Title: A Girl, A Tiger And A Very Strange Story
Author: Paro Anand
Illustrator: Priya Kuriyan
Cover Design: Priya Kuriyan and Samar Bansal
Type: Paperback
Genre: Fiction
Publisher: Puffin Books (An imprint of the Penguin Random House)
Length: 256 pages
Age group: 10 years onwards
This review has been written by my 13 year old daughter Mahathi.
Firstly, thank you, dear Asha aunty, for sending this book across. This is easily one of my favourite books, with a unique storytelling format.
The story is about a little tribal girl from the Pardhi community and a tiger cub. Junglee lives in the jungle — wild, free, happy — and honestly, you immediately see why she is named Junglee (which literally means wild in Hindi). The jungle is her home. Her world. Until one day, a massive storm changes everything. Her family is forced to flee, she gets separated, and they are captured by forest officers.
At the same time, the same storm separates a tiger cub from his mother. Lost. Alone. Just like Junglee.
That’s when they find each other.
Junglee decides to protect the tiger cub and names him Raunaq, which means liveliness, radiance, splendour — and wow, that name fits him perfectly. From that moment on, Junglee protects Raunaq with her life, and Raunaq protects Junglee with his. Their bond goes far beyond what we usually imagine as friendship. It’s strange, unexpected, and deeply endearing, so perfectly matching the title of the book.
This book took me straight into jungle life, like I could smell the mud and hear the leaves crunch. It gave me deep insights into how wildlife looks, works, and survives. I learnt so much about survival instincts, about how one survives in the wild, and about the quiet rules of the forest that humans often forget. The human–animal bonding in this story is so warm and tender that it honestly made my heart melt.
The forest is described so vividly and observantly that it made me want to pack a bag and go for a forest trek right away. Through Junglee’s life, I also got to learn more about the Pardhi community, their way of life, their struggles, and how closely their existence is tied to the forest.
What really stayed with me was how the book talks about the Pardhi community. They are forest dwellers, and hunting animals has traditionally been part of their life. But the story also shows how they are stereotyped as animal killers or gypsy thieves, denied education and jobs, and discriminated against at multiple levels. It made me think how easily we judge communities for the work they do without asking why they do it. Is it really a choice, or are they pushed into it by circumstances? The book gently but powerfully shows why inclusive education matters so much.
One of the most vulnerable and touching moments for me was when Junglee tries to explain to Raunaq that she comes from a family of poachers and she’s scared he might see her as one too. That fear, that honesty, that need to be understood… it was so raw and endearing.
When Junglee says she aspires to become a forest officer, my heart instantly said same. Because I aspire to become one too. That moment felt deeply personal.
I also loved the unique format of the book. The story is told through two point of views — one belonging to Junglee and the other to Raunaq. But it is truly their story together. Raunaq’s side is told entirely through drawings, not words, which shows how tigers might imagine the world. The black-and-white sketches by Priya Kuriyan are simple yet bursting with emotion. Imagining Raunaq’s entire thought process through sketches alone is just… wow. So thoughtful. So creative.
One of my favourite moments was when Junglee tries to teach Raunaq how to hunt, it’s absolutely hilarious. Even the cover page is stunning and perfectly matches the soul of the book.
Paro Anand’s writing comes from a place of deep empathy and admiration. She has worked with nearly three lakh children from the Pardhi community, and you can feel that lived connection in every page — their grit, intelligence, and humanity shine through.
Strange. Warm. Observant. Powerful.
This book didn’t just tell a story; it made me feel the forest.
If you enjoyed the review and wish to order the book from Amazon (kbc affiliate link),
CLICK & BUY NOW!Disclaimer: Seethalakshmi and her daughter Mahathi are a part of the #kbcReviewerSquad and received this book as a review copy from the publisher via kbc.
