When You Trap a Tiger

By Tae Keller

A girl must decide: make a deal with a magical tiger or risk losing her grandmother.

4.1/5 Goodreads · 20,961 ratings

297 pages· 53,745 words· Est. 7.5 hour read

$17.99Save 6%

In stock. Also at Amazon or Bookshop.

Bookroo's summary

Lily's world changes when a magical tiger from her grandmother's Korean folktales appears, demanding the return of a stolen treasure. In exchange, her grandmother's health hangs in the balance. With her sister and friend Ricky, Lily must navigate this mystical challenge, uncover family secrets, and find her courage. Will she risk everything for a deal that might not be what it seems? Dive into a tale where folklore and reality intertwine, and the power of stories could be the key to saving her family.

From the publisher

Would you make a deal with a magical tiger? This uplifting story brings 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. Think Walk Two Moons meets Where the Mountain Meets the Moon! “If stories were written in the stars … this wondrous tale would be one of the brightest.” –Booklist, Starred Review