{"product_id":"roar-isbn-9780593699058","title":"Roar","description":"\u003cb\u003eThe \u003ci\u003eNew York Times \u003c\/i\u003ebestselling author of \u003ci\u003eThirst \u003c\/i\u003ebrings readers the gripping story of a boy whose eye-opening trip to a tiger sanctuary ignites his desire to join those who are roaring to protect the animals\u003c\/b\u003e\u003cbr\u003e\u003cbr\u003eRohan loves animals—especially tigers—so he’s beyond thrilled when he gets to fly to India and stay near the tiger sanctuary where his grandfather works. At last, a chance to observe tigers in real life—especially Arya and her twin cubs—and when Ro finally sees them, the experience is even more breathtaking than he’d imagined. When signs of poachers are discovered, he’s distraught, and unfortunately that’s not the only threat the tigers face—protesters have assembled to support a mining company that would encroach upon the tigers’ space. Rohan knows there are always two sides to an argument, and the mines might provide jobs, but it’s clear to him that he must be on the tigers’ side. Then a horrible crime occurs, filling him with determination to do all he can to make sure people know how important it is to protect the tigers.\u003cb\u003e*\u003c\/b\u003e “A tiger-loving Texan tween attempts to protect these endangered creatures while staying with his grandparents in India. Rohan and his cousin Mira, who’s visiting from Bengaluru, love going to the tiger sanctuary where G-pa works; they’re thrilled to observe a tiger named Arya and her playful cubs. . . . Bajaj’s immersive prose transports readers to a tranquil forest teeming with vibrant wildlife. Information about tiger anatomy, habitats, and history is seamlessly woven into the story. Chapters told from the perspective of Arya and her friend Crow enrich the narrative; Bajaj writes with empathy for these animals without veering into sentimentality. Rohan’s journey is a compelling one; he begins the novel passionate about safeguarding tigers but shy about expressing himself and emerges as a committed activist. Uncomfortable truths of the complexity of encroaching into wildlife habitats, locals aiding poachers, and the brutality of nature are balanced out with an overarching note of hope. A rousing call for conservation efforts to safeguard the majestic tiger.” —\u003ci\u003eKirkus Reviews\u003c\/i\u003e, \u003cb\u003estarred review\u003c\/b\u003eVarsha Bajaj (VarshaBajaj.com) is the author of the middle grade novels \u003ci\u003eThirst\u003c\/i\u003e (a \u003ci\u003eNew York Times\u003c\/i\u003e bestseller and Global Read Aloud selection) and \u003ci\u003eCount Me In\u003c\/i\u003e. She also wrote the picture books \u003ci\u003eFamily of Friends\u003c\/i\u003e, \u003ci\u003eA Garland of Henna\u003c\/i\u003e, \u003ci\u003eThe Home Builders\u003c\/i\u003e (an Imagination Library selection), and \u003ci\u003eThis Is Our Baby, Born Today\u003c\/i\u003e (a Bank Street Best Book). She grew up in Mumbai, India, and when she came to the United States to obtain her master’s degree, her adjustment to the country was aided by books, which helped her learn about the culture. She lives in Houston, Texas.\u003cb\u003e1\u003c\/b\u003e\u003cbr\u003e\u003cbr\u003eArya was on the hunt.\u003cbr\u003e\u003cbr\u003eHer soft paws treaded silently, like a ghost, in the North Indian jungle she called home.\u003cbr\u003e\u003cbr\u003eArya’s mother had taught her well. She knew every network of paths her ancestors had used to crisscross the forest.\u003cbr\u003e\u003cbr\u003eCrow woke up the minute he spotted Arya on the move. He flapped his dark wings and dove down from the peepal tree to follow his friend.\u003cbr\u003e\u003cbr\u003e“Where you off to, Queen?” Crow asked.\u003cbr\u003e\u003cbr\u003eThe peepals, the palms, the banyans, the neems, and the flame trees of the forest watched as Arya paced. “I need to find the safest place in the forest.”\u003cbr\u003e\u003cbr\u003e“The safest place?” Crow asked. “Is there such a thing?”\u003cbr\u003e\u003cbr\u003eArya passed by the abandoned palace built by the maharajas of the past. Their crumbling stone walls wouldn’t hide Arya from her worst enemy, the two-legged human.\u003cbr\u003e\u003cbr\u003e“Crow, are the grasses getting thick enough to be a good shield?” she asked.\u003cbr\u003e\u003cbr\u003eCrow spun his head and looked around at the tall grasses that sprang from the ground and camouflaged Arya as she stalked. “They should hide you, Queen.”\u003cbr\u003e\u003cbr\u003e“Crow, maybe a cave would be safer,” said Arya.\u003cbr\u003e\u003cbr\u003e“Perhaps,” Crow said. “There’s one on the path to the lake.”\u003cbr\u003e\u003cbr\u003eLight was creeping through the dark, and the rising sun was beginning to paint the sky pink, when Arya spied a thicket of trees that formed a protective circle where the sun barely penetrated. Perfect for Arya.\u003cbr\u003e\u003cbr\u003e“Arya,” said Crow, “this isn’t a cave, but it might work.”\u003cbr\u003e\u003cbr\u003e“Maybe,” said Arya.\u003cbr\u003e\u003cbr\u003e“Does Good Human know?” asked Crow. Arya had been carrying cubs for almost three months and recently started to bulge.\u003cbr\u003e\u003cbr\u003e“I’ll let him see me today,” she said. Arya had known him since she was a baby. He was a human that her mother had trusted, and she trusted him too.\u003cbr\u003e\u003cbr\u003eShe waited for the fog to rise. She waited for the rattle of Good Human’s car. Soon enough he came and parked near his favorite rock, with his morning chai in a flask, a frayed blanket around his shoulders. His silver hair shone like a lion’s mane.\u003cbr\u003e\u003cbr\u003e“Oh, namaste, Arya!” he said when Arya emerged. “No one’s seen you for days. You’ve been hiding.”\u003cbr\u003e\u003cbr\u003eArya leapt over to her favorite space: a stone structure with a canopy, like a large umbrella built of concrete. Centuries ago, a human queen and her ladies might have taken shelter from the rain or the sun. Or the king might have stopped there to eat his afternoon meal while on a hunt for one of Arya’s ancestors.\u003cbr\u003e\u003cbr\u003eWhen Arya leapt, the human’s keen eyes noticed her belly bulge.\u003cbr\u003e\u003cbr\u003e“Wah! Wah!” he said, finishing his chai and bowing to Arya.\u003cbr\u003e\u003cbr\u003eCrow, who was perched on a nearby tree, approved of his bow. She was the queen, after all.\u003cbr\u003e\u003cbr\u003eGood Human packed his things and, with a smile, waved at Arya as he started his vehicle. “Well done, Arya. When I tell my wife, she will be so thrilled that she’ll dance and make us ladoos.”\u003cbr\u003e\u003cbr\u003eAfter Good Human was gone, Arya stretched and let the rising sun soak into her striped fur. Her hunt for a place to birth her cubs wasn’t over yet, but she would rest here today and prowl some more in the shadows of the night.\u003cbr\u003e\u003cbr\u003eCrow tucked his head in his neck and rested too, perched above in the fronds of the flame tree.\u003cbr\u003e\u003cbr\u003e\u003cb\u003e2\u003c\/b\u003e\u003cbr\u003e\u003cbr\u003eOn a warm October day in Texas, Rohan and Jake cruised to school on their bikes.\u003cbr\u003e\u003cbr\u003e“Why’d you move schools, anyway?” asked Jake.\u003cbr\u003e\u003cbr\u003e“Dad got laid off,” said Ro. “The tech world is topsy-turvy, he said.”\u003cbr\u003e\u003cbr\u003e“Sorry, Ro. That’s awful. My mom works in tech too and says her new boss is so unpredictable.”\u003cbr\u003e\u003cbr\u003e“Thankfully, Mom still has her law practice, but we also have the twins.”\u003cbr\u003e\u003cbr\u003e“What’s up with Thing 1 and Thing 2?” asked Jake, skirting around a bump in the sidewalk.\u003cbr\u003e\u003cbr\u003e“Thing 1 has the strongest baby arm ever,” said Ro, laughing. “Yesterday she pitched her carrots straight at my cheek. Flawless throw!”\u003cbr\u003e\u003cbr\u003e“How about Thing 2?”\u003cbr\u003e\u003cbr\u003e“He cracks up at his sister like she’s a stand-up comedian. He’s the best audience.”\u003cbr\u003e\u003cbr\u003e“Born entertainers,” said Jake.\u003cbr\u003e\u003cbr\u003e“Yup, they smell disgusting, scream loud, and have one hundred percent invaded my habitat,” said Ro, “but I gotta say, they can be pretty cute. I guess I had a long run as the only kid.”\u003cbr\u003e\u003cbr\u003eWhen they arrived at school, Rohan rushed down the hall to read the list of extracurricular clubs being offered. His eyes scanned the list: coding, photography, all the various sports, biology club, debate club, Spanish club, STEM club, student government, theater, academic clubs, chess club, cooking club, LEGO league.\u003cbr\u003e\u003cbr\u003eRohan’s shoulders drooped.\u003cbr\u003e\u003cbr\u003eAt dinner the night before, Mom had said, “I can’t believe the first semester’s half over.”\u003cbr\u003e\u003cbr\u003e“Are you making friends?” said Dad.\u003cbr\u003e\u003cbr\u003eRohan didn’t respond. He didn’t need a lot of friends. He had Jake, who he’d known since they were both in diapers. Jake understood Ro, and Ro didn’t think Jake’s funny sayings, like “fried fish fingers,” were weird. It was just Jake. Ro also had his doodling. He was happy people-watching—it was so much more fun than talking to them.\u003cbr\u003e\u003cbr\u003eTaking his silence as a no, Mom had said, “I made friends through being in school plays.”\u003cbr\u003e\u003cbr\u003eRo could imagine Mom being in school theater productions—she could be pretty dramatic.\u003cbr\u003e\u003cbr\u003eDad nodded. “I found my buddies on the baseball team. Check out the clubs, Ro.”\u003cbr\u003e\u003cbr\u003eSo now Rohan was half-heartedly signing up for photography—for his parents’ sake—when Jake came and looked over his shoulder. “You wanted a wildlife club.”\u003cbr\u003e\u003cbr\u003e“Yup, I did.”\u003cbr\u003e\u003cbr\u003e“Maybe you could start one,” Jake suggested. \u003cbr\u003e\u003cbr\u003e“Nah. Starting a club isn’t me. I’m not that guy.”\u003cbr\u003e\u003cbr\u003e“But you totally could be that guy,” said Jake. “You know more about tigers than anyone I know. And you care so much about animals.” \u003cbr\u003e\u003cbr\u003e“I do care,” said Ro.\u003cbr\u003e\u003cbr\u003eBut what he didn’t tell Jake was that he \u003ci\u003ehad\u003c\/i\u003e tried to start a wildlife club at his other school, but only one kid had signed up. Ro remembered sitting at his sign-up table and watching kids walk past.\u003cbr\u003e\u003cbr\u003eThe cooking club table had been next to him, and everyone went there. The boy who started the club was the nephew of a local TV chef, and he promised that his uncle would come and cook with them. He was also giving out free brownies.\u003cbr\u003e\u003cbr\u003eRo and his tigers didn’t stand a chance.\u003cbr\u003e\u003cbr\u003e\u003cb\u003e3\u003c\/b\u003e\u003cbr\u003e\u003cbr\u003e“Good morning, family!” said G-ma. Her glasses glinted.\u003cbr\u003e\u003cbr\u003eRohan always thought it was funny to hear this greeting on Saturday night. With the time difference, Saturday evening in Houston meant it was already Sunday morning in India. When he was little, he could never quite wrap his head around the time continuum, but now he could easily calculate the time in India without the help of an app.\u003cbr\u003e\u003cbr\u003e“We’re having a great weekend. The highlight was beating G-pa at Scrabble,” said G-ma, rubbing her hands together like a villain. G-ma acted just like Mom when she bought all the properties while playing Monopoly and collected a mountain of rent.\u003cbr\u003e\u003cbr\u003e“My weekend has been extra special,” G-pa said. “I saw Arya at dawn, and she’s going to have cubs!”\u003cbr\u003e\u003cbr\u003e“What?!” screamed Ro. “Wow! You’re so lucky.”\u003cbr\u003e\u003cbr\u003e“That’s great news!” said Rohan’s mom.\u003cbr\u003e\u003cbr\u003e“Yes. And I’m praying that this time her cubs survive,” said G-ma.\u003cbr\u003e\u003cbr\u003e“Me too, G-ma. Me too.”\u003cbr\u003e\u003cbr\u003eRohan knew that a large percentage of tiger cubs don’t survive beyond two years in the wild. His grandfather had told him that though it might not feel fair, it was nature’s way.\u003cbr\u003e\u003cbr\u003eRo pelted questions at G-pa. “Will you see them right after they’re born? Will you see the birth?”\u003cbr\u003e\u003cbr\u003e“The birth will be in the wild wherever Arya chooses,” said G-pa. “And I’ll see the cubs when Arya shares them with me.”\u003cbr\u003e\u003cbr\u003eA baby who’d woken up wailed through the monitor on the kitchen counter.\u003cbr\u003e\u003cbr\u003e“That’s T1,” said Rohan. “T2 will join in any moment.” Another baby cried, per Ro’s prediction, and he grinned. “I told you so!”\u003cbr\u003e\u003cbr\u003e“T1 and T2!” G-pa said, and his belly laugh lit up his face.\u003cbr\u003e\u003cbr\u003e“You like the names?” asked Rohan.\u003cbr\u003e\u003cbr\u003e“I love them. We number our tigers too,” said G-pa.\u003cbr\u003e\u003cbr\u003eMom returned with a flushed baby in each arm, and the grandparents cooed.\u003cbr\u003e\u003cbr\u003eThen G-pa said, “Rohan, I have an idea. Perhaps you could see Arya’s cubs for yourself. Don’t you have a winter break in December? We’d love if you could come visit us. Your cousin Mira is coming.”\u003cbr\u003e\u003cbr\u003eRohan leapt off his stool. “For real?”\u003cbr\u003e\u003cbr\u003eBut Mom wasn’t as excited. “Hmm,” she said. “I don’t know. How would that work? Would he go on his own? An unaccompanied minor?”\u003cbr\u003e\u003cbr\u003e“Alone?” said Rohan. He’d assumed that the whole family would visit, but then realized his parents probably thought the twins were too young to make the long trip. Still, the excitement of seeing Arya’s cubs made Rohan want to pack his bags and race to the airport, so he declared, “I think I’m old enough.”\u003cbr\u003e\u003cbr\u003eBut Mom didn’t seem convinced. “You’ve given us something to think about,” she said.\u003cbr\u003e\u003cbr\u003e- - - - -\u003cbr\u003e\u003cbr\u003eAt dinner on Sunday, Rohan was pumped to tell his parents all the reasons he should go. Mom always said you had to convince people.\u003cbr\u003e\u003cbr\u003e“I’ve been thinking all day, and I’m ready to present my case,” he announced. “I may be eleven, but age is just a number. Did you know Malala was just eleven when she started fighting for girls’ education?”\u003cbr\u003e\u003cbr\u003eHis parents looked surprised. “Didn’t know that,” said Dad.\u003cbr\u003e\u003cbr\u003e“But you \u003ci\u003edo\u003c\/i\u003e know how important it is to have a relationship with my grandparents and my cousin. I haven’t seen them in six years. Plus, Mira is eleven too, and her parents are letting her visit.”\u003cbr\u003e\u003cbr\u003e“Mira lives in Bengaluru, a three-hour flight away,” Mom pointed out.\u003cbr\u003e\u003cbr\u003e“True. But this is an amazing opportunity for me to learn more about the sanctuary—and see Arya and her babies.”\u003cbr\u003e\u003cbr\u003eUpon hearing the word\u003ci\u003ebabies\u003c\/i\u003e, Thing 1 took it as her cue to pitch her pureed carrots at Ro. Her aim was perfect! Again.\u003cbr\u003e\u003cbr\u003eThing 2 cracked up at his sister and lifted his spoonful.\u003cbr\u003e\u003cbr\u003eMom leapt up to stop him from another throw but caught most of the veggies smack-dab on her forehead as the twins’ spoons splatted onto the floor.\u003cbr\u003e\u003cbr\u003eMom stood in shock for a moment, but then the whole family broke into laughter before cleaning up the mess.\u003cbr\u003e\u003cbr\u003eSo much for making his case. Court was adjourned for the day by Thing 1 and Thing 2.","brand":"Nancy Paulsen Books","offers":[{"title":"Default Title","offer_id":48233518858469,"sku":"NP9780593699058","price":17.99,"currency_code":"USD","in_stock":false}],"thumbnail_url":"\/\/cdn.shopify.com\/s\/files\/1\/1842\/7735\/files\/9780593699058.jpg?v=1767735840","url":"https:\/\/k12savings.com\/es\/products\/roar-isbn-9780593699058","provider":"K12savings","version":"1.0","type":"link"}