Status
Available
Publication
Random House Books for Young Readers (2020), 304 pages
Library's review
"A young girl bargaining for the health of her grandmother discovers both her family’s past and the strength of her own voice.
For many years, Lily’s Korean grandmother, Halmoni, has shared her Asian wisdom and healing powers with her predominantly White community. When Lily, her sister,
Longing—for connection, for family, for a voice—roars to life with just a touch of magic. (Fiction. 10-14)" A Kirkus Starred Review, www.kirkusreviews.com
For many years, Lily’s Korean grandmother, Halmoni, has shared her Asian wisdom and healing powers with her predominantly White community. When Lily, her sister,
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Sam—both biracial, Korean and White—and their widowed mom move in with Halmoni to be close with her as she ages, Lily begins to see a magical tiger. What were previously bedtime stories become dangerously prophetic, as Lily begins to piece together fact from fiction. There is no need for prior knowledge of Korean folktales, although a traditional Korean myth propels the story forward. From the tiger, Lily learns that Halmoni has bottled up the hard stories of her past to keep sadness at bay. Lily makes a deal with the tiger to heal her grandmother by releasing those stories. What she comes to realize is that healing doesn’t mean health and that Halmoni is not the only one in need of the power of storytelling. Interesting supporting characters are fully developed but used sparingly to keep the focus on the simple yet suspenseful plot. Keller infuses this tale, which explores both the end of life and coming-of-age, with a sensitive examination of immigration issues and the complexity of home. It is at one and the same time completely American and thoroughly informed by Korean culture.Longing—for connection, for family, for a voice—roars to life with just a touch of magic. (Fiction. 10-14)" A Kirkus Starred Review, www.kirkusreviews.com
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Awards
Boston Globe–Horn Book Award (Honor — Fiction — 2020)
Mythopoeic Awards (Finalist — Children's Literature — 2022)
Pacific Northwest Library Association Young Reader's Choice Award (Nominee — Junior — 2023)
Newbery Medal (Medal Winner — 2021)
Vermont Golden Dome Book Award (Nominee — 2022)
Asian/Pacific American Award for Literature (Winner — Children's — 2021)
Evergreen Teen Book Award (Nominee — Middle School — 2023)
Charlotte Huck Award (Recommended Book — 2021)
Kansas NEA Reading Circle Recommended Book (Junior — 2021)
New York Public Library Best Books: For Kids (Top Ten — 2020)
Notable Children's Book (2021)
Nerdy Book Award (Middle Grade Fiction — 2020)
El día de los niños / El día de los libros (3-5 — 2021)
Project LIT Book Selection (Middle Grade — 2022)
Texas Lone Star Reading List (2021)
Montana Battle of the Books (2024)
Chicago Public Library Best of the Best: Kids (Fiction for Older Readers — 2020)
Language
Original language
English
Original publication date
2020
ISBN
1524715700 / 9781524715700