Tigers, Not Daughters
Common Sense says
- Samantha Mabry
- Fantasy
- 2020
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The parents' guide to what's in this book.
What parents need to know
Parents need to know that Tigers, Not Daughters is a fantasy novel by Samantha Mabry (All the Wind in the World) set in San Antonia, Texas. The motherless Torres sisters experience even greater heartbreak when the eldest falls to her death sneaking out through a second-story window. Their grieving, irresponsible father leaves the survivors to look after themselves, while insisting they obey his capricious rules. The novel features a handful of violent scenes, most involving domestic abuse. In terms of sexual content, one sister mentions having sex in her boyfriend's car, and young boys spy on a girl while she dresses. Swearing is fairly frequent -- a dozen or so instances of "s--t" and "f--k." The girls' father is drunk in a number of scenes.
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What's the story?
As TIGERS, NOT DAUGHTERS opens, the three surviving Torres sisters are still mourning the accidental death of Ana, their oldest sibling. Jessica works at a pharmacy to help put food on the table. Iridiana tries to lose herself in reading and writing. Rosa communes with nature, including an escaped hyena. Each sister is being haunted by Ana, who seems to want them to do something about their precarious living situation. Can the Torres girls come together to put the past away and find better lives for themselves?
Is it any good?
Stories of families in crisis are tremendously popular, and this ghostly tale of four sisters brims with atmosphere and enchantment. Tigers, Not Daughters takes inspiration from King Lear, Anne Rice, and Little Women. Set in San Antonio, Texas, the plot is a rich mixture of magical realism and domestic drama. Each Torres sister is a force to be reckoned with, and author Samantha Mabry gives them plenty of opportunities to display their multidimensionality. As the tension builds to a haunted, explosive conclusion, readers will find themselves rooting for the girls and wishing for their healing. Tough, earthy, and humorous, Tigers, Not Daughters will please a wide readership.
Talk to your kids about ...
Families can talk about how Tigers, Not Daughters addresses the subject of the supernatural. Do you think ghosts can communicate with those they have left behind?
How do people deal with grief? Is there a "right" way to do it? What kinds of help are available to people who have lost loved ones?
What defines an abusive relationship? What kinds of support do victims need?
Book details
- Author: Samantha Mabry
- Genre: Fantasy
- Topics: Magic and Fantasy, Brothers and Sisters, Great Girl Role Models, Misfits and Underdogs
- Book type: Fiction
- Publisher: Algonquin Young Readers
- Publication date: March 24, 2020
- Number of pages: 288
- Available on: Nook, Audiobook (abridged), Hardback, iBooks, Kindle
- Last updated: June 23, 2020
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