Roar
Varsha Bajaj
Nancy Paulsen Books
Published May 12, 2026
Amazon | Bookshop | Goodreads
About Roar
The New York Times bestselling author of Thirst brings listeners 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
Rohan 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.
My Review
This book does a lot of things really well. I love that it introduces readers to an animal sanctuary. It offers a lot of information about tigers, including some things about baby tigers and how they grow.
For the most part, the book’s tone is very lighthearted. The main characters, and especially the younger characters, are positive and supportive of one another. This doesn’t mean the book avoids difficult topics. Rohan learns hard truths about the presence of poachers and the harm that poaching does to wildlife, including tigers.
The story alternates between Rohan and Arya’s perspectives, though most of the story is told from Rohan’s perspective. There’s one scene from another character’s point of view, too. Most of the story takes place in India, though the beginning and ending take place in Texas, where Rohan’s family lives.
The chapters are very short, and the overall story is under 200 pages, which makes this a great book for reluctant readers. It’s nicely paced and makes for a quick read.
Fans of Rosanne Parry’s books will enjoy the focus on nature here. The story will also resonate with readers who enjoyed Hafsa’s Way by Aisha Saeed.
Content Notes
Recommended for Ages 8 to 12.
Profanity/Crude Language Content
None.
Romance/Sexual Content
None.
Spiritual Content
References to prayers from leaders of several different faiths as part of a public funeral ceremony.
Violent Content
References to poaching and traps that hurt animals. An animal dies on scene. Another animal injures a human.
Drug Content
None.
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