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4.22 AVERAGE
4.22 AVERAGE
When I say this book made me cry I do not mean the ending made me tear up. I mean the whole thing. I cried all the way through this book.
5 out of 5
5 out of 5
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
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: Death, Emotional abuse, Racism, Terminal illness, Medical content, Dementia, Grief
Minor: Cancer, Car accident, Death of parent
This is a lyrical, magical portrait of a girl coming to accept the imminent death of her grandmother. It deals with the power of story and what it means to have a family and to be part of a family. Lily is a kind of misfit kid who’s used to being invisible and when her family loves in with her grandmother she begins to make some different kind of friends in the new town.
Hand to fans of Erin Entrada Kelly.
Hand to fans of Erin Entrada Kelly.
adventurous
mysterious
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
A mix
Strong character development:
No
Loveable characters:
Complicated
Diverse cast of characters:
Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus:
No
emotional
inspiring
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
Written by an author who is a quarter Korean wanting to embrace this culture of South Korea, the novel explores these mythical elements that Korea has in a grounded realistic perspective.
The story is sweet yet filled with this poignancy. I think many times people dismiss books written for middle schoolers as being too simple, or not having profound thought behind them, but this novel says otherwise. It deals with very real themes such as death and new environments through this innocent perspective of someone who is dealing with these events for the first time and coming to terms with it, allowing the readers to also reflect on these themes as well.
The magical realism is interwoven cleverly and elevates this perspective. Its uncertainty in how real the scenario that happens reflects the uncertainty that Lily, the main character, feels. This aspect also heavily references Korean mythology although not overtly. It’s beautifully done and adds to the small grandiosity that this novel encompasses.
Additionally, the relationships in this novel are absolutely lovely and are at the forefront of this novel. Familial relationships have always meant a lot to me and this novel does a great job of showing how family can be difficult but also the beauty and solidarity that happens at the same time. It’s done in a clever manner where we can see how all of the family members are feeling and responding to the events that occur, even if the protagonist may not. Moving homes also mean a new town and new people, and so we see Lily grapple with the process of making new friends, something that anyone can relate to. It’s very wholesome yet real.
If you’re looking for a quick read that will tug on your heartstrings, I highly recommend checking out this book.
The story is sweet yet filled with this poignancy. I think many times people dismiss books written for middle schoolers as being too simple, or not having profound thought behind them, but this novel says otherwise. It deals with very real themes such as death and new environments through this innocent perspective of someone who is dealing with these events for the first time and coming to terms with it, allowing the readers to also reflect on these themes as well.
The magical realism is interwoven cleverly and elevates this perspective. Its uncertainty in how real the scenario that happens reflects the uncertainty that Lily, the main character, feels. This aspect also heavily references Korean mythology although not overtly. It’s beautifully done and adds to the small grandiosity that this novel encompasses.
Additionally, the relationships in this novel are absolutely lovely and are at the forefront of this novel. Familial relationships have always meant a lot to me and this novel does a great job of showing how family can be difficult but also the beauty and solidarity that happens at the same time. It’s done in a clever manner where we can see how all of the family members are feeling and responding to the events that occur, even if the protagonist may not. Moving homes also mean a new town and new people, and so we see Lily grapple with the process of making new friends, something that anyone can relate to. It’s very wholesome yet real.
If you’re looking for a quick read that will tug on your heartstrings, I highly recommend checking out this book.
I loved this so much. It was sweet, and funny, but also touching and sad. I adore Lily & her journey to learn more about herself, and her family, and in particular I really loved that even though she did have a lot of character growth, she doesn't fundamentally change. She is a soft & quiet girl, and that isn't something that needs to be fixed or changed. She finds strength and courage, but instead of "pulling her out of her shell" that strength and courage turns into a confidence to be who she is.
challenging
emotional
hopeful
fast-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
emotional
inspiring
reflective
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:
Complicated
medium-paced