3,5/5 stars

History repeats itself in this story.

Although it took me a while to get used to the writing style, once I got into it. I got colmpletely sucked into the story.

I loved how both timelines got intertwined throughout it, how you saw the hardships of Rosie and Emma being linked to eachother. The way the mental illness was described was such a beautiful and lyrical way, I'd have never thought of seeing it like that.
Having a safe place, not only a literal place but also in friends and hobbies, and the importance of it is what makes this story.

Loved the way this flipped between modern day and the 1800s. As the story plays through the two time periods seem to slowly link together.
So clever!

A beautiful story about people who see the world differently.

Set against the story of Mary Anning and the Jurassic Coast, this story is split between the 19th century and the modern day. Two stories linked across time, connected by location and by their perception of the world around them.

In the 1880s, Emma Linden dreams of becoming a fossil-hunter but, when her brother becomes obsessed with stories of a tiger from India, she begins a life of caring (and worrying) for him. 140 years later, when Rosie Linden goes missing, the story is reopened and Rosie, with the help of her friend Jude, uncover a tale of family secrets and mystery.

This was such an interesting read! I found myself so engrossed in the story, the characters had such incredible arcs, and I can't wait to follow this author's journey!

⭐⭐⭐⭐

"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**

Really loved this, it uses a dual-timeline and I thought the past and present overlaps were done really well and this really worked for the story. I enjoyed the suspense and mystery with the dual timelines and I liked how it touches on mental health and would be a great conversation starting point for people

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.

This was a lovely children's novel with a lot of nuances and beautiful writing. There were instances when I pulled out of the story completely but overall this was a solid read.

This had a local interest as it's set around Devon and Dorset.

There are two linked timelines and stories .

There is that of Emma in Victorian times. She is being kept in as her father is concerned that she will suffer a "nervous breakdown" as it "runs in the family". Emma loves drawing and is interested in the tale of Mary Anning and her fossil finds. However as time goes on it becomes apparent that it is her brother, James, who is experiencing difficulties.

In contemporary times Jude witnesses a schoolmate called Rosie having a mental health related crisis in town. He intervenes to help her and they start to spend time together and build up a supportive small group.

The linked stories gain in resonances as the story progresses.

The mental health issues are sensitively portrayed. It's good the be open about mental health but I would recommend this more for age 10+ as I'm not sure about psychotic episodes and the Crisis team being relevant to age 8+

An original and engrossing read.

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.

I raced through #TheTigerWhoSleeps by @Han_Foley this week (it was published last week by @_ZephyrBooks). Really wonderful relationships, both families and friendships, and a careful portrayal of #mentalillness in Victorian and modern times. Enjoyed references to Mary Anning too!

This book is a tribute to sibling love and friendship, whatever the period. There are two timelines, one in the 1800s with the POV of Emma Linden, and the other in 2023 with Jude, a teenager who is gonna befriend none other than Emma's descendant: Rosie Linden.

Emma lives in London, secluded in her room because her father thinks she inherited the same disease that killed her mother and that any feeling could trigger it. Her brother James sends her letters from his boarding school, though their father intercepts them. One day though, Emma manages to read one of these letters where James talks of a tiger in a museum that he wants to see with her. This will be the start of James' obessions with this tiger and his mental health struggles. James will go study at Oxford with his best friend Oliver who will do everything to take care of him. Ultimately, Emma and Oliver will have to take James away at their country house.

In 2023, Jude sees the end of his dreams of becoming a professional footballer. Mad at the world, he leaves school and comes across Rosie, a teenager who had been missing for a few days, who doesn't seem to feel well. Since his mother is a nurse, he feels he has to talk to her and keep her safe until the paramedics come. Rosie explains to him that she is a tiger and that she has to protect everyone. With some time, Rosie and Jude become friends, forming a little group with their respective best friends. Rosie will start looking into her family's history and discover that her grandmother has left her a country house that no one in her family knew about.

I was fascinated by both timelines and I was glad to learn more about Emma through Rosie. A lot of family secrets remain secret and I was left wanting more, especially as there's still an uncertainty about the illness that falls upon the Linden family. The tiger appears in both timelines and we won't know if there couldn't be a touch of magic.

I really likes the characters. Emma and James are kids of their time for some things, but they don't hesitate to take care of each other and to show their emotions and ambitions. Oliver also seemed like a really good friend, for Emma and for James. However, the adults in that family were particularly crappy. In our timeline, Jude and Rosie are surrounded by kind adults and live in a time more able to understand and take care of mental illnesses (compared to the victorian era obviously).
Jude was especially kind, in particular to Rosie, even if at the beginning he was visiting her for selfish reasons. But he never used her, or belittled her, on the contrary, he was always respectful and supporting towards her. He has a saviour aspect but not in a bad way, and after all, he is also a growing teen.

There are some questions that remain unanswered (like the existence of magic) that maybe are not very important but I still would have liked to see the answers: how was the Linden name transmitted if Rosie is a direct descendant of Emma? Why did the grandmother tell nobody about the country house?

All in all, a very good read that I enjoyed reading!

Rep: mental health
TW: death, abusive parent, bullying

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 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

A brilliant children's novel with some deep themes and brilliant discussion points. Great for children and adults interested in natural history, and a brilliant introduction to dual time lines for my 11 year old.

I Really Enjoyed this Book, It's Got Elements of Jacqueline Wilson's The Lottie Project & Born Free woven into the Story, Highly Recommended!
(Thanks to Net Galley for this Amazing Book.)

The Tiger Who Sleeps Under My Chair by Hannah Foley is really cleverly written. It highlights mental health issues and shows groups of friends in the 1880s and nowadays helping each other. Jude befriends Rosie, a girl at his school having a mental health crisis in the street. A friendship sparks between them, and they start to unpick Rosie’s family history, discovering that other family members have had mental health episodes. Rosie talks of a tiger, and needing to protect everybody. When we go back in time in the book, we find out about James and Emma, relatives of Rosie’s - James also has a battle with his mental health, and believes that he is a tiger.
This was wonderfully written and deserves all the accolades it will surely receive for being so down to earth about attitudes towards those who have mental health issues. Highly recommended!

Told via a dual narrative across two time zones, this new middle grade release from Hannah Foley is a powerful read. Set on the stunning Jurassic coastline, with references to Mary Anning, it offers a real but hopeful insight into mental health, families and friendships...

1884: Emma Linden has spent her life isolated in the attic for fear of aggravating her illness if she ventures into the outside world. But when her beloved brother, James, becomes obsessed with a tiger at the museum, Emma starts to realise that he is the one who needs help.

2023: When Jude finds Rosie Linden after she's been missing for four days, he realises she is in urgent need of help. As he helps her towards recovery, a delicate friendship blooms. Can Jude help Rosie uncover the secrets of her past?

This stunning front cover by Lucy Rose Illustration promises great things from the off, although I admit that as someone who reads for escape and whose personal preference is light-hearted, funny or fantastical stories, I was slightly nervous to start reading. I needn't have been. This is an easily accessible book, perfect for KS2 and KS3 readers, which draws you from the very first page. Although the story explores topics of a serious nature, Hannah Foley handles them with knowledge, experience and a beautifully light touch. The characters are instantly loveable - I particularly loved James and Jude - and the reader is swept up by the strong bonds that tie them together.

The novel is educational and enthralling both at the same time. Through the two narratives, the author raises awareness of mental health issues and how attitudes and treatments have changed over the years. She also champions our invaluable keyworkers through Alice, the paramedic, and the power of having friends and family to care, nurture and support those struggling with their mental health (everyone needs a Jude and a Dillis). Finally, Hannah Foley highlights the importance of nature when sustaining and recovering our mental health; the Jurassic coast and Kersbrook House feel like characters in their own right and the constant reference to the woods, fossils and creativity brings a fresh and vivid vitality to the story.

If that isn't enough to excite readers, there's more. A very real and compelling baddie in Malcolm Greep, a tragic accident and a snowy rescue. Most of all though, I loved the analogy of the tiger, which was so cleverly and subtly written, readers need to experience it for themselves. Hannah Foley then leaves us with the lasting and hopeful message, again gleaned through the dual narrative, that as a society we are moving away from ignorance and stigmatisation and treating people who struggle with their mental health as wonderful human beings who deserve to be loved, cared for and understood.

I 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.

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 running alongside this dual-timeline, hidden stories unfold between 1884 and 2022.
Back in 1884 - 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. But it is with the strength and commitment of her new friend Jude, that Rosie is able to uncover a family secret that has been buried whilst recovering from her own mental illness. Together they research the past to find stories of truth, whilst hoping the present will be healed.
Just like that of a fossil, this cleverly written story, strips back layers to reveal answers to follow in their quest.

Praise for Hannah Foley who writes with creativity but unveils hidden stories filled with of hope, courage and friendship.

Joanne Bardgett - teacher of littlies, lover of Children’s literature

#Netgallery
#headofzeus
#hannahfoley