When You Trap a Tiger

1

 

I can turn invisible.

It s a superpower, or at least a secret power. But it s not like in the movies, and I m not a superhero, so don t start thinking that. Heroes are the stars who save the day. I just ­disappear.

See, I didn t know, at first, that I had this magic. I just knew that teachers forgot my name, and kids didn t ask me to play, and one time, at the end of fourth grade, a boy in my class frowned at me and said, Where did you come from? I don t think I ve ever seen you before.

I used to hate being invisible. But now I understand: it s because I m magic.

My older sister, Sam, says it s not a real supersecret power ­it s just called being shy. But Sam can be rude.

And the truth is, my power can come in handy. Like when Mom and Sam fight. Like right now.

I wrap myself in invisibility and rest my forehead against the back-­seat window, watching raindrops slide down the side of our old station wagon.

You should stop the car, Sam says to Mom.

Except Sam actually says this to her phone, because she doesn t look up. She s sitting in the passenger seat with her feet slammed against the glove compartment, knees smashed into her chest, her whole body curled around her glowing screen.

Mom sighs. Oh, please, we don t need to stop. It s just a little rain. But she ticks the windshield wipers up a notch and taps the brakes until we re going slug-­slow.

The rain started as soon as we entered Washington State, and it only gets worse as our car inches past the hand-­painted welcome to sunbeam! sign.

Welcome to Halmoni s town, a town of nonstop rain, its name like an inside joke.

Sam smacks her black-­painted lips. K.

That s all. Just one letter.

She tap-­taps her screen, sending bubbles of words and emojis to all her friends back home.

I wonder what she s saying in those messages. Sometimes, when I let myself, I

TAE KELLER was born and raised in Honolulu, where she grew up on purple rice, Spam musubi, and her halmoni s tiger stories. She is the Newbery Medal-winning author of When You Trap a Tiger and The Science of Breakable Things. She lives in Seattle. Visit her at TaeKeller.com, follow her monthly love letters at bit.ly/lovetae, and find her on Twitter and Instagram.

Winner of the Boston Globe Horn Book Honor Award for Fiction and Poetry

"Roars to life with just a touch of magic. Kirkus Reviews, starred review

A heartfelt reminder of the wonder and beauty in our everyday lives. Booklist, starred review

Deeply moving... vulnerable and mythic storytelling in the vein of Erin Entrada Kelly and Kacen Callender.   School Library Journal, starred review

Keller s (The Science of Breakable Things) #OwnVoices journey through Korean mythology begins with a fantastical quest and slowly transforms into a tale about letting go and the immortality that story can allow. Publishers Weekly, starred review

It s a complex, satisfying story, one that foregrounds family and healing alongside a love for Korean folklore. The Bulletin, starred review

"This beautiful book reminds us that, even in a world filled with stolen stars, crafty tigers, and family secrets that spring from folklore, the most powerful magic of storytelling is the story we decide to tell about ourselves."  Kat Yeh, author of The Truth About Twinkie Pie

"An intoxicating mix of folktale, fantasy, friendship and love (and tigers!). Through a series of challenges--and also a lot of laughter--Lily (a.k.a. Lily Bean, Eggi, Little Egg) finds out what she is made of. She is a character who'll stay with me--and whom I already miss!"  Marie Myung-Ok Lee, author of Finding My Voice and Somebody's Daughter

"An ambitious and bewitching brew of Korean folklore, magical realism, and classic coming-of-age story, When You Trap a Tiger is a tender tale as unique as it is universal. Keller's writing shimmers with magic, heart, and hope." Ali Standish, author of Before I Was Ethan

Praise for Tae Keller's The Science of Breakable Things: