Girl with a Sabretooth Tiger by Jasbinder Bilan, illustrated by Sonia Albert – at a glance
The School Reading Lists’ five word review: prehistoric, family, adventure, friendship, bravery.
Children’s book title: Girl with a Sabretooth Tiger.
Children’s author: Jasbinder Bilan.
Children’s illustrator: Sonia Albert.
Genre: Children’s fiction.
Published by: Chicken House.
ISBN: 9781917171700.
Recommended for children aged: 9-12.
First published: October 2026.
This children’s book is ideal for: those who enjoy reading about strong main protagonists undertaking life changing challenges in an environment totally different to their own. Maybe also to start a discussion about how physical appearance and other people’s preconceptions do not dictate how you deal with both difficult and pleasant situations.
To see the latest price or order, click on the book cover image. As an Amazon Associate, schoolreadinglist.co.uk earns from qualifying purchases.
Our review:
Swallow has lived for eleven summers and, although life is hard, she is happy with most things. She looks forward to sitting around the fire with her family listening to the storyteller and wants to create her own tales of adventure and courage for others to listen to. Some of the stories tell of legends surrounding a rare green jewel. Swallow has a baby sister, called Bear, who is sick and not improving. She has had other siblings, but none of them survived, and this time Swallow is going to do something about it!
Sneaking away with her special treasures to appease the gods and a boat she made with her Pa, Swallow is determined to travel to the green god mountain to get a small piece of jadeite, just enough to heal her sister. Much to her disgust, as she starts her quest, another child from her tribe, Ishi, joins her, threatening to tell her parents if she doesn’t let him stay! Almost immediately, their journey is fraught with danger. They meet other tribes and strangers speaking in unknown tongues, but gradually they get closer to their goal, only to find it protected by yet another tribe, which Swallow has to persuade to let her continue to her journey’s end.
Getting home is just as difficult, even though they are travelling through areas they have visited before. At all times, Swallow feels the presence of the Sabretooth Tiger whose tooth she wears around her neck. As the land changes and becomes more familiar, Swallow and Ishi grow excited to be returning after so long. But one crucial question remains for Swallow: will Bear still be waiting for her when she arrives back in her village?
Our verdict:
Swallow lives in prehistoric times in southern England, her home close to the banks of a fast-flowing river, where life is hard and often short. Everything is planned around the movement of the sun and moon, and their gods protect them and their lands. Swallow’s grandma recently passed away and gave her a Sabretooth Tiger tooth to help protect and guide her. As she goes about her everyday life, she knows the beautiful creature keeps her in its sight and gives her confidence when she decides she has to try and save her sister.
Ishi, as has been true since time began, is a joker: annoying, self-centred and used to getting his own way! When he talks himself onto Swallow’s boat, she is more than a little cross, but gradually they begin to form a friendship, helping each other as they travel, until they realise they need each other to save Bear. This realisation comes gradually, until Swallow falls ill and realises he saved her just as much as her Tiger.
There is a lot of detail in the outward journey. They are helped and hindered by those they meet until, finally, the green god mountain rises above them. Protected by loyal tribesmen, Swallow pleads her case and is allowed to enter a hidden cave; Ishi, however, has to stay outside for as long as is necessary. The return journey, however, is all about reaching their destination, avoiding the unfriendly tribes and following their instincts back to their small boat, ready for the final steps they’ll need to take to once again be with those who love them.
Jasbinder Bilan notes at the end of the story add a great deal of information which I was glad I didn’t know in advance. She explains where Swallow and Ishi lived, where they travelled to, and the limitations of living in a non-industrial time when the only tools were rudimentary at best. She also paints a picture of community in its many different forms and shows how Swallow’s everyday basic needs of water, heat, shelter and food, alongside entertainment, family and trade, aren’t so different to our needs today.
Teaching points and book club discussion ideas:
- Swallow sets herself a goal – to save her sister – and then plans how she will accomplish this. To find her way to her destination, she and Ishi rely on the stars. How difficult do you think this would be? What would you use today to tackle a similar journey?
- Stories have been passed down for centuries, gradually changing with the times and the telling. These stories were vitally important. Why do you think this is? Would the different tribes have similar stories or would they all be very different?
- When Ishi joins Swallow’s quest, she is furious, but do you think she would have been as successful without him?
- In the notes at the back of the book, the author explains where Swallow lives and where she travelled to. Were you surprised by where her home village was and how far she travelled?
- Swallow painted on the walls of a sacred cave while she was ill. Look online at images of cave paintings. What do you think they were used for?
- If you had the chance, how long could you survive in Swallow and Ishi’s village? What would you miss most from your everyday life?
Many thanks to Chicken House for the review copy.
To order a class set of this book, please click below to order via uk.bookshop.org, an organisation that supports local bookshops, or Amazon.co.uk.
Buy from UK.Bookshop.Org Buy from Amazon.co.uk
Disclosure: If you buy books using the buttons above, we may earn a commission from Bookshop.org, whose fees support independent bookshops; as an Amazon Associate, schoolreadinglist.co.uk earns from qualifying purchases.
Browse our Books for Year 5 list.
