 2007)
Nēnē Award (Nominee — 2007, 2008, 2009, 2010)
Iowa Children's Choice Award (Nominee — 2009)
Book Sense Children's Pick (2005)
Best Fiction for Young Adults (Selection — 2006)
Language
Physical description
224 p.; 7.56 inches
ISBN
0340902302 / 9780340902301
Local notes
Twelve-year-old Fu and his temple brothers Malao, Seh, Hok, and Long don’t know who their parents were. Raised from infancy by their grandmaster, they think of their temple as their home and their fellow warrior monks—their “temple brothers”—as their family. Then one terrible night, the temple is destroyed. Fu and his brothers are the only survivors. Charged by their grandmaster to uncover the secrets of their past, the five flee into the countryside and go their separate ways.