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When You Trap a Tiger: (Newbery Medal Winner)

by Tae Keller

Folklore, family history, and a difficult bargain

Award Winner Critically Recognized
Regular price $18.12 USD
Regular price $30.21 USD Sale price $18.12 USD
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Awards & Recognition

  • Award recognition

    Newbery Medal winner

    The book is identified as a winner of the Newbery Medal.

  • Bestseller

    #1 New York Times bestseller

    The metadata identifies the book as a bestseller and gives a #1 rank.

  • Editorial selection

    Kirkus Reviews Best Middle Grade Book of the Century

    Named a best middle grade book of the century.

AlbakiReads Editorial

Folklore, family history, and a difficult bargain

Korean folktales shape Lily’s encounter with a magical tiger after she moves in with her sick grandmother. The tiger’s offer ties Halmoni’s health to something she took long ago, drawing Lily into a family secret and a choice with personal stakes. Her sister and new friend Ricky are part of the search for a way forward. The story brings together grief, intergenerational bonds, and the power stories hold within a family, with folklore central to its conflict.

Good fit for readers who enjoy

  • Children interested in Korean folklore and magical elements.
  • Readers looking for a story about family relationships and a grandmother’s illness.
  • Middle-grade readers drawn to themes of grief, family history, and finding one’s voice.

Themes

Korean folkloreFamily historyGrief and illnessThe power of storiesCourage and self-expression

Based on publisher information and book metadata.

Book overview

WINNER OF THE NEWBERY MEDAL - WINNER OF THE ASIAN/PACIFIC AMERICAN AWARD FOR CHILDREN'S LITERATURE - #1 NEW YORK TIMES BESTSELLER - A PARADE BEST KIDS BOOK OF ALL TIME - A KIRKUS REVIEWS BEST MIDDLE GRADE BOOK OF THE CENTURY

Would you make a deal with a magical tiger? This uplifting story brings Korean folklore to life as a girl goes on a quest to unlock the power of stories and save her grandmother.


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.

Tae Keller, the award-winning author of The Science of Breakable Things, shares a sparkling tale about the power of stories and the magic of family.

"If stories were written in the stars ... this wondrous tale would be one of the brightest." --Booklist, Starred Review
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Customer reviews

M
AlbakiReads
Malaika Taylor

I highly recommend to for anyone looking for inner clarity

T
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Thomas DiMassa

Great service and fast service

Great shopping experience! The book arrived quickly, was well packaged, and matched the description perfectly. I would definitely shop with you again

O
AlbakiReads
Olivia

Smooth.