When You Trap a Tiger

 When You Trap a Tiger

Keller, T. (2023). When You Trap a Tiger: (Newbery Medal Winner). Random House Children's Books. ISBN 9781524715731

Some stories refuse to stay bottled up…

“When Lily and her family move in with her sick grandmother, a magical tiger straight out of her halmoni's Korean folktales arrives, prompting Lily to unravel a secret family history. Long, long ago, Halmoni stole something from the tigers. Now they want it back. And when one of the tigers approaches Lily with a deal--return what her grandmother stole in exchange for Halmoni's health--Lily is tempted to agree. But deals with tigers are never what they seem! With the help of her sister and her new friend Ricky, Lily must find her voice...and the courage to face a tiger.”

(Amazon Reviews)

Tae Keller has written a moving tribute to Korean American culture and family lore that lingers and pulls over time. Halmoni’s body grows weaker throughout the book, but her stories reveal her strength and the power of vulnerability. Themes of friendship bolster a tale with threads of death, aging, and mental and physical illness. Lily and Sam confront these subjects in their own way as they come to terms with the inevitable. Mystical elements add tones of danger and magic to the story, and as you read you begin to expect the unexpected. Keller’s writing is engaging, and the characters are likable and real. This story is an example of families coming together and accepting the light and dark in each of us.

Book Reviews:

“Deeply moving... vulnerable and mythic storytelling in the vein of Erin Entrada Kelly and Kacen Callender.”

(School Library Journal, starred review)

“Keller's (The Science of Breakable Things) #OwnVoices journey through Korean mythology begins with a fantastical quest and slowly transforms into a tale about letting go and the immortality that story can allow.”

(When You Trap a Tiger. (2020). Publishers Weekly, 267(49), 54.)

“Keller weaves ancient folklore with Korean history through contemporary magical realism. She calls on the power of stories to bring families and communities together and the ability to heal by speaking to their pasts. This deeply moving book is a must-purchase for all collections, showcasing vulnerable and mythic storytelling…”

(Saunders, M. (2020). When You Trap a Tiger. School Library Journal, 66(1), 70.)

Connections:

• This is a circle of life story that would give students an opportunity to discuss aging and death of loved ones.

• This would be a good discussion starter about traditions, culture, folklore, and family lore and how it affects us.

Awards:

Boston Globe Horn Book Honor Award for Fiction and Poetry

Newbery Award, 2021

 APALA Asian/Pacific American Award for Children’s Literature

This review was created as an assignment for SHSU LSSL 5360.