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hedyharper's review against another edition
adventurous
emotional
hopeful
inspiring
sad
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? It's complicated
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.0
Content Warnings
Moderate: Grief, Abandonment, Medical trauma, Terminal illness, Xenophobia, Medical content, Death, Death of parent, Car accident, and Dementia
piperclover's review against another edition
adventurous
challenging
emotional
hopeful
inspiring
mysterious
reflective
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
5.0
I don't usually rate books that I read for class assignments but I whole-heartedly enjoyed this book and I would be doing myself a disservice if I didn't rate it. This author so masterfully tied together heritage, folk tales, personal stories, growing up, fitting into society, making friends, dealing with sick grandparents and losing loved ones, and so much more into a book that was impactful and emotional but genuinely fun to read. I had no idea what I was getting into when I started this book but I am so glad that I picked it.
Throughout the entire book there's a constant undercurrent of Lily, her sister Sam, their mother being embarrassed by their Korean heritage and how eccentric and traditional halmoni is. Each one of them goes through moments of being embarrassed by how different her beliefs are and how she doesn't really fit into mainstream American society which means that none of the girls fit exactly either. They each grapple with the question of "if we didn't have this heritage would be less of a standout" or more likeable or more normal. The resolution to this is so impactful because each of these 3 characters realize that they over simplified what it meant to have a Korean heritage and to be Korean until they reduced it down only the inconvenien bits instead of appreciating the overall essence of everything combined.
Lily also starts out being absolutely terrified of being what her sister calls a QAG or a Quiet Asian Girl stereotype. She's constantly grappling with stereotypes of her race and her culture and how much of it should inform her behavior and combined with the tension in their family and her being the "easy child", Lily struggles to feel connected to anything, including herself. I was delighted to see Sam recognize her mistakes and how she pushed her own fears onto Lily and how she realized it was hurting Lily so she apologized. It was a touching moment in the narrative but, from a wider perspective, it was a great lesson to show this age demographic that people can and should apologize for things that hurt you even if they didn't mean to. .
I would be hard pressed to find another book aimed at this a range that handles the death of a grandparent and watching that grandparent's a physical and mental decline in such a tender and loving way that doesn't shy away from descriptions of how sick halmoni really is and how terrifying the whole ordeal is. We see through Lily's eyes how halmoni declines and so we see first-hand how it impacts her and how she understands it impact other people. I think this author did this topic such justice and the portrayal of it respects the demographic that she's writing to. I very nearly cried at the end of the book because it was heartfelt and touching and I could feel everything Lily felt even without any of the same experiences.
The boy that Lily makes friends with is absolutely precious. Ricky is so sweet, so genuine, and so fun. He tries to make Lily feel bette about having halmoni by using the word halmoni instead of grandma. He can't quite pronounce it right but he tries and its so thoughtful.He fears his mother abandoned them bc he wasn't a good enough son which is heartbreaking but realistic for anyone to believe. He and Lily help each other emotionally so much and it was fantastic to read.
The sister Sam has a girlfriend by the end! I saw it coming right when the gf and Sam met and I was thrilled about it. Its lovely representation that not only is Sam a little "punk" (by her mother's standard), Asian, and outwardly opiniated but also in a relationship with another teen girl and Lily is like " oh...OH...ok cool".
Throughout the entire book there's a constant undercurrent of Lily, her sister Sam, their mother being embarrassed by their Korean heritage and how eccentric and traditional halmoni is. Each one of them goes through moments of being embarrassed by how different her beliefs are and how she doesn't really fit into mainstream American society which means that none of the girls fit exactly either. They each grapple with the question of "if we didn't have this heritage would be less of a standout" or more likeable or more normal. The resolution to this is so impactful because each of these 3 characters realize that they over simplified what it meant to have a Korean heritage and to be Korean until they reduced it down only the inconvenien bits instead of appreciating the overall essence of everything combined.
Lily also starts out being absolutely terrified of being what her sister calls a QAG or a Quiet Asian Girl stereotype. She's constantly grappling with stereotypes of her race and her culture and how much of it should inform her behavior and combined with the tension in their family and her being the "easy child", Lily struggles to feel connected to anything, including herself.
I would be hard pressed to find another book aimed at this a range that handles
The boy that Lily makes friends with is absolutely precious. Ricky is so sweet, so genuine, and so fun. He tries to make Lily feel bette about having halmoni by using the word halmoni instead of grandma. He can't quite pronounce it right but he tries and its so thoughtful.
The sister Sam has a girlfriend by the end! I saw it coming right when the gf and Sam met and I was thrilled about it. Its lovely representation that not only is Sam a little "punk" (by her mother's standard), Asian, and outwardly opiniated but also in a relationship with another teen girl and Lily is like " oh...OH...ok cool".
Content Warnings
Graphic: Terminal illness, Dementia, and Vomit
hypnoticspxlls's review
adventurous
emotional
hopeful
inspiring
mysterious
reflective
sad
slow-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
5.0
Content Warnings
Graphic: Chronic illness, Terminal illness, Death of parent, and Death
megelizabeth's review against another edition
adventurous
dark
emotional
mysterious
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
4.0
This is a brilliant and quietly devastating book; it wasn't quite what I was expecting and kept me guessing for a while, and I loved and appreciated the direction it eventually took. I particularly loved the developments in the relationships the protagonist has with her sister and with a new friend, and as well as these there are powerful and important messages about family, ancestry, loss, and hope.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Death and Terminal illness
Moderate: Death of parent and Car accident
emilyhv's review
adventurous
emotional
hopeful
inspiring
reflective
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
5.0
Content Warnings
Graphic: Death and Grief
Moderate: Cancer, Vomit, and Terminal illness
empathephant's review
emotional
hopeful
reflective
sad
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
5.0
This book makes me want to write, like all the best books do.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Vomit and Terminal illness
Moderate: Death, Car accident, and Death of parent
Minor: Xenophobia
fclancy93's review against another edition
adventurous
emotional
reflective
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
4.75
A story's magic
Is not found in it's trappings
But in it's telling
Is not found in it's trappings
But in it's telling
Content Warnings
Moderate: Terminal illness, Medical content, Vomit, and Death
melancholymegs's review against another edition
emotional
hopeful
reflective
sad
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? It's complicated
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.75
Content Warnings
Graphic: Dementia, Cancer, Death, Grief, and Terminal illness
Moderate: Death of parent and Vomit
Minor: Racism
marywahlmeierbracciano's review against another edition
emotional
mysterious
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
5.0
When You Trap a Tiger is a lovely book that focuses on familial bonds and is guided by Korean folklore. The main character, Lily, has just moved to a new place, and making friends isn’t easy for her. Her grandmother is experiencing illness and memory loss, her sister is struggling with grief for their father (whom Lily doesn’t remember), and her mom is stressed and preoccupied. Lily processes her complicated feelings through interactions with a giant, magical tiger that appears only to her. Amidst beautiful symbolism, she learns that stories are powerful, and change is inevitable. This book shines like the stars in the sky.
Content Warnings
Moderate: Emotional abuse, Grief, Medical content, Racism, Terminal illness, Death, and Dementia
Minor: Cancer, Car accident, and Death of parent
clarabooksit's review against another edition
emotional
sad
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.0
Content Warnings
Moderate: Death of parent, Terminal illness, Death, and Grief
Minor: Car accident