Tiger Boy by Mitali Perkins

When Neel hears a tiger cub has gone missing from the nature reserve, he's worried.  They have lots of natural predators on the island and the new landowner is a big predator himself.  He wants the tiger cub so he can sell the cub's body parts and make a lot of money.

Charlesbridge Publishing and Net Galley allowed me to read this book for review (thank you).  It is being published today, so check with your local bookstore for a copy.

Neel is a good student at everything but math.  He has chance for a scholarship and he's supposed to be concentrating on improving his math.  He'd rather hunt for the tiger cub.  He really doesn't want to leave his home and family for school.  But with an education, he'd be able to get a better job and help his family.  When the school master says the only way he will make it is with a tutor's help, it gets even worse.  All his father can do to make more money is work for Mr. Gupta.  And Gupta wants to find the tiger cub.

This is the story of a young man's journey towards adulthood.  He feels awful about the pressure on his father and about the missing tiger cub.  He's going to save the tiger cub first.  It's a good thing he has a strong family and was raised with the right beliefs.

I like Ms. Perkins way of making you see the environment you are in and her characters are full of life.  Neel has some tough decisions to make.  He does well with that despite the odds.  I admire how he works out his problems.  Why not visit the Sunderbans of West Bengal?