“We’d always thought Jessica was mean because she was so full of life that it chafed at her from the inside out. She was always simmering, and it reminded us of a pot of stew on the stove. She contained so much beneath her skin, and when it got heated up, all those things tumbled and boiled.”
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Major Virgin Suicides vibes with this one!
Tigers Not Daughters is the story of a family that has broken by loss. We follow the story of three sisters as they navigate grief following the loss of their oldest sister, Ana. These girls grow up with their grief-stricken, abusive widower father navigating life without a mother figure. They struggle to fit in with their peers and each has taken a different tact to coping… none of which are the healthiest.
I love that each of the three sisters had a distinct personality and voice. Too often in YA, all of the characters have a similar angsty, immature vibe. Here these girls are trying to find away to both settle their grief and move on. Each unusual path of coping leads them to a better understanding of Ana’s life and death and all felt like real journeys to me. I like that the story was equally gritty and yet somewhat soft around the edges.
Pick this one up if you are looking for your emotions to be stirred. These girls will show you loss and sorrow; rage and revenge; love and loyalty – and most of all what it means to be a sister. ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
Thanks to Algonquin Young Readers for a copy of this one. All opinions above are my own.
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