When You Trap a Tiger Beats Like a Love Story

Both books have a lot going for them: touching and challenging friendships, main characters who find their courage to become more themselves, and troubled family relationships that become a source of strength. The setting of Like a Love Story was extremely rich. I hadn't realized I wanted a novel set in New York City in 1989 at the height of the AIDS crisis, but it turns out I did. The three young people we follow are brave, flawed, and determined to find their place in the world and each others' hearts. A complete pleasure to read but unfortunately, not out winner.

In the end, When You Trap a Tiger won our votes largely because of the times that we're currently living in. As readers, we felt we needed some escapism which Tae Kellers perfectly provides with the magical realism in the novel. I mean, who doesn't need a fierce, magic, talking, tiger in their life right now. The Korean bedtime stories also gave us a much-needed feeling of comfort and whimsy in our lives. Another thing When You Trap a Tiger has going for it are the diverse characters. Readers of all ages will enjoy getting to know this Korean American family and might identify with the mixture of pride and shame that can come with having a first generation immigrant grandparent.

I also found it really lovely that the novel centered around three female generations within one family - grandmother, mother, and daughters - which reveals the legacy that our choices and decisions create for those we love. Finally, the larger question that the book raises - “What happens to those who journey in order to escape their problems?” - is provocative. Often we tell the stories of those who choose to stay, stand their ground, and suffer through things out of their control, but I appreciate the point raised by When You Trap a Tiger that those who choose to leave have beautiful and tragic stories that need telling also. 

So, grab some kimchi, make some tea, and go meet a tiger.