When You Trap a Tiger by Tae Keller is a lovely novel about the power of stories to connect with one’s past and the power of letting a little magic into your life. This book won the 2021 Newbery Medal and is a great middle-grade book. Keller opens a star jar of stories that will delight and immerse readers.
Jacket Description:
“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, the tigers want it back. And when one of those tigers approaches Lily with a deal—return what Halmoni stole in exchange for Halmoni’s health—Lily is tempted to accept. 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.”
Reading Level: 8+ years
Age Range: 6+ years
Genre: Middle-Grade Fiction, Fantasy
Length: 304 pages
Awards: Newbery Medal (2021), Asian/Pacific American Award for Children’s Literature
Tae Keller’s Bio (from author’s website):
“Tae Keller 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.”
The Lighthouse 