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When You Trap a Tiger
Newbery Medal Winner (2021)
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.
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.
297 pages, Hardcover
First published January 28, 2020
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About the author
Tae Keller
12 books517 followersTAE KELLER is the Newbery award winning and New York Times bestselling author of When You Trap a Tiger and The Science of Breakable Things. She grew up in Honolulu, Hawaii, where she subsisted on kimchi, purple rice, and stories. Now, she writes about biracial girls trying to find their voices, and lives in Seattle with her husband and a multitude of books.
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 2,958 reviews
February 24, 2021
I should have known that any book that wins the Newberry Medal is one that is bound to make me cry. I should know that as a librarian. Did this still choke me up? Absolutely.
When You Trap a Tiger is so much more than the cover gives it credit for. Like other reviewers, I automatically assumed that it was going to have fantastical/magical elements. That's not to say that it didn't; however, this book was more about familial relationships and identity. Lily is used to being invisible and folds into herself quite a bit. Lily, her mother, and her sister move in with Halmoni (Lily's grandmother) to help take care of her while she's sick. For me as a reader, I was confused as to where Keller was going to take the story. There was a weaving in of Korean folklore and storytelling that I found fascinating, yet at the same time I wasn't sure how it would all work together. This book taught me patience (in a good way). Keller slowly and beautifully reveled how the relationship between the tiger, Lily, and Halomi worked to create the entire narrative. And it completely destroyed me. At the same time that Lily is desperate to save Halomi, she's trying to navigate friendships and her relationship with her sister. Because her "invisibility" Lily tries and sometimes fails at friendships especially in relation to protecting Halomi whose behavior grows more and more eccentric as she grows more ill. She also struggles with trying to build and maintain a relationship with her sister. There is a certain level of empathy that the reader develops for Lily while she struggles and grows.
It would ultimately be a failure on my end not to mention the important role that storytelling plays in this book. Storytelling serves as a primary source to connecting Lily to her Korean ancestry and it never failed to amaze me how much I related to this sentiment even though I'm not an ownvoices reviewer. Storytelling serves as a catalyst for this story where readers are not only able to see amazing character development, but also the beautiful development of a well-thought out plot. Through both of these things Lily learns the importance of her own ancestry and how to use her voice in effective and important ways that are comfortable for her. Storytelling also serves as a coping mechanism in the face of death and grieving. With such a difficult reality facing a young character, Keller creates these elements to also help readers build and navigate empathy.
Full of such beautiful writing and characterizations, I instantly fell in love with this book. It's such a beautiful ode to Keller's own journey in recognizing her own Korean heritage. It's a testament to the struggle of grieving, familial relationships and finding one's voice. I can't begin to thank the author enough for sharing a piece of Korean culture with me and so many other readers. This book is so very deserving of every single award it receives and I can't wait to read more from Keller.
When You Trap a Tiger is so much more than the cover gives it credit for. Like other reviewers, I automatically assumed that it was going to have fantastical/magical elements. That's not to say that it didn't; however, this book was more about familial relationships and identity. Lily is used to being invisible and folds into herself quite a bit. Lily, her mother, and her sister move in with Halmoni (Lily's grandmother) to help take care of her while she's sick. For me as a reader, I was confused as to where Keller was going to take the story. There was a weaving in of Korean folklore and storytelling that I found fascinating, yet at the same time I wasn't sure how it would all work together. This book taught me patience (in a good way). Keller slowly and beautifully reveled how the relationship between the tiger, Lily, and Halomi worked to create the entire narrative. And it completely destroyed me. At the same time that Lily is desperate to save Halomi, she's trying to navigate friendships and her relationship with her sister. Because her "invisibility" Lily tries and sometimes fails at friendships especially in relation to protecting Halomi whose behavior grows more and more eccentric as she grows more ill. She also struggles with trying to build and maintain a relationship with her sister. There is a certain level of empathy that the reader develops for Lily while she struggles and grows.
It would ultimately be a failure on my end not to mention the important role that storytelling plays in this book. Storytelling serves as a primary source to connecting Lily to her Korean ancestry and it never failed to amaze me how much I related to this sentiment even though I'm not an ownvoices reviewer. Storytelling serves as a catalyst for this story where readers are not only able to see amazing character development, but also the beautiful development of a well-thought out plot. Through both of these things Lily learns the importance of her own ancestry and how to use her voice in effective and important ways that are comfortable for her. Storytelling also serves as a coping mechanism in the face of death and grieving. With such a difficult reality facing a young character, Keller creates these elements to also help readers build and navigate empathy.
Full of such beautiful writing and characterizations, I instantly fell in love with this book. It's such a beautiful ode to Keller's own journey in recognizing her own Korean heritage. It's a testament to the struggle of grieving, familial relationships and finding one's voice. I can't begin to thank the author enough for sharing a piece of Korean culture with me and so many other readers. This book is so very deserving of every single award it receives and I can't wait to read more from Keller.
September 16, 2024
In a Nutshell: Such a disappointment! I had high expectations from this Newbery Medal winner as it promised to have some amazing OwnVoices writing and Korean folktales. Unfortunately, the execution was more YA than MG, and the myriad elements didn’t come together sensibly. This is an outlier review.
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
Plot Preview:
I like middle-grade fiction way more than YA fiction. I enjoy magical realism. I love folktales and fairy tales. I adore OwnVoices works. I appreciate inclusivity in books. I’ve enjoyed whatever Newbery titles I have read so far. I should have LOVED this book! Never expected this poor outcome. ☹
Bookish Yays:
🐯 The tiger and all scenes connected to her. (Yes, the tiger is a female.) Whatever little glimpses we get of the tiger’s personality are interesting.
🐯 The fables sprinkled randomly throughout the book – engrossing and providing a genuine feel of Korean folklore.
🐯 The author's note, which shows how and why she wrote this book. Heartfelt!
🐯 That stunning cover!
Bookish Mixed Bags:
🐾 The portrayal of introversion: Many scenes endeared Lily to me, especially as she considers herself invisible and I could actually see why she felt that. However, her vulnerability seems to come and go in between scenes and her thoughts get somewhat repetitive at times. I was especially annoyed by her constant refrain of not wanting to become a “QAG” (a Quiet Asian Girl). Introverts always seem to be drawing the short end of the stick in this genre. I wish authors would let kids know that it is perfectly fine to be a quiet introvert.
🐾 The main reason we pick up OwnVoices works is to get a first-hand view of the culture. There are some interesting bits of Korean heritage in this plot, especially in the fables and *some* of the rituals. But somehow, the Korean representation in the book feels very stock, if you know what I mean. I’m not a Korean nor do I have much awareness of the Korean language or culture, so I don’t know why I feel this or how to explain this better. But there is only stuff that sounds exotic and is still familiar. I wish it went beyond the typical.
🐾 The grandmother-granddaughter relationship shared by Halmoni and Lily is written well, But all the other key relationships, especially between the mothers and daughters (Halmoni and the girls’ mom and the two sisters with their mom) and the two sisters with each other, were quite vague. The emotions didn’t come out strongly or convincingly.
Bookish Nays:
🐅 Though Lily is a middle-grader, the book is strongly YA in tone, with its self-absorbed storyline, fretful protagonist, and the flat representation of most adults. YA and I simply aren’t meant to be.
🐅 A children’s book with kids lying, sneaking out of windows, manipulating and guilt-tripping younger siblings and no one gets any comeuppance? Not for me.
🐅 The plot is paper-thin and has plenty of loopholes as well. There’s no logical reason as to why the girls’ mom didn’t tell them about a permanent shift in their residence until just fifteen days prior. The whole ‘stealing stories’ track was poorly defined. The content also tries to shove in too many subplots. The book would have worked better for me had the focus been mainly on the tiger and the magical realism, as the cover and the title promised.
🐅 On that note, the magical realism itself is not written well. It leaves many things unexplained. I don’t expect logical details in fantastical stories, but by mentioning towards the end that the tiger could just have been a result of a hallucination, the author dropped a bombshell and left it there. Is it magical realism? Hallucination? Coping mechanism? Not answered.
🐅 Almost all the characters are flat. Lily is a 6th grader who sounds more like a 6-year-old. Lily’s elder sister Sam could have been a wonderful rebel character as it is rare to see a Goth Asian girl in any fictional work. However, she ends up as a caricature of both Korean and Goth characteristics. Their mom barely gets any character development. Halmoni’s backstory is the vaguest, which is weird as her actions drive the present issue. There is a curious lack of impactful male characters. I didn’t feel empathy towards any character.
🐅 The final chapter suddenly shoves in a lesbian angle into one of the character’s arcs. I wish this had been better explored. Keeping it as a reveal reserved for the final chapter didn’t make sense as the earlier clues are too subtle. Moreover, I don’t get why every FF pairing has to forcibly end up as a couple. Even if it is the case, at least show some build-up to the relationship! Here, the plot development felt more like an afterthought, when they suddenly went from barely-acquaintances to lovers. Not well written at all!
Considering that this was the winner of the 2021 Newbery Medal, I had much higher expectations. I had hoped for something on the lines of Grace Lin’s ‘Where The Mountain Meets the Moon’, which was a Newbery nominee in 2010. But this book just didn’t work out for me. The magic should have been more, the character development should have been better, and the plot should have been more structured.
In short, this was not a hit for me. But mine is very much an outlier review, and clearly, the Newbery judges also disagree. So please read the other reviews and take an informed decision. If you do go ahead, please note that the content has many triggers; please check online before handing this book over to your child.
2 stars.
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
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My Blog || The StoryGraph || Instagram || X/Twitter || Facebook ||
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
Plot Preview:
Eleven-year-old Lily, along with her mother and her elder sister Sam, has moved to the opposite coast to stay with her sick Halmoni (Korean for ‘grandmother’.) When Lily keeps spotting a tiger that no one else seems to see, only Halmoni believes her, and reveals to her a secret: Halmoni had stolen something from the tiger long ago, which the tiger now wants back. Now Lily has the tough tasks of keeping safe from the dangerous tiger as well as protecting her grandma.
The story comes to us in Lily’s first-person point of view.
I like middle-grade fiction way more than YA fiction. I enjoy magical realism. I love folktales and fairy tales. I adore OwnVoices works. I appreciate inclusivity in books. I’ve enjoyed whatever Newbery titles I have read so far. I should have LOVED this book! Never expected this poor outcome. ☹
Bookish Yays:
🐯 The tiger and all scenes connected to her. (Yes, the tiger is a female.) Whatever little glimpses we get of the tiger’s personality are interesting.
🐯 The fables sprinkled randomly throughout the book – engrossing and providing a genuine feel of Korean folklore.
🐯 The author's note, which shows how and why she wrote this book. Heartfelt!
🐯 That stunning cover!
Bookish Mixed Bags:
🐾 The portrayal of introversion: Many scenes endeared Lily to me, especially as she considers herself invisible and I could actually see why she felt that. However, her vulnerability seems to come and go in between scenes and her thoughts get somewhat repetitive at times. I was especially annoyed by her constant refrain of not wanting to become a “QAG” (a Quiet Asian Girl). Introverts always seem to be drawing the short end of the stick in this genre. I wish authors would let kids know that it is perfectly fine to be a quiet introvert.
🐾 The main reason we pick up OwnVoices works is to get a first-hand view of the culture. There are some interesting bits of Korean heritage in this plot, especially in the fables and *some* of the rituals. But somehow, the Korean representation in the book feels very stock, if you know what I mean. I’m not a Korean nor do I have much awareness of the Korean language or culture, so I don’t know why I feel this or how to explain this better. But there is only stuff that sounds exotic and is still familiar. I wish it went beyond the typical.
🐾 The grandmother-granddaughter relationship shared by Halmoni and Lily is written well, But all the other key relationships, especially between the mothers and daughters (Halmoni and the girls’ mom and the two sisters with their mom) and the two sisters with each other, were quite vague. The emotions didn’t come out strongly or convincingly.
Bookish Nays:
🐅 Though Lily is a middle-grader, the book is strongly YA in tone, with its self-absorbed storyline, fretful protagonist, and the flat representation of most adults. YA and I simply aren’t meant to be.
🐅 A children’s book with kids lying, sneaking out of windows, manipulating and guilt-tripping younger siblings and no one gets any comeuppance? Not for me.
🐅 The plot is paper-thin and has plenty of loopholes as well. There’s no logical reason as to why the girls’ mom didn’t tell them about a permanent shift in their residence until just fifteen days prior. The whole ‘stealing stories’ track was poorly defined. The content also tries to shove in too many subplots. The book would have worked better for me had the focus been mainly on the tiger and the magical realism, as the cover and the title promised.
🐅 On that note, the magical realism itself is not written well. It leaves many things unexplained. I don’t expect logical details in fantastical stories, but by mentioning towards the end that the tiger could just have been a result of a hallucination, the author dropped a bombshell and left it there. Is it magical realism? Hallucination? Coping mechanism? Not answered.
🐅 Almost all the characters are flat. Lily is a 6th grader who sounds more like a 6-year-old. Lily’s elder sister Sam could have been a wonderful rebel character as it is rare to see a Goth Asian girl in any fictional work. However, she ends up as a caricature of both Korean and Goth characteristics. Their mom barely gets any character development. Halmoni’s backstory is the vaguest, which is weird as her actions drive the present issue. There is a curious lack of impactful male characters. I didn’t feel empathy towards any character.
🐅 The final chapter suddenly shoves in a lesbian angle into one of the character’s arcs. I wish this had been better explored. Keeping it as a reveal reserved for the final chapter didn’t make sense as the earlier clues are too subtle. Moreover, I don’t get why every FF pairing has to forcibly end up as a couple. Even if it is the case, at least show some build-up to the relationship! Here, the plot development felt more like an afterthought, when they suddenly went from barely-acquaintances to lovers. Not well written at all!
Considering that this was the winner of the 2021 Newbery Medal, I had much higher expectations. I had hoped for something on the lines of Grace Lin’s ‘Where The Mountain Meets the Moon’, which was a Newbery nominee in 2010. But this book just didn’t work out for me. The magic should have been more, the character development should have been better, and the plot should have been more structured.
In short, this was not a hit for me. But mine is very much an outlier review, and clearly, the Newbery judges also disagree. So please read the other reviews and take an informed decision. If you do go ahead, please note that the content has many triggers; please check online before handing this book over to your child.
2 stars.
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
Connect with me through:
My Blog || The StoryGraph || Instagram || X/Twitter || Facebook ||
June 5, 2021
Not recommended for children in Christian families. I am very disappointed. I thought this was a lovely magical realism book and sad story about a grandmother's illness - until the last chapter when the author ruined it in one very short paragraph by suddenly declaring which had absolutely nothing to do with the story. It seemed to be tossed in there like a way to get "politically correct" brownie points, and I guess the Newbery committee liked that since this book won the Newbery medal in 2021. I do hope the Newbery committee isn't just choosing books based on their political or social values instead of literary merit. C'mon people - this book was intended for CHILDREN. We want children to be entertained, amazed and inspired, not brainwashed.
And yes, I'm a bit upset about all this. I spent 15 dollars on this book and spent hours reading it only to get to the last chapter where I found out this book isn't appropriate for Christian children. I'm very disappointed.
And yes, I'm a bit upset about all this. I spent 15 dollars on this book and spent hours reading it only to get to the last chapter where I found out this book isn't appropriate for Christian children. I'm very disappointed.
March 4, 2020
I'M NOT OKAY 😭 full review to come after I recover
June 8, 2021
5 ⭐️ for middle grade rating scale. Much more impactful than I anticipated.
May 25, 2021
This is probably one of the most recent Newbery awards winners that I’ve loved. This story is so beautiful, about a young girl dealing with some confusing and difficult matters but also weaving some Korean folklore into the story. Definitely going to be recommending this to a lot of kiddos who visit my library.
February 14, 2021
Maybe my expectations were too high for this Newbery winner, but I found it to be overworked and not at all profound. The fantasy aspect of the Tiger didn’t work for me, especially in light of the fact that the main character was too old to believe in magic, the Korean stories didn’t seem to be based on actual Korean tales, and the lesbian relationship at the end was just kind of thrown in there. I wanted to love this book but it just had too many flaws for me.
April 26, 2021
Glorious! A beautiful blending of myth and modern day, that doesn't shy away from hard topics, even as it discusses them with such great delicacy. This is what a Newbery Medal book should be, in my opinion!
June 27, 2021
4 stars
This was a great middle grade book with some magical realism. I loved listening to Lily's stories and especially enjoyed her relationship with her Halmoni.
This was a great middle grade book with some magical realism. I loved listening to Lily's stories and especially enjoyed her relationship with her Halmoni.
Audio book source: Libby (library borrow)
Story Rating: 4 stars
Narrators: Greta Jung
Narration Rating: 4 stars
Genre: Middle grade
Length: 7h 22m
September 16, 2024
This was a bit of a miss for me. I could not help comparing it to 'The Science of Breakable Things' and feeling it came up short. The magical realism was difficult for my linear mind to connect with for some reason. I know I am not the target audience, but this seemed to me to be like that batch of rice cakes that they tried to make for the tiger. The grape jelly just was not the right filling. There are some emotional moments in this book that are handled quite deftly, but then there are other ingredients that just don't add to the book as a whole. That's my story and I'm sticking to it.
February 11, 2022
read for a booktuber 2021 favourites vlog https://youtu.be/GAaPKqtXZ4I
September 17, 2024
As I’ve told my brother, for now, I give up trying to find an AAPI book for my niece’s birthday. She was very close to my mom, and her death was traumatic to my niece. So I’ve been staying away from any books where adult caregivers, guardians, and parents are being grieved (while alive, dead, or missing). Feels like so many of these AAPI books are framed by this grief. What does that say about us??? Why must people we love be in such dire circumstances? Why must all our characters be so resilient? So unfortunately, she’s only getting Nancy Drew this year. Nancy Drew is awesome, but it would’ve been so much better if I could’ve also sent her some books where the smart detective teen was Asian…
November 14, 2023
this was just magical!!
September 11, 2019
I'm just not a magical realism person. This story confused and frustrated me. There's a good heart here but it's not the book for me.
February 16, 2024
Look out friends! Unpopular opinion time....
I hated this book. From the description, I was expecting a fun book with Korean folktales. In my head I was imagining something along the lines of Where The Mountain Meets the Moon, a fabulous book.
What I got instead was middle-schoolers that varied from sounding like 6-year olds (mud anyone? a tiger trap?) to sounding like middle-aged philosophers. What I got was a grab-bag of themes that failed to solidify into a strong point. What I got was terrible, terrible magical realism that, apparently, could've been hallucinations by mugwort.
Honestly, without the magical realism this book would've been about ten times better. That part was just so stupid to me. I've worked with tons of kids and there is no way that someone of Lily's age is going to think she's seeing a real, giant tiger in the middle of the road. Now if she was really was 6 years old, like she sometimes acted, then yes I would believe that.
The story was such a mish-mash that I couldn't connect with or care about any of the characters. I felt absolutely nothing at the ending, and in books like that the reader should feel something. Obviously many other readers did, and I'm glad it was a good experience for them.
I believe that the author was trying really hard to tell a magical, meaningful story. My favorite part of the audiobook was the author's note at the end. It was touching, and it's what got me to move my rating to two stars.
I'm never really disappointed in Newbery winners because I never expect much from them to begin with. I've read over 60% of all the Newbery winners and honors and I have to say that a large portion of them are less than stellar.
That said, the honors books this year are truly fantastic and I feel any of them would've been a better winner. Fighting Words was one of the most powerful books I've ever read. We Dream of Space was brilliantly based around the Challenger tragedy and had so many feels. All Thirteen is a true story of courage and survival. I just started A Wish in the Dark but it's already pulled me right in. Box is the only one I haven't read yet, but I know the story of Henry Brown and I can't wait to read it. This book, to me, just didn't even come close to any of the honor books in terms of plot, characters, and writing.
I hated this book. From the description, I was expecting a fun book with Korean folktales. In my head I was imagining something along the lines of Where The Mountain Meets the Moon, a fabulous book.
What I got instead was middle-schoolers that varied from sounding like 6-year olds (mud anyone? a tiger trap?) to sounding like middle-aged philosophers. What I got was a grab-bag of themes that failed to solidify into a strong point. What I got was terrible, terrible magical realism that, apparently, could've been hallucinations by mugwort.
Honestly, without the magical realism this book would've been about ten times better. That part was just so stupid to me. I've worked with tons of kids and there is no way that someone of Lily's age is going to think she's seeing a real, giant tiger in the middle of the road. Now if she was really was 6 years old, like she sometimes acted, then yes I would believe that.
The story was such a mish-mash that I couldn't connect with or care about any of the characters. I felt absolutely nothing at the ending, and in books like that the reader should feel something. Obviously many other readers did, and I'm glad it was a good experience for them.
I believe that the author was trying really hard to tell a magical, meaningful story. My favorite part of the audiobook was the author's note at the end. It was touching, and it's what got me to move my rating to two stars.
I'm never really disappointed in Newbery winners because I never expect much from them to begin with. I've read over 60% of all the Newbery winners and honors and I have to say that a large portion of them are less than stellar.
That said, the honors books this year are truly fantastic and I feel any of them would've been a better winner. Fighting Words was one of the most powerful books I've ever read. We Dream of Space was brilliantly based around the Challenger tragedy and had so many feels. All Thirteen is a true story of courage and survival. I just started A Wish in the Dark but it's already pulled me right in. Box is the only one I haven't read yet, but I know the story of Henry Brown and I can't wait to read it. This book, to me, just didn't even come close to any of the honor books in terms of plot, characters, and writing.
May 24, 2021
این اواخر دلم یک رمان نوجوان زیبا میخواست. تصمیم گرفتم از بین نویسندگانِ کتابهای نوجوان قبلیای که خوانده بودم، یکی را انتخاب کنم و کتاب جدیدی را از او شروع کنم.
این کتاب را پیدا کردم و دیدم جایزه نیوبری را هم برده. ولی چون 2020 چاپ شده بود، فکر نمیکردم ترجمه هم شده باشد. با اینکه کمی بعد از شروع کردن و خواندن متن انگلیسیش فهمیدم که ترجمهاش هم در بازار هست، همان را ادامه دادم.
واقعا هنرمندانه بود. ایدهی کتاب، شیوه نگارشش و رئالیسم جادویی فوقالعادهش، خیلی ساختارمند بود و ایمانم را به کتابهای نوجوان زیبا بیشتر کرد.
این کتاب را پیدا کردم و دیدم جایزه نیوبری را هم برده. ولی چون 2020 چاپ شده بود، فکر نمیکردم ترجمه هم شده باشد. با اینکه کمی بعد از شروع کردن و خواندن متن انگلیسیش فهمیدم که ترجمهاش هم در بازار هست، همان را ادامه دادم.
واقعا هنرمندانه بود. ایدهی کتاب، شیوه نگارشش و رئالیسم جادویی فوقالعادهش، خیلی ساختارمند بود و ایمانم را به کتابهای نوجوان زیبا بیشتر کرد.
March 2, 2020
"Long, long ago, when tiger walked like man..."
It's the summer before Lily begins seventh grade, and her widowed Korean American mother suddenly decides to move her and older sister Sam from their home in California to Sunbeam, Washington, to live with their Halmoni, who is very ill. Lily claims that her one superpower is the ability to make herself invisible, or what her sister calls a QAG - quiet Asian girl, unlike Sam who is always able to fit in and get along with people. But neither girl wants to move to Sunbeam.
Sure, Lily and Sam had always enjoyed visiting their Korean grandmother and hearing her stories. They especially like the way she would have them pretend to grab a star containing a story. Their favorite story was about a tiger and two sisters who became the sun and the moon to escape the tiger. So when Lily sees a large magical tiger sitting by the side of the road into Sunbeam, she knows she can tell her Halmoni about it.
But Halmoni's reaction when she hears about the tiger, isn't what Lily expects. She tells Lily that long ago she had stolen something from the tiger and stashed it away in some jars. Now, the tiger has come looking for what belongs to her. But what could Halmoni possibly have stolen from a magical tiger? The answer is in a story that Halmoni tells Lily one night about a lonely sky princess who whispers stories to the night. The stories become stars that light the world. But as a little girl, Halmoni didn't like some of the star stories that made her sad and thought they were dangerous. So she stole them and put them into jars. Now, the tiger wants them back.
So with the help of new friend Ricky, they build a tiger trap in the basement, using boxes that Halmoni had stacked by the basement door. One of the boxes contains jars and Lily is convinced that these are the star jars that Halmoni had used to hid the tiger's stories. Sure enough, that night the tiger is in the basement waiting for Lily. When she offers her a deal - return the stories and Halmoni would feel better - Lily is at first hesitant, but later, desperate to help her sick grandmother, she accepts it. With the release and telling of each story star, Lily begins to fill in the blank spots in Halmoni's past, sorting through and separating fact from fiction.
When You Trap a Tiger is just simply a wonderful, unputdownable story. The balance of realism and magical realism is so seamlessly done, nothing jars and even the tiger, appearing and disappearing like a Cheshire cat, becomes believable in the skilled hands of author Tae Keller. Story and characters are well-drawn and equally nuanced, playing their parts perfectly. The cast of characters is small and no character, not even Ricky, is gratuitous.
Keller addresses a number of themes in this book - loss, grief, family history, identity, and LGTBQ - but at heart is the theme of storytelling. As the tiger tells Lily, stories have the power to change someone, even if don't always end happily. The release of Halmoni's stories helps Lily discover not only who her grandmother is, but who she herself is and can be, and the lesson learned is that it is up to Lily to create her own story, making this a powerful coming-of-age tale.
At one point in the book, Halmoni tells Lily "everything a little bit magic." What a wonderful time to be a reader and be able to read magical stories like this.
This book is recommended for readers age 9+
This book was purchased for my personal library
It's the summer before Lily begins seventh grade, and her widowed Korean American mother suddenly decides to move her and older sister Sam from their home in California to Sunbeam, Washington, to live with their Halmoni, who is very ill. Lily claims that her one superpower is the ability to make herself invisible, or what her sister calls a QAG - quiet Asian girl, unlike Sam who is always able to fit in and get along with people. But neither girl wants to move to Sunbeam.
Sure, Lily and Sam had always enjoyed visiting their Korean grandmother and hearing her stories. They especially like the way she would have them pretend to grab a star containing a story. Their favorite story was about a tiger and two sisters who became the sun and the moon to escape the tiger. So when Lily sees a large magical tiger sitting by the side of the road into Sunbeam, she knows she can tell her Halmoni about it.
But Halmoni's reaction when she hears about the tiger, isn't what Lily expects. She tells Lily that long ago she had stolen something from the tiger and stashed it away in some jars. Now, the tiger has come looking for what belongs to her. But what could Halmoni possibly have stolen from a magical tiger? The answer is in a story that Halmoni tells Lily one night about a lonely sky princess who whispers stories to the night. The stories become stars that light the world. But as a little girl, Halmoni didn't like some of the star stories that made her sad and thought they were dangerous. So she stole them and put them into jars. Now, the tiger wants them back.
So with the help of new friend Ricky, they build a tiger trap in the basement, using boxes that Halmoni had stacked by the basement door. One of the boxes contains jars and Lily is convinced that these are the star jars that Halmoni had used to hid the tiger's stories. Sure enough, that night the tiger is in the basement waiting for Lily. When she offers her a deal - return the stories and Halmoni would feel better - Lily is at first hesitant, but later, desperate to help her sick grandmother, she accepts it. With the release and telling of each story star, Lily begins to fill in the blank spots in Halmoni's past, sorting through and separating fact from fiction.
When You Trap a Tiger is just simply a wonderful, unputdownable story. The balance of realism and magical realism is so seamlessly done, nothing jars and even the tiger, appearing and disappearing like a Cheshire cat, becomes believable in the skilled hands of author Tae Keller. Story and characters are well-drawn and equally nuanced, playing their parts perfectly. The cast of characters is small and no character, not even Ricky, is gratuitous.
Keller addresses a number of themes in this book - loss, grief, family history, identity, and LGTBQ - but at heart is the theme of storytelling. As the tiger tells Lily, stories have the power to change someone, even if don't always end happily. The release of Halmoni's stories helps Lily discover not only who her grandmother is, but who she herself is and can be, and the lesson learned is that it is up to Lily to create her own story, making this a powerful coming-of-age tale.
At one point in the book, Halmoni tells Lily "everything a little bit magic." What a wonderful time to be a reader and be able to read magical stories like this.
This book is recommended for readers age 9+
This book was purchased for my personal library
March 24, 2021
One and a half stars. Children's/ Middle Grade. Winner of the 2021 Newbery Award. Very ordinary and rather disjointed family problem story with scant references to Korean culture - a tiger, rice cakes, mugwort, ho-hum...
Too many family problems thrown in one mix: Grandma has Alzheimers/cancer, Dad has died, teen sister may be gay, move to a new town, dyslexic? kid -- too many angles, yet little to no complexity.
From the description, I was expecting Korean folklore? Where? Other than a tiger appearing to the child - there is nothing - and there are no historical/mythological links.
Unbelievable to me that this won a major award for Children's Lit while another Asian folklore inspired middle grade book that I recently read was only a nominee back in 2010 - and that book Where the Mountain Meets the Moon by Grace Lin is a minor masterpiece.
I was quite disappointed in When You Trap a Tiger.
I notice that a lot of the positive reviews are for the audio book (a different experience).
Too many family problems thrown in one mix: Grandma has Alzheimers/cancer, Dad has died, teen sister may be gay, move to a new town, dyslexic? kid -- too many angles, yet little to no complexity.
From the description, I was expecting Korean folklore? Where? Other than a tiger appearing to the child - there is nothing - and there are no historical/mythological links.
Unbelievable to me that this won a major award for Children's Lit while another Asian folklore inspired middle grade book that I recently read was only a nominee back in 2010 - and that book Where the Mountain Meets the Moon by Grace Lin is a minor masterpiece.
I was quite disappointed in When You Trap a Tiger.
I notice that a lot of the positive reviews are for the audio book (a different experience).
February 8, 2021
I purchased 3 copies and it will be on the shelves for my students in fifth grade, but I often wonder about this Newbery Medal and the criteria to win it.
"The Medal shall be awarded annually to the author of the most distinguished contribution to American literature for children published by an American publisher in the United States in English during the preceding year. There are no limitations as to the character of the book considered except that it be original work."
It just says "children" which I guess means birth to age 17?
"THE most distinguished contribution..."
It's a fine book. I enjoyed the Korean aspects. I recently lost my dad, so that part was tender. I just don't know how many fifth graders will gravitate toward this book. And I realize that the Newbery Award is not for the most distinguished contribution to American literature for fifth graders, but I think of them, my students, as "the middle age of all the children" because they are 10 and 11 years old. Sigh. I'm not on the committee and will never be on the committee. I respect the hard work the committee does, reading all the books all year long to make this one big decision...
I'll have to see what the others wrote in their reviews.
At least we can all be wide readers...
"The Medal shall be awarded annually to the author of the most distinguished contribution to American literature for children published by an American publisher in the United States in English during the preceding year. There are no limitations as to the character of the book considered except that it be original work."
It just says "children" which I guess means birth to age 17?
"THE most distinguished contribution..."
It's a fine book. I enjoyed the Korean aspects. I recently lost my dad, so that part was tender. I just don't know how many fifth graders will gravitate toward this book. And I realize that the Newbery Award is not for the most distinguished contribution to American literature for fifth graders, but I think of them, my students, as "the middle age of all the children" because they are 10 and 11 years old. Sigh. I'm not on the committee and will never be on the committee. I respect the hard work the committee does, reading all the books all year long to make this one big decision...
I'll have to see what the others wrote in their reviews.
At least we can all be wide readers...
March 26, 2021
When the sun shines during a rainstorm, it's Tiger's wedding day.
I don't remember any Korean folktales, though I'm pretty sure my mom read them to me when I was younger, but I do remember her telling me that sunshowers occur when Tiger is getting married. Tigers are an incredibly important part of Korean culture and folklore. During the 1988 Olympics in Seoul, the mascots were a pair of tigers and even the very land itself is said to resemble a tiger crouching downwards. Even today, tigers are reported to be living in the DMZ, though these reports have not been substantiated.
This is a beautiful story about family and the ties that bind, even when circumstances and personalities tug and threaten to pull those knots loose. I highly recommend this book for anyone who is looking to increase cultural diversity in their collections, but there are a couple of caveats.
In case you couldn't tell, I'm Korean and grew up speaking Korean to my parents and grandparents. Sadly, I lost a lot of the language over the years, but not so much that I wasn't bothered by some of the dialogue.
Since Sam and Lily are biracial, it's not surprising that they would call their mom, "mom", but it IS weird that their mom would call their halmoni (할머니), "mother", rather than "umma" (엄마).
"Eggi" (애기) does not mean egg. It means baby, so it's odd that the Tiger and halmoni would call Lily "Little Egg" (geh lan 계란) because that's a completely different word.
A sister would call her older sister, "unni" (언니) - "unya" is an unusual romanization, one that I've never seen before - but rather than "eggi" or baby, I feel like it would be more accurate to call the little sister, "dongseng" (동생), which literally means little sibling.
Also, halmoni is pronounced hahl muh-knee.
There are also a LOT of different types of rice cakes ("dduk" 떡) in our cuisine, including those that can be cooked. While there is a type that does use sweet red beans, I wish Keller would have used the Korean word for them, "paht" (팥), rather than the Japanese, adzuki. And also, I can't help wondering about coconut milk being an ingredient in Korean dduk, since coconuts are not commonly found in Korea.
It's also important to note that the traditions that halmoni upholds in the story derive from a type of shamanism that is not as popular in Korea, though there are still some shamans, "mudang" (무당), who continue to practice. Chuseok (추석), a major holiday in Korea, probably has its roots in shamanism since this is when everyone returns to their hometowns to celebrate with their families and, if possible, clean their family gravesites. Maybe they'll set out kosa (고사), but I have never done this before and neither have my friends.
Anyway, I know I'm being picky, but that shouldn't take away from the story and I'm incredibly excited about its Newbery win!
I don't remember any Korean folktales, though I'm pretty sure my mom read them to me when I was younger, but I do remember her telling me that sunshowers occur when Tiger is getting married. Tigers are an incredibly important part of Korean culture and folklore. During the 1988 Olympics in Seoul, the mascots were a pair of tigers and even the very land itself is said to resemble a tiger crouching downwards. Even today, tigers are reported to be living in the DMZ, though these reports have not been substantiated.
This is a beautiful story about family and the ties that bind, even when circumstances and personalities tug and threaten to pull those knots loose. I highly recommend this book for anyone who is looking to increase cultural diversity in their collections, but there are a couple of caveats.
In case you couldn't tell, I'm Korean and grew up speaking Korean to my parents and grandparents. Sadly, I lost a lot of the language over the years, but not so much that I wasn't bothered by some of the dialogue.
Since Sam and Lily are biracial, it's not surprising that they would call their mom, "mom", but it IS weird that their mom would call their halmoni (할머니), "mother", rather than "umma" (엄마).
"Eggi" (애기) does not mean egg. It means baby, so it's odd that the Tiger and halmoni would call Lily "Little Egg" (geh lan 계란) because that's a completely different word.
A sister would call her older sister, "unni" (언니) - "unya" is an unusual romanization, one that I've never seen before - but rather than "eggi" or baby, I feel like it would be more accurate to call the little sister, "dongseng" (동생), which literally means little sibling.
Also, halmoni is pronounced hahl muh-knee.
There are also a LOT of different types of rice cakes ("dduk" 떡) in our cuisine, including those that can be cooked. While there is a type that does use sweet red beans, I wish Keller would have used the Korean word for them, "paht" (팥), rather than the Japanese, adzuki. And also, I can't help wondering about coconut milk being an ingredient in Korean dduk, since coconuts are not commonly found in Korea.
It's also important to note that the traditions that halmoni upholds in the story derive from a type of shamanism that is not as popular in Korea, though there are still some shamans, "mudang" (무당), who continue to practice. Chuseok (추석), a major holiday in Korea, probably has its roots in shamanism since this is when everyone returns to their hometowns to celebrate with their families and, if possible, clean their family gravesites. Maybe they'll set out kosa (고사), but I have never done this before and neither have my friends.
Anyway, I know I'm being picky, but that shouldn't take away from the story and I'm incredibly excited about its Newbery win!
August 27, 2020
Incredible - an exploration of myth and narrative both as it affects populations and individuals, with special focus on intergenerational trauma...but also the spirit of fighting for emotional and spiritual survival.
Funny and deep and with great characters - adults and kids.
Funny and deep and with great characters - adults and kids.
February 11, 2021
This won the Newbery Award for 2021. It's a well written book but the theme and magical realism is more for upper grade students than children. As a librarian in elementary school (K-5) I can't see too many of my students reading this as the concepts would be challenging. It's disappointing as the Newbery is about a book children will enjoy.....not the adults.
The problem is the story line is convoluted. The story is all over the map - jumping from a mother/daughter conflict, sisterly conflict, grandmother sick, moving to a new town, and magic realism. There were other issues presented in the book that were unnecessary and took away from the story.
The problem is the story line is convoluted. The story is all over the map - jumping from a mother/daughter conflict, sisterly conflict, grandmother sick, moving to a new town, and magic realism. There were other issues presented in the book that were unnecessary and took away from the story.
February 21, 2021
2021 Newbery Award, this maternal family story about sisters, a mother, a grandmother and a tiger is a winner. Are magical, talking tigers real? Younger sister Lily and Halmoni, her grandma have seen one. Perhaps, there's a logical explanation? It will be up to the reader to decide.
Give this one to both the realistic fiction and fantasy fans.
Give this one to both the realistic fiction and fantasy fans.
February 20, 2021
It kept me reading. The magic realism is very well written.
However, I feel like it tries to be different (and it is) but comes back to a tired message that I just find difficult. There is death. People leave because they have no choice. This is equated with people who feel trapped in their own skin and abandon their children.
And Sam’s eventual relationship feels like it was just a box to check.
I was disappointed.
However, I feel like it tries to be different (and it is) but comes back to a tired message that I just find difficult. There is death. People leave because they have no choice. This is equated with people who feel trapped in their own skin and abandon their children.
And Sam’s eventual relationship feels like it was just a box to check.
I was disappointed.
March 28, 2021
I wouldn't recommend it. The characters, plot and writing are missing depth. It alludes to lesbianism throughout in, what felt to me, random places. Perhaps to fulfill political correctness? A box to be checked? I'm disappointed it won The Newberry for 2021. Surely this isn't the best the literary community has to offer for Childrens Lit?
Read
April 14, 2021This beautiful book covers so many themes: grief, family relationships, the power of stories, stereotypes, female empowerment, and encapsulated them all in a powerful thought provoking story. I’m going to have to reread this one and chew it over some more. I can see why it won the Newbury.
February 17, 2021
The importance of oral history and sharing our stories is carried throughout this magical narrative. I am extremely grateful that this captivating and beautiful plot was created and can be shared to help cope with tragedy, glorify traditional folklore while expertly critiquing it as well, and pay tribute to the strength of our female ancestors. I love when I discover a new (or relatively new) release and that will become a timeless classic and standard on any childhood bookshelf. So just go ahead and buy a copy now and make a permanent spot for it. Absolute pure magic that will endure! (Disclaimer: I should warn you that I am automatically prone to appreciate most K-culture so this review might be a bit bias.)
January 8, 2025
✰ 2.5 stars ✰
“Take your history, understand where you came from and who you are—then find your own story.
Create the story of who you are yet to be.”
A nice book in theory, but it failed to leave a favorable impression. 😕 I suppose there is a valid reason why magical realism doesn't resonate with me, & I think what Tae Keller was trying to achieve with When You Trap a Tiger was a bit too broad in scope to have any essence to it. 'Why does hope always come at a price?' 😢 For while it does touch upon the power of storytelling, the bonds of sisterhood, and the strength to accept change, as well as a loss of a loved one, it also feels very void of any real feeling to it. To be totally blunt, the writing felt as ambiguous as the morals and words of wisdom the magical tiger was attempting to import upon Lily when she encountered it upon her family's arrival at her ailing Halmoni's house in Seattle. 🐯❇️
“Maybe it’s scary to tell stories and share their truths—but I’d rather face them than run.”
If only I could have felt the weight of Lily's resolve and courage to stand up to what she feared to lose and what she gained in return. The writing felt lacking; the message was unclear, much like how the arrival of the tiger at intervals was not really delivering a cohesive reason. It felt like it was trying to explain how Lily was approaching adolescence, while also having to struggle with her grandmother's sickness - 'her magic never needed an explanation', under the guise of a spiritual tiger that would bestow the importance of celebrating who she is, and not forgetting that part of herself. 🥺 I get how Lily did not want to fall into the stereotypical QAG factor, but she really was not quite appealing, like alone a likeable person of her own accord.
And don't get me started on that mud incident! That was so immature, not to mention inappropriate, disgusting, and something that deserved a lot more punishment than just an apology or a talking-to. It's very easy to see 'Oh, the tiger made me do it', but in real life, that is serious for some serious discussion - 'and you see things from different perspectives. So, naturally, sometimes the stories you tell yourself…can change.' 🙍🏻♀️ Sure, why not? I also did not like how dismissive her own mother was to Lily... I just felt like it was trying too hard to be evocative and profound, churning out too many different aspects, and rather than making an impact on me, it got lost on me, instead. I am a bit surprised it won the Newbery, but having read the list, I certainly see it's not the first time I have been conflicted about their selection. 😕
“Story magic is powerful, powerful enough to change someone. And when a story is locked away, its magic only grows.”
The Author's Note did give me a little clarity into her actions - the symbolism regarding how Lily Bean stepped forth into becoming her own, much like the bear in Korean folklore that undergoes a transformation that will grant her the patience to endure suffering and ordeal. I did think the relationship between Lily and Halmoni was a well-developed one; how she so desperately wished to save her for 'And who am I without Halmoni?' ❤️🩹❤️🩹 Tinged with tinged with the sadness and uncertainty of her weakening condition, made worse by the longing and regret of who she would be without her, when all she would ever have were the stories bestowed upon her. 🙏🏻
“Take your history, understand where you came from and who you are—then find your own story.
Create the story of who you are yet to be.”
A nice book in theory, but it failed to leave a favorable impression. 😕 I suppose there is a valid reason why magical realism doesn't resonate with me, & I think what Tae Keller was trying to achieve with When You Trap a Tiger was a bit too broad in scope to have any essence to it. 'Why does hope always come at a price?' 😢 For while it does touch upon the power of storytelling, the bonds of sisterhood, and the strength to accept change, as well as a loss of a loved one, it also feels very void of any real feeling to it. To be totally blunt, the writing felt as ambiguous as the morals and words of wisdom the magical tiger was attempting to import upon Lily when she encountered it upon her family's arrival at her ailing Halmoni's house in Seattle. 🐯❇️
“Maybe it’s scary to tell stories and share their truths—but I’d rather face them than run.”
If only I could have felt the weight of Lily's resolve and courage to stand up to what she feared to lose and what she gained in return. The writing felt lacking; the message was unclear, much like how the arrival of the tiger at intervals was not really delivering a cohesive reason. It felt like it was trying to explain how Lily was approaching adolescence, while also having to struggle with her grandmother's sickness - 'her magic never needed an explanation', under the guise of a spiritual tiger that would bestow the importance of celebrating who she is, and not forgetting that part of herself. 🥺 I get how Lily did not want to fall into the stereotypical QAG factor, but she really was not quite appealing, like alone a likeable person of her own accord.
And don't get me started on that mud incident! That was so immature, not to mention inappropriate, disgusting, and something that deserved a lot more punishment than just an apology or a talking-to. It's very easy to see 'Oh, the tiger made me do it', but in real life, that is serious for some serious discussion - 'and you see things from different perspectives. So, naturally, sometimes the stories you tell yourself…can change.' 🙍🏻♀️ Sure, why not? I also did not like how dismissive her own mother was to Lily... I just felt like it was trying too hard to be evocative and profound, churning out too many different aspects, and rather than making an impact on me, it got lost on me, instead. I am a bit surprised it won the Newbery, but having read the list, I certainly see it's not the first time I have been conflicted about their selection. 😕
“Story magic is powerful, powerful enough to change someone. And when a story is locked away, its magic only grows.”
The Author's Note did give me a little clarity into her actions - the symbolism regarding how Lily Bean stepped forth into becoming her own, much like the bear in Korean folklore that undergoes a transformation that will grant her the patience to endure suffering and ordeal. I did think the relationship between Lily and Halmoni was a well-developed one; how she so desperately wished to save her for 'And who am I without Halmoni?' ❤️🩹❤️🩹 Tinged with tinged with the sadness and uncertainty of her weakening condition, made worse by the longing and regret of who she would be without her, when all she would ever have were the stories bestowed upon her. 🙏🏻
August 27, 2025
Children’s books can carry profound lessons—not just for kids, but for adults as well—and this is a perfect example. It delves into heavy themes like grief, loneliness, and the complexities of human connection, all while encouraging readers to truly feel and embrace those emotions. For adults, it offers a chance to heal, reflect, and perhaps learn the emotional lessons they may not have received growing up—just as it gently guides young readers through those same truths.
January 26, 2023
As with all forms of entertainment in 2020, consumption of children's books was dramatically affected by the COVID-19 pandemic. That didn't stop the American Library Association awards from proceeding more or less as usual, and in January 2021, Tae Keller won the Newbery Medal for When You Trap a Tiger. The story mixes magical realism with sobering realities about growing up while on the verge of losing what is most precious to you. Twelve-year-old Lily Reeves, her fifteen-year-old sister Sam, and their mother have been California residents for years, but this summer they are moving back to Sunbeam, a small community where Lily and Sam's halmoni (grandmother) lives. They will be moving in with Halmoni, at least for the time being. Lily loves the idea, but Sam is distraught over leaving California; when the girls were little they wanted nothing more than to curl up at Halmoni's side and listen to her tell tales from traditional Korean lore, but as a teen Sam has other priorities. Lily soon discovers, however, there are worse things than a stubborn sister.
Is that a massive tiger Lily spots in the middle of the road, near Halmoni's house? Her mother doesn't seem to see the prowling beast, and somehow no rain is falling on its sleek form. Tigers are a negative omen in Halmoni's Korean legends; is this "invisible" one a sign that something is wrong? The car continues on toward Halmoni's, two of its three passengers oblivious to the tiger, but Lily will make sure to ask Halmoni about it the first time they're alone. Sam and their mother no longer believe in Halmoni's magical stories, so Lily refrains from mentioning the tiger for now. Arriving at the house—an eccentric, vine-entwined place towering high on a hill—everything seems fairly normal. For some reason Halmoni has moved a bunch of cardboard boxes upstairs out of the basement, crowding the main room. She's also lost a lot of weight, but still has that spark of glamor, joy, and charisma that make her a near-sacred figure to Lily. No matter what Sam thinks, Lily is convinced that living in Sunbeam again will be wonderful.
Painfully shy—Sam derisively calls her a "QAG", for "Quiet Asian Girl"—Lily isn't sure she'll be able to make new friends, but on her first trip to the library across the street from Halmoni's house, she meets Ricky Everett, a boy her age with an offbeat fashion sense who loves to converse. Ricky is being tutored at the library by Jensen, a girl Sam's age, and while Sam and Jensen quickly become friends—Sam is one of those "sticky" individuals who have no trouble getting to know new people—Lily and Ricky hit it off well. Ricky loves pudding, cupcakes, superhero comics, and seems up for adventure of any kind, a trait Lily will need when her mother breaks the news to her: Halmoni is gravely ill. The real reason they moved to Sunbeam is to enjoy what little time she has left. Ordinarily the end of this story would be set in stone, but Lily never stopped believing the magic in Halmoni's tales. The "invisible" tiger from the road appears again to her, informing Lily in a dangerous, growling tone that Halmoni can be saved. Lily promises to do whatever the tiger asks. Halmoni has warned her on many occasions that tigers can't be trusted, but who better to keep an invisible one in line than Ricky...the great-grandson of a renowned tiger hunter? Maybe meeting him at the library was fate.
"Story magic is powerful, powerful enough to change someone. And when a story is locked away, its magic only grows. Sometimes it grows sour. The magic becomes a kind of poison."
—When You Trap a Tiger, P. 98
Cancer is chipping away at Halmoni's brain, robbing her of energy and, at times, the ability to think clearly. Treatment to slow the disease makes her nauseated, and Lily is grieved every time she awakens at night to hear Halmoni vomiting in the bathroom. Ricky is as upbeat an assistant as Lily could hope for in designing a "tiger trap" so Lily can get the upper hand in negotiating with the massive creature, but an ethereal tiger isn't easily contained; if Lily wants her help to rescue Halmoni, the tiger demands it be on her own terms. Many years ago, the tiger claims, Halmoni stole three important stories from their rightful place among the stars. She bottled them up so they couldn't be told ever again. If Lily finds the bottles and presents them to the tiger so she can release their contents, the tiger promises to make things better for Halmoni. Can this steely-eyed carnivore be counted on to keep her promise, or would she just free the stories and not give Halmoni another thought? Are Lily's visions of the tiger real, or a reaction incurred by extreme stress, and in truth Halmoni's death is inevitable? Lily doesn't know, but she's all too aware of everything that's changing. Sam sneaks out of the house most nights for unknown reasons, and Lily fears that her own perceptions of Halmoni's comforting old stories will change as she, too, turns into a teenager. Can Lily be simultaneously loyal to who she is evolving into, the Lily she once was as a child at Halmoni's knee, and to her mother, who is struggling with the reality of losing Halmoni? Can Lily resist her "QAG" tendencies enough to be Ricky's real friend, not just a girl he lets hang around because she isn't obtrusive? All Lily knows is that Halmoni's one shot at beating cancer is to give the tiger what she wants; after that, anything is possible. But will Lily be prepared to say goodbye if not even the tiger can save Halmoni?
"Sometimes, no matter how much you want people to stay, you have to let them go."
—When You Trap a Tiger, P. 236
"A cure is not about what we want. It's about what we need. The same is true for stories."
—When You Trap a Tiger, P. 190
Nothing is more potent than purposeful narrative, so we must be careful using it. Dishonesty or manipulation may get us what we want in the short term, but they warp our ability to properly see story; if we come to believe our desired ends justify any means necessary, then the beauty and power of narrative degrades into just another weapon to wield. A good, thoughtful story nourishes mind and soul, changing our own perspective so we behave more admirably and are able to influence others to do the same. What happens when we forget the value of story as a moral and spiritual compass? Halmoni has something to say about that, a sentiment her mother expressed to her long ago. "Everybody have good and bad in them. But sometimes they so focused on sad, scary stories in life that they forget the good. When that happen, you don't tell them they are bad. That only make it worse. You remind them of the good." What Lily, Sam, and their mother need is more belief in Halmoni's stories, not less. Once she's gone—whether in a few weeks, or years from now—who will pass down essential truths from Korean folktales if her family hasn't internalized them? However Halmoni's story ends, there is a lot of good left to be done in Sunbeam, and Lily—the "Quiet Asian Girl"—will be key to getting it done.
"Maybe it's scary to tell stories and share their truths—but I'd rather face them than run."
—When You Trap a Tiger, P. 257
Did this book deserve the 2021 Newbery Medal, the one hundredth given in the history of the award? I've read better winners—Hitty, Her First Hundred Years by Rachel Field (1930), Johnny Tremain by Esther Forbes (1944), Roll of Thunder, Hear My Cry by Mildred D. Taylor (1977), Bridge to Terabithia by Katherine Paterson (1978), Maniac Magee by Jerry Spinelli (1991), and Kira-Kira by Cynthia Kadohata (2005), just to name a few—but I see why some consider Tae Keller's book Newbery worthy. The emotion is subtle, a mix of the bitterness and beauty of human loss. The characters are interesting and well-formed, even minor ones like Joe, the librarian. I especially love Ricky, whose infectious personal style makes him another "sticky" person like Sam. His own family drama can't dim the cheerfulness he exudes, a welcome antidote to moments of stress and anger in the story. The elements of magical realism make it hard to figure out exactly what Halmoni did to the tiger all those years ago and why, but When You Trap a Tiger is plausible enough that I'd at least round my two-and-a-half star rating to three, and consider the full three. To quote Lily, "Even if things aren't perfect, they can still be good." This book did me good, and I'm confident other young readers can say the same. As difficult a time as Tae Keller reportedly had getting the manuscript just right, I'm glad she persevered. Children's literature is better for it.
Is that a massive tiger Lily spots in the middle of the road, near Halmoni's house? Her mother doesn't seem to see the prowling beast, and somehow no rain is falling on its sleek form. Tigers are a negative omen in Halmoni's Korean legends; is this "invisible" one a sign that something is wrong? The car continues on toward Halmoni's, two of its three passengers oblivious to the tiger, but Lily will make sure to ask Halmoni about it the first time they're alone. Sam and their mother no longer believe in Halmoni's magical stories, so Lily refrains from mentioning the tiger for now. Arriving at the house—an eccentric, vine-entwined place towering high on a hill—everything seems fairly normal. For some reason Halmoni has moved a bunch of cardboard boxes upstairs out of the basement, crowding the main room. She's also lost a lot of weight, but still has that spark of glamor, joy, and charisma that make her a near-sacred figure to Lily. No matter what Sam thinks, Lily is convinced that living in Sunbeam again will be wonderful.
Painfully shy—Sam derisively calls her a "QAG", for "Quiet Asian Girl"—Lily isn't sure she'll be able to make new friends, but on her first trip to the library across the street from Halmoni's house, she meets Ricky Everett, a boy her age with an offbeat fashion sense who loves to converse. Ricky is being tutored at the library by Jensen, a girl Sam's age, and while Sam and Jensen quickly become friends—Sam is one of those "sticky" individuals who have no trouble getting to know new people—Lily and Ricky hit it off well. Ricky loves pudding, cupcakes, superhero comics, and seems up for adventure of any kind, a trait Lily will need when her mother breaks the news to her: Halmoni is gravely ill. The real reason they moved to Sunbeam is to enjoy what little time she has left. Ordinarily the end of this story would be set in stone, but Lily never stopped believing the magic in Halmoni's tales. The "invisible" tiger from the road appears again to her, informing Lily in a dangerous, growling tone that Halmoni can be saved. Lily promises to do whatever the tiger asks. Halmoni has warned her on many occasions that tigers can't be trusted, but who better to keep an invisible one in line than Ricky...the great-grandson of a renowned tiger hunter? Maybe meeting him at the library was fate.
"Story magic is powerful, powerful enough to change someone. And when a story is locked away, its magic only grows. Sometimes it grows sour. The magic becomes a kind of poison."
—When You Trap a Tiger, P. 98
Cancer is chipping away at Halmoni's brain, robbing her of energy and, at times, the ability to think clearly. Treatment to slow the disease makes her nauseated, and Lily is grieved every time she awakens at night to hear Halmoni vomiting in the bathroom. Ricky is as upbeat an assistant as Lily could hope for in designing a "tiger trap" so Lily can get the upper hand in negotiating with the massive creature, but an ethereal tiger isn't easily contained; if Lily wants her help to rescue Halmoni, the tiger demands it be on her own terms. Many years ago, the tiger claims, Halmoni stole three important stories from their rightful place among the stars. She bottled them up so they couldn't be told ever again. If Lily finds the bottles and presents them to the tiger so she can release their contents, the tiger promises to make things better for Halmoni. Can this steely-eyed carnivore be counted on to keep her promise, or would she just free the stories and not give Halmoni another thought? Are Lily's visions of the tiger real, or a reaction incurred by extreme stress, and in truth Halmoni's death is inevitable? Lily doesn't know, but she's all too aware of everything that's changing. Sam sneaks out of the house most nights for unknown reasons, and Lily fears that her own perceptions of Halmoni's comforting old stories will change as she, too, turns into a teenager. Can Lily be simultaneously loyal to who she is evolving into, the Lily she once was as a child at Halmoni's knee, and to her mother, who is struggling with the reality of losing Halmoni? Can Lily resist her "QAG" tendencies enough to be Ricky's real friend, not just a girl he lets hang around because she isn't obtrusive? All Lily knows is that Halmoni's one shot at beating cancer is to give the tiger what she wants; after that, anything is possible. But will Lily be prepared to say goodbye if not even the tiger can save Halmoni?
"Sometimes, no matter how much you want people to stay, you have to let them go."
—When You Trap a Tiger, P. 236
"A cure is not about what we want. It's about what we need. The same is true for stories."
—When You Trap a Tiger, P. 190
Nothing is more potent than purposeful narrative, so we must be careful using it. Dishonesty or manipulation may get us what we want in the short term, but they warp our ability to properly see story; if we come to believe our desired ends justify any means necessary, then the beauty and power of narrative degrades into just another weapon to wield. A good, thoughtful story nourishes mind and soul, changing our own perspective so we behave more admirably and are able to influence others to do the same. What happens when we forget the value of story as a moral and spiritual compass? Halmoni has something to say about that, a sentiment her mother expressed to her long ago. "Everybody have good and bad in them. But sometimes they so focused on sad, scary stories in life that they forget the good. When that happen, you don't tell them they are bad. That only make it worse. You remind them of the good." What Lily, Sam, and their mother need is more belief in Halmoni's stories, not less. Once she's gone—whether in a few weeks, or years from now—who will pass down essential truths from Korean folktales if her family hasn't internalized them? However Halmoni's story ends, there is a lot of good left to be done in Sunbeam, and Lily—the "Quiet Asian Girl"—will be key to getting it done.
"Maybe it's scary to tell stories and share their truths—but I'd rather face them than run."
—When You Trap a Tiger, P. 257
Did this book deserve the 2021 Newbery Medal, the one hundredth given in the history of the award? I've read better winners—Hitty, Her First Hundred Years by Rachel Field (1930), Johnny Tremain by Esther Forbes (1944), Roll of Thunder, Hear My Cry by Mildred D. Taylor (1977), Bridge to Terabithia by Katherine Paterson (1978), Maniac Magee by Jerry Spinelli (1991), and Kira-Kira by Cynthia Kadohata (2005), just to name a few—but I see why some consider Tae Keller's book Newbery worthy. The emotion is subtle, a mix of the bitterness and beauty of human loss. The characters are interesting and well-formed, even minor ones like Joe, the librarian. I especially love Ricky, whose infectious personal style makes him another "sticky" person like Sam. His own family drama can't dim the cheerfulness he exudes, a welcome antidote to moments of stress and anger in the story. The elements of magical realism make it hard to figure out exactly what Halmoni did to the tiger all those years ago and why, but When You Trap a Tiger is plausible enough that I'd at least round my two-and-a-half star rating to three, and consider the full three. To quote Lily, "Even if things aren't perfect, they can still be good." This book did me good, and I'm confident other young readers can say the same. As difficult a time as Tae Keller reportedly had getting the manuscript just right, I'm glad she persevered. Children's literature is better for it.
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