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sunshine169's review
3.0
Tigers, Not Daughters is about 4 sisters and their efforts to escape their lives with their emotionally and financially absent father. The story takes place a year after the oldest sister, Ana, tragically dies from a fall. Mabry does an excellent job of making you feel the emotions of the sisters, especially Jessica and Iridian. Rosa was the sister with a calming affect. There is a trigger warning for domestic violence.
Thank you to Netgalley for an e-arc of this book in exchange for an honest review. I will be recommending this to my YA readers.
Thank you to Netgalley for an e-arc of this book in exchange for an honest review. I will be recommending this to my YA readers.
erincataldi's review
4.0
Dark, haunting, and ethereal - this young adult novel chronicling the Torres' sisters and the aftermath of their oldest sister's death is chilling and powerful. A year after Ana falls out her window to her death; her three sisters cope with it in different ways. Jessica the now oldest, deals with it by slowly trying to turn into Ana. She wears her clothes and makeup, tries to pick up smoking, and even dates the same boy that Ana had been sneaking off with in the night. Iridian has turned into a total recluse and barely leaves her room let alone the house. She re-reads all of Ana's old books and is trying to drown her sorrows in her writing. Rosa, the youngest tries to talk to the neighborhood animals, finding peace in nature and in church. Their father, well their father is useless; a shell of a man. A year after Ana's death - her ghost inexplicably starts inhabiting the house and the week following her "return" is one that will turn the girls lives upside down. Magical realism at its best!
cassiesnextchapter's review
3.0
This nearly mythical, slightly magical book has some incredible, and hauntingly beautiful parts...and some that still have me confused after finishing. Tigers, Not Daughters by Samantha Mabry is a look into what happens to the three sisters who are left behind after the sudden death of their eldest sister, Ana.
The book takes us through how grief has manifested in and unravels each sister. Jessica desperately wants to become Ana and welcomes anguish. Iridian drowns herself in the pages of Ana's old books, and fills her time with writing. Youngest Rosa searches blindly for the "magic" Ana once said she had. Each sister's struggle is painfully messy, palpable, and yet genuinely human.
The resolution is the most magical and haunting aspect of the book!
I don't agree with the comparison between this and Little Women, and feel it's an injustice to both books. The only similarity between this book and Little Women is the fact that there were 4 sisters, all strikingly different in their characters, yet bound to each other.
Tigers stands on its own, and despite still having some unanswered questions, I'd recommend giving it a read! Nearly 3.5 stars for me :)
The book takes us through how grief has manifested in and unravels each sister. Jessica desperately wants to become Ana and welcomes anguish. Iridian drowns herself in the pages of Ana's old books, and fills her time with writing. Youngest Rosa searches blindly for the "magic" Ana once said she had. Each sister's struggle is painfully messy, palpable, and yet genuinely human.
The resolution is the most magical and haunting aspect of the book!
I don't agree with the comparison between this and Little Women, and feel it's an injustice to both books. The only similarity between this book and Little Women is the fact that there were 4 sisters, all strikingly different in their characters, yet bound to each other.
Tigers stands on its own, and despite still having some unanswered questions, I'd recommend giving it a read! Nearly 3.5 stars for me :)
blogginboutbooks's review against another edition
3.0
I've been trying to read happy books to keep my spirits up during this coronavirus/quarantine thing, and TIGERS, NOT DAUGHTERS definitely does NOT qualify. This is a dark, angry novel about the kind of intense, all-consuming grief that tears people and relationships apart. Although the ending offers a ray of hope, the rest of the book is unrelentingly grim. The sisters at the center of the story are sympathetic but other than Rosa, not very likable. They're an angry, foul-mouthed, self-centered bunch who are unapologetically mean, even to those who try to help them. TIGERS, NOT DAUGHTERS has no real plot, but it is a fast read. I just didn't find it to be a very enjoyable one. I'm giving it three stars because the prose is skilled, the setting is atmospheric, and the story's basic premise is intriguing.
katpop's review
2.0
It wasn't bad...but I don't understand what the point was with this story. I have ideas of what it could be but the book never quite made it there to any of them. I just want to make sense of things, but nothing is connecting. Maybe it is just me though. Idk.
kaylaowens0701's review against another edition
5.0
I absolutely devoured this book. I immediately fell in love with the Torres sisters and their unique fierceness.
brantagonistt's review
3.0
I really loved the writing of this novel, it was very magical realist, lyrical but not too lyrical, and the subject was pretty deep and mysterious. When I finished it, though, I felt like I was missing something, but I can’t really say what it is about the story that I’m missing. I guess I felt like there should’ve been a little bit more. Overall, still really enjoyed this!
emmbien's review
2.0
I read Jeffrey Eugenides’ The Virgin Suicides in college and I hated it. I do not care for the plural male narration style, it sucks. Yes I understand that it’s meant to draw attention to the male gaze, but if all something does is draw attention to a thing, does that really help at all? Awareness.
I saw reviewers describe this book as “fantasy Little Women.” Kill me now: no, no, no this is not Little Women except in that there are four sisters? Abusive dad with sisters who don’t talk to each other at all does not give Little Women vibes.
I wish there was more of a ghostly mystery or fantasy, but those parts were few and far between.
I saw reviewers describe this book as “fantasy Little Women.” Kill me now: no, no, no this is not Little Women except in that there are four sisters? Abusive dad with sisters who don’t talk to each other at all does not give Little Women vibes.
I wish there was more of a ghostly mystery or fantasy, but those parts were few and far between.
mrs_bookdragon's review
4.0
Thank you to the publisher and NetGalley for an eARC copy of this book in exchange for an honest review.
Magical realism is one of my favorite genres and this book has this as a surprising twist. I was not expecting some of the magical elements and I felt that they flowed smoothly for the most part. I will say that one of the sisters had a power that I felt wasn’t explored enough, but overall the magic was done well.
I loved how strong the girls were together and the overall message of sisterhood and love. It was a fast-paced, suspenseful book that tugged at my heart quite a bit.
Some things I was disappointed in was the development of the dad and the ending with him...I just felt a little lost and let down. I also had a hard time believing the ending with him. The same is with the relationship between the oldest sister and the boyfriend John. I don’t want to give anything away, but his role and her haunting just felt confusing and I wish it had been elaborated a little.
Overall, I enjoyed this young adult magical realism book. Although some plot points felt rushed, it was enjoyable and I loved the theme.
Magical realism is one of my favorite genres and this book has this as a surprising twist. I was not expecting some of the magical elements and I felt that they flowed smoothly for the most part. I will say that one of the sisters had a power that I felt wasn’t explored enough, but overall the magic was done well.
I loved how strong the girls were together and the overall message of sisterhood and love. It was a fast-paced, suspenseful book that tugged at my heart quite a bit.
Some things I was disappointed in was the development of the dad and the ending with him...I just felt a little lost and let down. I also had a hard time believing the ending with him. The same is with the relationship between the oldest sister and the boyfriend John. I don’t want to give anything away, but his role and her haunting just felt confusing and I wish it had been elaborated a little.
Overall, I enjoyed this young adult magical realism book. Although some plot points felt rushed, it was enjoyable and I loved the theme.