From the Bookshelf of Mock Newbery 2026…

When You Trap a Tiger

Tae Keller

Start date: May 20, 2020

Finish date: May 24, 2020

Discussion: Newbery 2021

Why we're reading this: 2021 Newbery Award
[close] 2021 Newbery Award

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Showing 2 of 19 topics — 526 comments total

Newbery 2021

* 2021 ALA Newbery Awards
By Kristen · 23 posts · 244 views

last updated Mar 30, 2021 07:20PM

* 2021 Mock Newbery Winning Selections
By Kristen · 14 posts · 266 views

last updated Feb 16, 2021 02:44PM

What Members Thought

Mar 06, 2021 Shari (Shira) rated it really liked it

Shelves: childrensbooks

It is finally my turn! I have waited for this book since January 25th. It wasn't on anyone's radar. Not SLJ Heavy Medal, or Anderson Bookshop Mock Newbery, or even Goodreads Mock Newbery. When I finally got my hands on it. I spent the first few chapters muttering to myself, "Distinguished? BAH!" Then I got caught up in the story. I worried about Halmoni. Such a delightful, quirky granny. I was cheering for Lily to break out of her QAG shell. I was wondering what the story was with Ricky and Sam. ...more

5 likes · Like · see review

May 19, 2020 Dest rated it liked it

Shelves: middle-grade, magical-realism, siblings, audio, tween, death, asian-americans

Solid middle-grade novel about a shy younger sister finding her voice and discovering family secrets. A magical tiger sounds exciting, but this is more of a quiet story. I listened to the audiobook -- the narrator was great. She made the grandma character come alive. (Side note: I thought the grandma's name was Harmony for a bit, but it's explained that halmeoni means grandma in Korean).

Keller addresses the QAG (Quiet Asian Girl) stereotype head-on in the book. Lily sees herself as so shy she's ...more

2 likes · Like · see review

Aug 14, 2020 Cheryl Meibos rated it it was ok

Shelves: newbery

I liked the beginning. I liked the Korean folktales and customs. I found it very confusing though.
Is this mystical and figurative? Was it real or a hallucination? It went back and forth between realistic, existential, and magical. Sad too.

1 like · Like · see review