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When You Trap a Tiger: (Newbery Medal Winner)

by Tae Keller

Korean folklore, family history, and a tiger’s bargain

Award Winner Critically Recognized
Regular price $11.94 USD
Regular price $19.90 USD Sale price $11.94 USD
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Paperback New English

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Print BookAvailable Hardcover $18.12 USD$30.21 USD
Print BookCurrently viewing Paperback $11.94 USD$19.90 USD
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Awards & Recognition

  • Award recognition

    Newbery Medal winner

    The source identifies the book as a Newbery Medal winner.

  • Bestseller

    #1 New York Times bestseller

    The source describes the book as a bestseller.

  • Editorial selection

    A Kirkus Reviews Best Middle Grade Book of the Century

    Included among Kirkus Reviews' best middle grade books of the century.

AlbakiReads Editorial

Korean folklore, family history, and a tiger’s bargain

When Lily moves in with her ill grandmother, a tiger from her grandmother’s Korean folktales brings an old family secret into the present. Its offer—Halmoni’s health in exchange for something she once took—sets Lily’s story alongside questions of family bonds, courage, and the power stories can hold. Her sister and new friend Ricky join her as she works to understand the past and decide how to face the tiger. The fantasy premise is rooted in Korean folklore, while the family history gives Lily’s quest its personal stakes.

Good fit for readers who enjoy

  • For readers interested in fantasy grounded in Korean folklore.
  • For middle-grade readers who enjoy stories about family ties, secrets, and courage.
  • For young readers curious about the role stories can play in family history.

Themes

Korean folkloreFamily history and bondsStories and their powerCourage

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
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Olivia

Smooth.