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4.22 AVERAGE
4.22 AVERAGE
Fascinating story about what happens in families where the stories of the family become secrets and are hidden away.
The book also explores what it means when you try to deny part of yourself and your culture, yet find yourself haunted by the very things you are trying to outrun or hide from.
TW: For death of close relatives and brain cancer mentions.
The book also explores what it means when you try to deny part of yourself and your culture, yet find yourself haunted by the very things you are trying to outrun or hide from.
TW: For death of close relatives and brain cancer mentions.
adventurous
dark
emotional
inspiring
mysterious
reflective
sad
slow-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
I really enjoyed this book, but I'm a sucker for folktales, even if this book just has stories told in the style of Korean folktales.
Really, this book has a little bit of everything, but it's very well put together.
Really, this book has a little bit of everything, but it's very well put together.
SO MANY EMOTIONS.
Grief is such a human-defining experience for better and worse. I have felt this way many times when I thought I could do something, some magic, that could save my loved one. This story is so beautifully told and accessible for a middle grade reader.
Grief is such a human-defining experience for better and worse. I have felt this way many times when I thought I could do something, some magic, that could save my loved one. This story is so beautifully told and accessible for a middle grade reader.
adventurous
challenging
emotional
hopeful
inspiring
reflective
sad
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Character
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
Complicated
Diverse cast of characters:
Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
emotional
mysterious
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
I really appreciate the message of this book though When You Trap a Tiger didn't work for me personally. This book is about friendship, family, cultural heritage and storytelling, and grief, All of these ingredients are usually favourites of mine and Newbery honoured books are always a treat so while I enjoyed this, it just didn't hit to the core of my heart for some reason. Probably just the time and place I read it in and the fact that I was having trouble sussing out whether the tigers, star jars, and traps were meant to be taken literally as Korean cultural beliefs or metaphorically as magical realism.
I also found that the plot dragged in the middle quite a bit. The beginning gave us some excitement and the ending was emotional, but the middle was unfortunately boring and forgettable. I really wish I'd enjoyed this one more because I lost my grandma at a young age, and I think I would have really connected to the protagonist and her feelings of grief as her Halmoni sickened relatable if I'd been pulled more into the narrative.
The writing was spectacular. I was listening to the audiobook version but if I'd had the paper copy, I'd have savoured some of the beautiful lines more. For this reason, I will seek out Keller's work in the future because their voice is special.
The way that the queer rep is reserved to the very end of the novel and isn't depicted on page or discussed was quite a disappointment to me as well. It felt like an afterthought to check a diversity box which is sad because if it had been depicted more directly, I'd probably have liked the book better.
If you like both contemporary and fantastical books with topics about death and grief, folktales, and storytelling, you may enjoy this prize-winner! It has some really winning scenes that tug at the heartstrings.
content warnings for : terminal illness/cancer, physical symptoms of sickness and dying, grief, bullying, racist micro-aggressions, loss of parent.
I also found that the plot dragged in the middle quite a bit. The beginning gave us some excitement and the ending was emotional, but the middle was unfortunately boring and forgettable. I really wish I'd enjoyed this one more because I lost my grandma at a young age, and I think I would have really connected to the protagonist and her feelings of grief as her Halmoni sickened relatable if I'd been pulled more into the narrative.
The writing was spectacular. I was listening to the audiobook version but if I'd had the paper copy, I'd have savoured some of the beautiful lines more. For this reason, I will seek out Keller's work in the future because their voice is special.
The way that the queer rep is reserved to the very end of the novel and isn't depicted on page or discussed was quite a disappointment to me as well. It felt like an afterthought to check a diversity box which is sad because if it had been depicted more directly, I'd probably have liked the book better.
If you like both contemporary and fantastical books with topics about death and grief, folktales, and storytelling, you may enjoy this prize-winner! It has some really winning scenes that tug at the heartstrings.
content warnings for : terminal illness/cancer, physical symptoms of sickness and dying, grief, bullying, racist micro-aggressions, loss of parent.
emotional
funny
hopeful
mysterious
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:
No
A really sweet and heartwarming story. The narrator did a good job keeping the story engaging. There's a lot going on in this story but I think a lot of kids will find it very relatable.
emotional
inspiring
sad
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Plot
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
Yes
Diverse cast of characters:
Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
Likes:
-Heartfelt portrayal of family illness and grief
-Representation of Korean folklore
-Beautiful prose and very emotional ending
Dislikes:
-The “magic” part of the magical realism felt unexplained and it was sometimes hard to know what was happening
-I can’t tell if the inclusion of a background lesbian romance is pandering or not, so I’m putting it here
- Sometimes felt like it was trying too hard to be sad and emotional
-Heartfelt portrayal of family illness and grief
-Representation of Korean folklore
-Beautiful prose and very emotional ending
Dislikes:
-The “magic” part of the magical realism felt unexplained and it was sometimes hard to know what was happening
-I can’t tell if the inclusion of a background lesbian romance is pandering or not, so I’m putting it here
- Sometimes felt like it was trying too hard to be sad and emotional