Reviews with content warning for Death of parent - When You Trap a Tiger

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.

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bandysbooks's review against another edition

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challenging emotional hopeful informative mysterious reflective sad fast-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

5.0

I don't typically read middle grade books as there aren't any children in my family, however, I usually try to get in one or two in March. I had been eyeballing this one for a while and finally decided to pick it up. I am so happy I did as it might be one of my best reads of the month!

When You Trap A Tiger follows a young girl named Lily as she copes with her grandmother/halmoni's terminal illness. While it is designed to be understandable for a child, it is something that I think will also resonate with adults.

One of the things that I most loved about this book was the way that Korean culture was mixed in to the story. There are some folklore elements that weave in and out of the narrative, but that isn't the only bit. We get Korean words, food, and cultural practices as well. It really created a rich character background and provides a bit of education on Korean culture.

I also really loved the relationship between Lily and her halmoni. This is the sort of relationship I think most people would be/would have been happy to have with their own grandmother. When Lily is scared or upset, halmoni takes the time to understand her and make her feel seen. When halmoni is ailing, Lily is trying everything in her mind to help her.

The themes covered in this book are really great as well. The primary theme is dealing with a terminal illness, but it also explores grief, fitting in, speaking kindly, apologizing when we make mistakes, the dangers of stereotyping, and the bonds between family members. It's all remarkably written in ways that would be understandable for kids.

All in all, I really highly recommend this for anyone looking for an age appropriate book about grief and death. I could see this being a good book for a family to read together and maybe discuss after.

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empathephant's review against another edition

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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.

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al3xa's review against another edition

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adventurous challenging emotional 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

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uglypopcorn's review against another edition

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adventurous challenging emotional hopeful inspiring sad 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? It's complicated

5.0

A beautiful chapter-book rich in magical realism, this read explores both the hurt and beauty of the stories we tell ourselves.

Lilly is a QAG (quiet Asian girl) or at least that's what her sister calls her. And her mom always calls her the good girl. But Lily is starting to feel like that's not true, that people don't see her for who she really is. That is, except her storytelling Halmoni - Halmoni *always* sees everything. But does she see the tiger that Lily keeps running into? This is the one story Halmoni won't tell.

This is a wonderful story that teaches children that their is beauty in claiming their own stories. It touches on how to navigate grief, build friendships, and establish pride for one's culture. ❤️

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melancholymegs's review against another edition

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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

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marywahlmeierbracciano's review against another edition

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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.

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