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Tigers, Not Daughters
The Torres sisters dream of escape. Escape from their needy and despotic widowed father, and from their San Antonio neighborhood, full of old San Antonio families and all the traditions and expectations that go along with them. In the summer after her senior year of high school, Ana, the oldest sister, falls to her death from her bedroom window. A year later, her three younger sisters, Jessica, Iridian, and Rosa, are still consumed by grief and haunted by their sister’s memory. Their dream of leaving Southtown now seems out of reach. But then strange things start happening around the house: mysterious laughter, mysterious shadows, mysterious writing on the walls. The sisters begin to wonder if Ana really is haunting them, trying to send them a message—and what exactly she’s trying to say.
In a stunning follow-up to her National Book Award–longlisted novel All the Wind in the World, Samantha Mabry weaves an aching, magical novel that is one part family drama, one part ghost story, and one part love story.
In a stunning follow-up to her National Book Award–longlisted novel All the Wind in the World, Samantha Mabry weaves an aching, magical novel that is one part family drama, one part ghost story, and one part love story.
288 pages, Hardcover
First published March 24, 2020
About the author
Samantha Mabry
10 books292 followerssamantha was born four days before the death of john lennon. she grew up in dallas, playing bass guitar along to vinyl records in her bedroom after school, writing fan letters to rock stars, doodling song lyrics into notebooks, and reading big, big books.
she spends as much time as possible in the west texas desert.
A FIERCE AND SUBTLE POISON (Algonquin Young Readers, spring 2016) is her first novel.
she spends as much time as possible in the west texas desert.
A FIERCE AND SUBTLE POISON (Algonquin Young Readers, spring 2016) is her first novel.
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 552 reviews
June 1, 2020
I think I just read the magical realistic, dark, horrific version of “Little Women”!
Yes, there are four sisters. Let’s meet the creepy, obsessed, isolated, unique Torres sisters one by one. But before that, let’s not forget: one of them is already gone!
Pure hearted, animal lover, wandering around the town in the middle of the night, one of the weirdest sisters Rosa reminded me of little Beth as introverted, couch potato, self-punisher, book-worm and forced writer Iridian carries pieces of Jo and Jessica tries to gather the pieces of estranged family, taking care of her own father and bread winner of the family, working at the drugstore, humming her songs at the storage secretly as she misses to sing in chorus is a character between dependable Meg and flirty Amy.
Three sisters trapped in a house with their neglecting, irresponsible father, living in debts and never keeping his promises. The walls start to close and they’re about to crush them as they suffer from suffocation, claustrophobia. And they are also trapped in the house with their dead sister Ana’s ghost. Isn’t it getting better? Sure it is!
Ana and her sisters try to run away from the Southtown as they spied by the neighborhood boys’ gang who want to help their escape but accidentally become the reason of their caught up. Their father Rafe brings them back but Ana is determined to escape which ends her life by falling down the window.
Three sisters deal with Ana’s death at different ways. Iridian carries Ana’s favorite book in everywhere like her compass and begins writing romance novels to finish what her sister started. Jessica moves to Ana’s room, using her makeup products (she does something a little far in the shower, I’m not gonna tell that but yes, it is really extreme!), then she also starts dating Ana’s scumbag, abusive boyfriend John as if she’s punishing herself. And Rosa thinks their sister’s soul is reincarnated into a wild hyena’s body, is wandering around the houses and create terror around the householders.
This is surprising, extreme, dark, spooky, creepy story with fast pacing, short chapters, keeping your attention alive from the beginning. Ending was good and entertaining even though there are still some plot holes. And in my opinion there are some missing pieces about the back stories of the sisters. We only know how they move on their lives while they’re struggling with their inner demons and tremendous grief. But we don’t know how they were before the tragedy hit their place and tear them apart.
Rosa, Jessica and sweetpie Peter was my favorite characters. I had some hard time to connect with Iridian till the last chapters and learning the reason why she isolated herself from the outer world.
Overall: It was still interesting, unique, moving, haunting, dazzling and promising read. And the cover is fascinating! I’m giving 3.5 stars and rounding them up to 4.
Special thanks to NetGalley and Algonquin Young Readers for sharing this captivating ARC with me in exchange my honest review.
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Yes, there are four sisters. Let’s meet the creepy, obsessed, isolated, unique Torres sisters one by one. But before that, let’s not forget: one of them is already gone!
Pure hearted, animal lover, wandering around the town in the middle of the night, one of the weirdest sisters Rosa reminded me of little Beth as introverted, couch potato, self-punisher, book-worm and forced writer Iridian carries pieces of Jo and Jessica tries to gather the pieces of estranged family, taking care of her own father and bread winner of the family, working at the drugstore, humming her songs at the storage secretly as she misses to sing in chorus is a character between dependable Meg and flirty Amy.
Three sisters trapped in a house with their neglecting, irresponsible father, living in debts and never keeping his promises. The walls start to close and they’re about to crush them as they suffer from suffocation, claustrophobia. And they are also trapped in the house with their dead sister Ana’s ghost. Isn’t it getting better? Sure it is!
Ana and her sisters try to run away from the Southtown as they spied by the neighborhood boys’ gang who want to help their escape but accidentally become the reason of their caught up. Their father Rafe brings them back but Ana is determined to escape which ends her life by falling down the window.
Three sisters deal with Ana’s death at different ways. Iridian carries Ana’s favorite book in everywhere like her compass and begins writing romance novels to finish what her sister started. Jessica moves to Ana’s room, using her makeup products (she does something a little far in the shower, I’m not gonna tell that but yes, it is really extreme!), then she also starts dating Ana’s scumbag, abusive boyfriend John as if she’s punishing herself. And Rosa thinks their sister’s soul is reincarnated into a wild hyena’s body, is wandering around the houses and create terror around the householders.
This is surprising, extreme, dark, spooky, creepy story with fast pacing, short chapters, keeping your attention alive from the beginning. Ending was good and entertaining even though there are still some plot holes. And in my opinion there are some missing pieces about the back stories of the sisters. We only know how they move on their lives while they’re struggling with their inner demons and tremendous grief. But we don’t know how they were before the tragedy hit their place and tear them apart.
Rosa, Jessica and sweetpie Peter was my favorite characters. I had some hard time to connect with Iridian till the last chapters and learning the reason why she isolated herself from the outer world.
Overall: It was still interesting, unique, moving, haunting, dazzling and promising read. And the cover is fascinating! I’m giving 3.5 stars and rounding them up to 4.
Special thanks to NetGalley and Algonquin Young Readers for sharing this captivating ARC with me in exchange my honest review.
blog
May 2, 2021
Tigers, Not Daughters is the story of the Torres sisters, currently living in San Antonio, Texas. Their mother died after the youngest daughter's birth, and now they live with their father. This tragedy is something their father has never been able to move on from. He complicates his daughters' lives even more, and life is challenging for each one of them. One night, the oldest sister (Ana) sneaks out and accidentally falls from her bedroom window. The three remaining Torres sisters are left to deal with loss once again. The question is: can they pull together and be there for one another, or will they just fall apart?
Each sister is dealing with the loss of Ana in their own way, and their father (Rafe) has basically lost it. He’s extremely abusive and never supports the girls; in fact, he's practically nonexistent. Having a troubled father in my own life, I found the more intense parts of the book with Rafe easy to connect with and understand. Jessica—now the oldest sister—has basically tried to become Ana by wearing her clothes and dating one of her ex-boyfriends. Many times throughout the story I questioned Jessica’s choices. Iridian is only interested in reading, writing, and remaining at home as much as possible. She’s obsessed with her sister Ana’s books and just wants to recreate them. She seems to have more anger toward her father than the other girls do, but why? Lastly, Rosa is the youngest sister who has an interest in the natural world around her, and she’s the glue holding this family together. When it appears that Ana’s ghost is visiting them, they question why Ana hasn’t moved on. Is she just trying to give them a message, or is the family willing her to stay?
This is a dark, powerful, and emotional coming-of-age story about struggling through loss and finding a way to reconnect with life. The author did a wonderful job conveying the emotions of each of the sisters perfectly and presenting the household dynamics in such a way that you feel like you’re experiencing their pain right along with them. I could feel their overwhelming grief, but the heart of this book to me was family. The comical parts in the book stemming from people in the community and neighbors around them, paired with a dash of mystery and magical realism, adds much character to the story.
With that said, it took me some time to get into this book with the constant flipping back and forth between perspectives. I did like the shortness of each perspective because it was just the right amount to drive me forward. There were some questions involving an important character in the end, and some loose ends were left out in the open and never touched upon again; however, I do see that this book is listed as #1 in a series. Perhaps these questions will be answered in a future installment.
Overall, this was a thought-provoking and memorable read that will likely stick with me for some time.
4****
You can see this review @www.readrantrockandroll.com
Each sister is dealing with the loss of Ana in their own way, and their father (Rafe) has basically lost it. He’s extremely abusive and never supports the girls; in fact, he's practically nonexistent. Having a troubled father in my own life, I found the more intense parts of the book with Rafe easy to connect with and understand. Jessica—now the oldest sister—has basically tried to become Ana by wearing her clothes and dating one of her ex-boyfriends. Many times throughout the story I questioned Jessica’s choices. Iridian is only interested in reading, writing, and remaining at home as much as possible. She’s obsessed with her sister Ana’s books and just wants to recreate them. She seems to have more anger toward her father than the other girls do, but why? Lastly, Rosa is the youngest sister who has an interest in the natural world around her, and she’s the glue holding this family together. When it appears that Ana’s ghost is visiting them, they question why Ana hasn’t moved on. Is she just trying to give them a message, or is the family willing her to stay?
This is a dark, powerful, and emotional coming-of-age story about struggling through loss and finding a way to reconnect with life. The author did a wonderful job conveying the emotions of each of the sisters perfectly and presenting the household dynamics in such a way that you feel like you’re experiencing their pain right along with them. I could feel their overwhelming grief, but the heart of this book to me was family. The comical parts in the book stemming from people in the community and neighbors around them, paired with a dash of mystery and magical realism, adds much character to the story.
With that said, it took me some time to get into this book with the constant flipping back and forth between perspectives. I did like the shortness of each perspective because it was just the right amount to drive me forward. There were some questions involving an important character in the end, and some loose ends were left out in the open and never touched upon again; however, I do see that this book is listed as #1 in a series. Perhaps these questions will be answered in a future installment.
Overall, this was a thought-provoking and memorable read that will likely stick with me for some time.
4****
You can see this review @www.readrantrockandroll.com
February 25, 2020
Sometimes, when a story is particularly weighty due to heavy content, it can take a nosedive into an unreadable territory. Even those readers who enjoy a good sad cry can be turned off by a tale that is oppressive and suffocating. However, as was the case with Tigers, Not Daughters, some authors knows exactly how to create a narrative circling the drain of grief and suffering and turn it into something beautiful and poetic. This is precisely what Samantha Mabry did with this unfortunate family; the Torres sisters are all processing the loss of their oldest sister Ana, and they each do this in a different way. At heart, this is a story about grief, family bonds, trauma, and female power that can rise from the ashes of broken young women. If you're looking for gorgeous writing and a hint of magical realism, please consider adding Tigers, Not Daughters to your March TBR.
*Many thanks to the publisher for providing my review copy.
*Many thanks to the publisher for providing my review copy.
April 17, 2020
This was lightning in a bottle, a gunshot in progress. I loved it with my entire soul.
Writing: wrap me in these sentences, I'll sleep in a bed of these words
Characters: ★★★★★
The Vibe: ★★★★★
Tigers, Not Daughters hit me from the side with a punch that I wasn't expecting. Magical realism, grief, ghosts, the unshakable reality of sisters, and use of multiple narrators all collided to bring one unforgettable (and new favorite) read.
The Torres sisters were always a set of four. Ana, Jessica, Iridian, and Rosa. Their mother isn't there, and their father shouldn't be there, but life is life and that's how it goes.
Except it's not. Because Ana's dead.
Ana's death cracks the lines of this fragile family into three distinct shards. We have Jessica, who misses Ana so much that she consumes her, becomes her, shoving the angry versions of herself under layers of steely indifference. We have Iridian, who feels more comfortable with words than with people, as it's only people who hurt her over and over. And we have Rosa, whose magical ways of understanding reality leave her with a different lens, but no less pain.
All three sisters have survived the impact of Ana leaving them in waves, but when a ghostly presence interrupts their fragile grief, the storm arrives again.
This was so, so good. I loved it. Mabry's realism was definitely magical, but also earthy and gritty in a way that was so exciting to read. These sisters were raw, they were real, and they had all kinds of aspects—the good, the bad, the ugly, and the bizarre in a way that only girls can be. The vibe of sisters was perfect.
I also loved the writing. This is a tale in the telling, and the snapshots of perspectives and the lyricism in the sentences flowed in such a way that this story was all-consuming. You lived the Torres sisters and you were them at the same time. This kind of writing is a gem to read in any situation, and I loved its deft handling of grief, darker themes, and resilience.
Thank you to Algonquin Young Readers for an ARC of this title in exchange for an honest review.
Writing: wrap me in these sentences, I'll sleep in a bed of these words
Characters: ★★★★★
The Vibe: ★★★★★
Tigers, Not Daughters hit me from the side with a punch that I wasn't expecting. Magical realism, grief, ghosts, the unshakable reality of sisters, and use of multiple narrators all collided to bring one unforgettable (and new favorite) read.
The Torres sisters were always a set of four. Ana, Jessica, Iridian, and Rosa. Their mother isn't there, and their father shouldn't be there, but life is life and that's how it goes.
Except it's not. Because Ana's dead.
Ana's death cracks the lines of this fragile family into three distinct shards. We have Jessica, who misses Ana so much that she consumes her, becomes her, shoving the angry versions of herself under layers of steely indifference. We have Iridian, who feels more comfortable with words than with people, as it's only people who hurt her over and over. And we have Rosa, whose magical ways of understanding reality leave her with a different lens, but no less pain.
All three sisters have survived the impact of Ana leaving them in waves, but when a ghostly presence interrupts their fragile grief, the storm arrives again.
This was so, so good. I loved it. Mabry's realism was definitely magical, but also earthy and gritty in a way that was so exciting to read. These sisters were raw, they were real, and they had all kinds of aspects—the good, the bad, the ugly, and the bizarre in a way that only girls can be. The vibe of sisters was perfect.
I also loved the writing. This is a tale in the telling, and the snapshots of perspectives and the lyricism in the sentences flowed in such a way that this story was all-consuming. You lived the Torres sisters and you were them at the same time. This kind of writing is a gem to read in any situation, and I loved its deft handling of grief, darker themes, and resilience.
Thank you to Algonquin Young Readers for an ARC of this title in exchange for an honest review.
February 12, 2022
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Wild and beautiful, the Torres girls catch a lot of attention in their community because of their tragic homelife and unpredictable ways. The boys across the street watch them constantly and decide to follow when the four girls run away. This results in the girls being immediately found and brought back, which has the indirect consequence of causing the eldest, Ana, to die.
There are three sisters remaining. Jessica, the next-oldest, now assumes responsibility as the primary breadwinner while navigating an emotionally abusive relationship. Iridian, the middle daughter, suffers under the yoke of her guilt and unresolved conflicts with Ana, and retreats first into fiction and then into writing, where she explores the passions she doesn't feel confident or safe enough to pursue. And Rosa, the youngest and kindest, is haunted by visions of a hyena.
TIGERS, NOT DAUGHTERS reminded me a lot of I AM NOT YOUR PERFECT MEXICAN DAUGHTER, especially with how grief is experienced (or repressed) in the Latinx community. This was especially noticeable with poor Jessica, who turned to anger as a defense mechanism. The magic realism elements were really well done and added an almost Gothic element to the story, what with all the animal sightings and ghosts.
This is such an unusual book that it's really hard to compare it to anything else. The characters stand on their own and the ending is bittersweet. If you like stories about difficult girls navigating through adolescence and learning important life lessons while still being permitted to deviate from the path, I think you'll really enjoy this book. It's a short quick read but it's the kind of story that lingers.
3.5 stars
March 27, 2020
I both read and listened to this beautiful book, and a big shout out to Libro.fm. for the gifted audio. It’s a fantastic narration.
The Torres family is complicated. Growing up in San Antonio, these four sisters lose their mother and resent their emotionless father. They experience tragedy again when one of the sisters, Ana, falls from her bedroom window and dies. She was trying to escape the home and her dad’s rules. As the girls and their father grieve, their lives become even more full of resentment and risk taking.
Samantha Mabry does an incredible job of helping the reader feel the emotions of these teen sisters. She also conveys the complexity in family dynamics. Mr. Torres was not a bad man and perhaps not an overall poor father, but he wasn’t exactly what these girls needed in their father either. It pulled on all my heartstrings and was thought-provoking.
Overall, Tigers, Not Daughters is an exceptionally-written, emotional young adult novel that will appeal to the YA and adult crowd alike. I cherished reading it and cannot wait to read more from the author.
I received a gifted copy. All opinions are my own.
Many of my reviews can also be found on my blog: www.jennifertarheelreader.com and instagram: www.instagram.com/tarheelreader
The Torres family is complicated. Growing up in San Antonio, these four sisters lose their mother and resent their emotionless father. They experience tragedy again when one of the sisters, Ana, falls from her bedroom window and dies. She was trying to escape the home and her dad’s rules. As the girls and their father grieve, their lives become even more full of resentment and risk taking.
Samantha Mabry does an incredible job of helping the reader feel the emotions of these teen sisters. She also conveys the complexity in family dynamics. Mr. Torres was not a bad man and perhaps not an overall poor father, but he wasn’t exactly what these girls needed in their father either. It pulled on all my heartstrings and was thought-provoking.
Overall, Tigers, Not Daughters is an exceptionally-written, emotional young adult novel that will appeal to the YA and adult crowd alike. I cherished reading it and cannot wait to read more from the author.
I received a gifted copy. All opinions are my own.
Many of my reviews can also be found on my blog: www.jennifertarheelreader.com and instagram: www.instagram.com/tarheelreader
April 4, 2020
Lyrical and magical. A compulsively readable tale of grief, growing up, and moving forward. Samantha Mabry’s stunning storytelling brought the Torres sisters to life on the pages of this book. This is the story of four sisters and how they cope after one of them dies. Jessica is strong, angry, and has the weight of the world on her shoulders. Iridian it’s quiet and timid, she’d rather be at home with her books then out in the real world. Rosa is sweet and caring with an unusual bond with the animals. All three sisters miss their oldest sister Anna terribly. Anna fell to her death crawling out her bedroom windows as the girls tried to escape their oppressive home life. When the sisters start to hear voices, see writing on the wall, and sense a presence in the room, they wonder what their sister Anna is trying to tell them. How do you keep living when your world falls apart?
Such a gorgeous story with so much heart and the perfect touch of magic. These girls do not live an easy life. Their mother has died and their father is useless. The story is real and raw and perhaps a little bleak, but there is always that little trace of hope. The audiobook is narrated by Luis Moreno and she brought the perfect unique voice to each of the sisters. The story is told from the perspectives of each of the sisters, and I really liked getting to know each of them. Rosa was definitely my favorite sister from the very beginning, but I have to say Jessica definitely grew on me through out the course of the book. This truly was the perfect blend of coming of age and magical realism.
This book in emojis 👭 👭 🐶 ✍🏻 💄 🎼
***Big thank you to Algonquin and libro.fm FM for my gifted copy of this book. All opinions are my own. ***
Such a gorgeous story with so much heart and the perfect touch of magic. These girls do not live an easy life. Their mother has died and their father is useless. The story is real and raw and perhaps a little bleak, but there is always that little trace of hope. The audiobook is narrated by Luis Moreno and she brought the perfect unique voice to each of the sisters. The story is told from the perspectives of each of the sisters, and I really liked getting to know each of them. Rosa was definitely my favorite sister from the very beginning, but I have to say Jessica definitely grew on me through out the course of the book. This truly was the perfect blend of coming of age and magical realism.
This book in emojis 👭 👭 🐶 ✍🏻 💄 🎼
***Big thank you to Algonquin and libro.fm FM for my gifted copy of this book. All opinions are my own. ***
July 9, 2020
4 Dark, Magical and Haunting Stars
This story was full of grief and struggles. It is a character driven plot that I was easily swept up in. It explores grief, depression, love and ultimately - sisterhood. The Torres sisters do not have an easy life. I was moved by their complicated lives and their grief over the loss of their sister. The love they had for each other and the bond they shared, transcended even death. It was powerful and very well written by Samantha Mabry. I found myself rooting for each sister and hoping something positive came from all the grief and despair surrounding them.
Tigers, Not Daughters is a moving story of sisterly love. It is a shining testament to the age old truth that love can see you through anything for the Torres sisters' saving grace was ultimately their love for each other. The story is dark, sad and at times violent but also deeply moving and beautiful.
This story was full of grief and struggles. It is a character driven plot that I was easily swept up in. It explores grief, depression, love and ultimately - sisterhood. The Torres sisters do not have an easy life. I was moved by their complicated lives and their grief over the loss of their sister. The love they had for each other and the bond they shared, transcended even death. It was powerful and very well written by Samantha Mabry. I found myself rooting for each sister and hoping something positive came from all the grief and despair surrounding them.
Tigers, Not Daughters is a moving story of sisterly love. It is a shining testament to the age old truth that love can see you through anything for the Torres sisters' saving grace was ultimately their love for each other. The story is dark, sad and at times violent but also deeply moving and beautiful.
March 30, 2021
Happy paperback pub day!
I both read and listened to this beautiful book, and a big shout out to Libro.fm. for the gifted audio. It’s a fantastic narration.
The Torres family is complicated. Growing up in San Antonio, these four sisters lose their mother and resent their emotionless father. They experience tragedy again when one of the sisters, Ana, falls from her bedroom window and dies. She was trying to escape the home and her dad’s rules. As the girls and their father grieve, their lives become even more full of resentment and risk taking.
Samantha Mabry does an incredible job of helping the reader feel the emotions of these teen sisters.
She also conveys the complexity in family dynamics. Mr. Torres was not a bad man and perhaps not an overall poor father, but he wasn’t exactly what these girls needed in their father either. It pulled on all my heartstrings and was thought-provoking.
Overall, Tigers, Not Daughters is an exceptionally-written, emotional young adult novel that will appeal to the YA and adult crowd alike. I cherished reading it and cannot wait to read more from the author.
I received a gifted copy. All opinions are my own.
Many of my reviews can also be found on my blog: www.jennifertarheelreader.com and instagram: www.instagram.com/tarheelreader
I both read and listened to this beautiful book, and a big shout out to Libro.fm. for the gifted audio. It’s a fantastic narration.
The Torres family is complicated. Growing up in San Antonio, these four sisters lose their mother and resent their emotionless father. They experience tragedy again when one of the sisters, Ana, falls from her bedroom window and dies. She was trying to escape the home and her dad’s rules. As the girls and their father grieve, their lives become even more full of resentment and risk taking.
Samantha Mabry does an incredible job of helping the reader feel the emotions of these teen sisters.
She also conveys the complexity in family dynamics. Mr. Torres was not a bad man and perhaps not an overall poor father, but he wasn’t exactly what these girls needed in their father either. It pulled on all my heartstrings and was thought-provoking.
Overall, Tigers, Not Daughters is an exceptionally-written, emotional young adult novel that will appeal to the YA and adult crowd alike. I cherished reading it and cannot wait to read more from the author.
I received a gifted copy. All opinions are my own.
Many of my reviews can also be found on my blog: www.jennifertarheelreader.com and instagram: www.instagram.com/tarheelreader
April 16, 2020
Tigers, Not Daughters by Samantha Mabry is the first book of a new young adult series that felt mostly contemporary while following the lives of a group of sister but also has a touch of fantasy involved. The story changes the point of view between the characters as it goes on to tell of their lives after a tragedy.
A year before there where actually four Torres sisters in the family living with a not so kind father when Ana, the oldest of the daughters, tried to climb out of her window and fell to her death. This left behind the three younger sisters, Jessica, Iridian, and Rosa who after a year since Ana’s passing are still grieving her death daily as they each go about coping in their own ways.
For me Tigers, Not Daughters just did not flow very well and often seemed too scattered for me to really enjoy. Quite honestly in my opinion the characters just weren’t very likable or engaging to me. Then there is also just so much going on in the book that for lack of a better term is just “wrong” and then sort of blown over and not addressed or felt as if shrugged off. With this being marked as a first I probably wouldn’t continue myself although I do seem to be in a minority on this one so anyone interested may want to try it out and form their own opinion.
I received an advance copy from the publisher via NetGalley.
For more reviews please visit https://carriesbookreviews.com/
A year before there where actually four Torres sisters in the family living with a not so kind father when Ana, the oldest of the daughters, tried to climb out of her window and fell to her death. This left behind the three younger sisters, Jessica, Iridian, and Rosa who after a year since Ana’s passing are still grieving her death daily as they each go about coping in their own ways.
For me Tigers, Not Daughters just did not flow very well and often seemed too scattered for me to really enjoy. Quite honestly in my opinion the characters just weren’t very likable or engaging to me. Then there is also just so much going on in the book that for lack of a better term is just “wrong” and then sort of blown over and not addressed or felt as if shrugged off. With this being marked as a first I probably wouldn’t continue myself although I do seem to be in a minority on this one so anyone interested may want to try it out and form their own opinion.
I received an advance copy from the publisher via NetGalley.
For more reviews please visit https://carriesbookreviews.com/
March 29, 2020
i received a review copy of this book in exchange for an honest review. all opinions below are my own.
i don't know how to start this review, so i'll get straight to the point - I LOVED TIGERS, NOT DAUGHTERS.
the book reminded me so much of little women (i am referring to the 2019 film version, because unfortunately i still haven't gotten around to reading the original novel 😞) - the relationship dynamics between the sisters are captured so well, and each of them have well-developed personalities and a different interest of their own.
i loved the author's poetic writing. there is something eerily beautiful about the sentences with a deeper meaning in every word, and it makes you want to read them slowly, over and over again. i highlighted so many paragraphs, my kindle started acting sluggish. i especially loved reading the parts about rosa - she's such a mysterious, curious character, and the author's writing made her seem extra magical.
human hearts are very complicated. they can pull a person this way, then that. they can convince someone easy things are hard, or cloudy things are clear.
the supernatural elements in the story made me realize how much i missed reading magical realism. it's one of my favorite genres, but i haven't read any so far this year until i picked up tigers, not daughters. ana, who comes back as a ghost to haunt her sisters, keeps meddling with things around their home. her intentions aren't revealed until later in the story, and it had me on the edge of my seat. i literally could not put the book down and ended up finishing it in one sitting.
overall, tigers, not daughters is a beautifully-written, emotional tale about sisters with a special bond. samantha mabry's writing really blew me away, and i hope to read her other book, all the wind in the world soon.
trigger warnings: abusive family relationship, abusive romantic relationship, death
rep: latinx, hearing impairment (loss of pitch)
i don't know how to start this review, so i'll get straight to the point - I LOVED TIGERS, NOT DAUGHTERS.
the book reminded me so much of little women (i am referring to the 2019 film version, because unfortunately i still haven't gotten around to reading the original novel 😞) - the relationship dynamics between the sisters are captured so well, and each of them have well-developed personalities and a different interest of their own.
i loved the author's poetic writing. there is something eerily beautiful about the sentences with a deeper meaning in every word, and it makes you want to read them slowly, over and over again. i highlighted so many paragraphs, my kindle started acting sluggish. i especially loved reading the parts about rosa - she's such a mysterious, curious character, and the author's writing made her seem extra magical.
human hearts are very complicated. they can pull a person this way, then that. they can convince someone easy things are hard, or cloudy things are clear.
the supernatural elements in the story made me realize how much i missed reading magical realism. it's one of my favorite genres, but i haven't read any so far this year until i picked up tigers, not daughters. ana, who comes back as a ghost to haunt her sisters, keeps meddling with things around their home. her intentions aren't revealed until later in the story, and it had me on the edge of my seat. i literally could not put the book down and ended up finishing it in one sitting.
overall, tigers, not daughters is a beautifully-written, emotional tale about sisters with a special bond. samantha mabry's writing really blew me away, and i hope to read her other book, all the wind in the world soon.
trigger warnings: abusive family relationship, abusive romantic relationship, death
rep: latinx, hearing impairment (loss of pitch)
May 31, 2020
Samantha Mabry has quickly become one of my favorite authors as I loved this haunting atmospheric tale about sisterly love, and their struggles to protect each other as they discover themselves, that is weaved into this paranormal magical story.
The Torres sisters Ana, Jessica, Iridian, and Rosa try to escape unsuccessfully from their miserable life in San Antonio, and from their despotic father. One evening, Ana the oldest sister, falls to her death from her bedroom window. The year following Ana’s death, we see how the sisters mourn her death - each with their own way of handling the loss. All the while, mysterious ghostly and haunting events begin to consume their lives.
Mabry wrote in vivid and poetic prose, giving these sisters their own voice through their unique personalities. The characterization was well thought out and their stories so captivating.
The writing was gracefully executed through this dark and messy turbulence in the lives of these sisters after a violent death. I was so drawn to this distinctive style of writing by Mabry and read this book slowly not wanting it to end.
https://instagram.com/nurse_bookie
Https://twitter.com/nurse_bookie
Https://Nursebookie.blogspot.com
The Torres sisters Ana, Jessica, Iridian, and Rosa try to escape unsuccessfully from their miserable life in San Antonio, and from their despotic father. One evening, Ana the oldest sister, falls to her death from her bedroom window. The year following Ana’s death, we see how the sisters mourn her death - each with their own way of handling the loss. All the while, mysterious ghostly and haunting events begin to consume their lives.
Mabry wrote in vivid and poetic prose, giving these sisters their own voice through their unique personalities. The characterization was well thought out and their stories so captivating.
The writing was gracefully executed through this dark and messy turbulence in the lives of these sisters after a violent death. I was so drawn to this distinctive style of writing by Mabry and read this book slowly not wanting it to end.
https://instagram.com/nurse_bookie
Https://twitter.com/nurse_bookie
Https://Nursebookie.blogspot.com
March 6, 2020
Tigers, not daughters is told by different perspectives. It deals with loss, grief, alcohol and physical abuse. When one of the Torres sisters dies the family each try to deal with it in their own way. You have a father who did not only lose his wife in child birth but also lost his oldest daughter. You have Jessica who misses her sister so much that she tries to be like her. You have Iridian who is scared to sleep in her own home. Then you have Ana the youngest who is dealing with her emotions by finding the Hyena that has escaped.
I love the poetic way this book was written. It does have a slight touch of Magic Realism. The way the characters are written you can feel all their pain and emotions. I would recommend this book to all who would love a quick touching read.
I love the poetic way this book was written. It does have a slight touch of Magic Realism. The way the characters are written you can feel all their pain and emotions. I would recommend this book to all who would love a quick touching read.
March 6, 2020
Thanks to NetGalley and Algonquin Young Readers for an egalley in exchange for an honest review.
Wisdom and goodness to the vile seem vile.
Filths savor but themselves. What have you done?
Tigers, not daughters, what have you performed?
A father, and a gracious agèd man,
Whose reverence even the head-lugged bear would lick,
Most barbarous, most degenerate, have you madded.
(William Shakespeare, King Lear Act 4 Scene 2)
A book that had a dash of scent that felt reminiscent of The Virgin Suicides with four sisters( Ana, Iridian, Jessica, and Rosa) who intrigue the neighbors that watch the strange ongoing drama at the Torres home. When the eldest sister, Ana is killed after seemingly falling from the bedroom window, her father is lost in his grief and her three living sisters in both grief and rage. The story as a paranormal element as the sisters and some of their neighbors start to believe that Ana Torress is not resting peacefully. We see the story through the eyes of each sister and although there were times that I felt a bit confused at the nonlinear way the story was being told, I was attached to finding out how it was all going to play out.
Goodreads review 06/03/20
Expected publication 24/03/20
Wisdom and goodness to the vile seem vile.
Filths savor but themselves. What have you done?
Tigers, not daughters, what have you performed?
A father, and a gracious agèd man,
Whose reverence even the head-lugged bear would lick,
Most barbarous, most degenerate, have you madded.
(William Shakespeare, King Lear Act 4 Scene 2)
A book that had a dash of scent that felt reminiscent of The Virgin Suicides with four sisters( Ana, Iridian, Jessica, and Rosa) who intrigue the neighbors that watch the strange ongoing drama at the Torres home. When the eldest sister, Ana is killed after seemingly falling from the bedroom window, her father is lost in his grief and her three living sisters in both grief and rage. The story as a paranormal element as the sisters and some of their neighbors start to believe that Ana Torress is not resting peacefully. We see the story through the eyes of each sister and although there were times that I felt a bit confused at the nonlinear way the story was being told, I was attached to finding out how it was all going to play out.
Goodreads review 06/03/20
Expected publication 24/03/20
August 29, 2020
this is the kind of story you don't really know how to process because it's so deeply good. you know sometimes with books dealing with hard topics (here death of a sister, physical and emotional abuse from a parent and a partner, living with grief) you feel like you can't read it unless you're in a specific mood. the right mood. but I did not feel like this for Tigers, Not Daughters. for this one, I felt like I needed to keep reading, I needed to read more and more about these three sisters and how much they love and miss their older sister, how they each have a different way to live with their grief. I simply needed to know. and this book delivered everything and more. it was so quiet and yet so brilliant. (4.5)
thank you libro.fm and algonquin young readers for the audio listening copy, but also thank you netgalley and edelweiss for the e-arc copy
thank you libro.fm and algonquin young readers for the audio listening copy, but also thank you netgalley and edelweiss for the e-arc copy
March 6, 2020
Originally published on The Nerd Daily | Review by Kibby Robinson
Tigers, Not Daughters by Samantha Mabry is the kind of story that digs its claws deep into you. Though just under 300 pages, Mabry crafts a profoundly character driven plot that explores grief, depression, and sisterhood.
After the death of the eldest Torres sister, Ana, the remaining sisters struggle to continue their lives in their stifling home. Jessica is working at a local pharmacy and dreams of leaving town once she can ensure her father and sisters are taken care of. Iridian spends all day in her family’s home, dreaming of writing and wrestling with trauma. Rosa is waiting for a sign, and though she is the youngest, she is the wisest of all the sisters. Before Ana’s death, the four Torres sisters longed to escape their San Antonio neighbourhood together, but now Jessica, Iridian, and Rosa are caught in a trap of grief. Then strange things start happening in their home and the sisters are left to wonder if Ana is truly haunting them and what she might be trying to tell them.
Mabry’s writing in Tigers, Not Daughters is somehow both stark and lyrical. She draws out deep emotions in her prose and not a single word feels wasted. While reading, you can feel the hot San Antonio air and the stifling environment of living in a small town and a broken home. Mabry expertly builds the normal world around the sisters and then slowly begins to break it down. The balance of routine life and the sudden paranormal events that begin to occur around the sisters lends just the right feel to an unnerving story.
Through the eyes of the three remaining Torres sisters and one seemingly small side character, we witness the slow unfurling of the sister’s secrets, dreams, and wishes. The story is told in a nonlinear way, that could be confusing at first, but enforces the broken feeling that each of the sisters experience. Grief is not always experienced in a linear way and Mabry’s choice to write the novel in this fashion shows an understanding of how differently people can process grief.
Each character in the story is achingly real, though it is the sisters that truly stand out. Rosa is wistful and innocent, with a hidden ferocity. Iridian’s whole character brings to mind someone silently screaming in pain without knowing how to stop. Jessica is full of broken glass and rage and so much hurt. And though Ana is dead, she slowly comes to life through the memories of each sister as a headstrong girl, trying to live her own life while taking care of her younger sisters their mother’s absence.
And while all the characters are well written, they are not always the best of people. One thing that stands out in this novel is that Mabry doesn’t absolve any characters of their wrong doings or poor behaviour, but acknowledges that this is how people are. We are messy and broken and do not always make the best decisions, especially when we are grieving. Some may argue that this is a young adult book and there are bad examples being set for youths, but writing books that feature nothing but altruistic, “good” characters is more damaging than writing characters that are true to human nature. Normalising the notion that we aren’t always our best selves and that’s okay is something that young adult novels should be doing more. If not, we ostracise those who may already be feeling alone in their grief or rage or depression.
Tigers, Not Daughters is a powerful story, filled with impactful characters and realistic depictions of grief and depression. Paired with its eerie paranormal elements, Tigers, Not Daughters will haunt your thoughts long after you’ve finished reading.
Tigers, Not Daughters by Samantha Mabry is the kind of story that digs its claws deep into you. Though just under 300 pages, Mabry crafts a profoundly character driven plot that explores grief, depression, and sisterhood.
After the death of the eldest Torres sister, Ana, the remaining sisters struggle to continue their lives in their stifling home. Jessica is working at a local pharmacy and dreams of leaving town once she can ensure her father and sisters are taken care of. Iridian spends all day in her family’s home, dreaming of writing and wrestling with trauma. Rosa is waiting for a sign, and though she is the youngest, she is the wisest of all the sisters. Before Ana’s death, the four Torres sisters longed to escape their San Antonio neighbourhood together, but now Jessica, Iridian, and Rosa are caught in a trap of grief. Then strange things start happening in their home and the sisters are left to wonder if Ana is truly haunting them and what she might be trying to tell them.
Mabry’s writing in Tigers, Not Daughters is somehow both stark and lyrical. She draws out deep emotions in her prose and not a single word feels wasted. While reading, you can feel the hot San Antonio air and the stifling environment of living in a small town and a broken home. Mabry expertly builds the normal world around the sisters and then slowly begins to break it down. The balance of routine life and the sudden paranormal events that begin to occur around the sisters lends just the right feel to an unnerving story.
Through the eyes of the three remaining Torres sisters and one seemingly small side character, we witness the slow unfurling of the sister’s secrets, dreams, and wishes. The story is told in a nonlinear way, that could be confusing at first, but enforces the broken feeling that each of the sisters experience. Grief is not always experienced in a linear way and Mabry’s choice to write the novel in this fashion shows an understanding of how differently people can process grief.
Each character in the story is achingly real, though it is the sisters that truly stand out. Rosa is wistful and innocent, with a hidden ferocity. Iridian’s whole character brings to mind someone silently screaming in pain without knowing how to stop. Jessica is full of broken glass and rage and so much hurt. And though Ana is dead, she slowly comes to life through the memories of each sister as a headstrong girl, trying to live her own life while taking care of her younger sisters their mother’s absence.
And while all the characters are well written, they are not always the best of people. One thing that stands out in this novel is that Mabry doesn’t absolve any characters of their wrong doings or poor behaviour, but acknowledges that this is how people are. We are messy and broken and do not always make the best decisions, especially when we are grieving. Some may argue that this is a young adult book and there are bad examples being set for youths, but writing books that feature nothing but altruistic, “good” characters is more damaging than writing characters that are true to human nature. Normalising the notion that we aren’t always our best selves and that’s okay is something that young adult novels should be doing more. If not, we ostracise those who may already be feeling alone in their grief or rage or depression.
Tigers, Not Daughters is a powerful story, filled with impactful characters and realistic depictions of grief and depression. Paired with its eerie paranormal elements, Tigers, Not Daughters will haunt your thoughts long after you’ve finished reading.
March 1, 2021
“maybe she was still, in a way, alive to these people ─ like she was for us.”
this book has an absolutely STUNNING cover, which is what had drawn me to it in the first place so i could only hope that the inside matches the outside! the first half of the novel was honestly exquisite and super quick to read. i loved the author’s poetic, almost prose like, writing. it is so incredibly beautiful that i sometimes had to slow down my reading just to go over the lines again, taking in every single word once more because the way she puts them together is so magical to me.
the magical elements in tigers, not daughters were so good too. it was magical of course, but still felt so realistic in a way that i never once doubted the contents because it all flowed so well. after half of the book, however, the pace really fell off for me and it felt like i was reading a totally different story because it suddenly hindered my enjoyment of it ─ except for the parts that were about ana, which i still thoroughly enjoyed. i’m not really sure what it is but i couldn’t get myself to pay attention to everything so clearly like i did during the first half, because it seemed unnecessary to me in a way? i thought that maybe i was just not in the mood, really, but the fact that some passages still brought out those feelings that i mean contradicted that thought i guess.
an aspect that i really enjoyed were the different point of views! the story is told by the remaining three sisters in their points of views, but every now and then there’s a chapter told from the outside perspective of their neighbor hector and his friend. i thought that this was really refreshing, especially when the first chapter started off like that already and the story has been told from the first person plural, which is something i have never read before i think! each of the sisters’ chapters had their own charme and you could really tell what each of them were passionate about and what made them so different.
truth be told, i found the ending to be really unsatisfying. it felt kind of rushed and like it came too short, as if the book had needed a few more pages or chapters to be wrapped up properly. this was very unfortunate, as i had been quite enjoying the story and had needed that like rounded it up fully? but i also found out that this book is now getting a sequel, so i’m very eager to see what that will be about and if it’s a direct continuation because i currently have absolutely no idea what it could be about then!
thank you so much to the publisher for providing me with an arc in exchange for an honest review!
→ 4 stars
this book has an absolutely STUNNING cover, which is what had drawn me to it in the first place so i could only hope that the inside matches the outside! the first half of the novel was honestly exquisite and super quick to read. i loved the author’s poetic, almost prose like, writing. it is so incredibly beautiful that i sometimes had to slow down my reading just to go over the lines again, taking in every single word once more because the way she puts them together is so magical to me.
the magical elements in tigers, not daughters were so good too. it was magical of course, but still felt so realistic in a way that i never once doubted the contents because it all flowed so well. after half of the book, however, the pace really fell off for me and it felt like i was reading a totally different story because it suddenly hindered my enjoyment of it ─ except for the parts that were about ana, which i still thoroughly enjoyed. i’m not really sure what it is but i couldn’t get myself to pay attention to everything so clearly like i did during the first half, because it seemed unnecessary to me in a way? i thought that maybe i was just not in the mood, really, but the fact that some passages still brought out those feelings that i mean contradicted that thought i guess.
an aspect that i really enjoyed were the different point of views! the story is told by the remaining three sisters in their points of views, but every now and then there’s a chapter told from the outside perspective of their neighbor hector and his friend. i thought that this was really refreshing, especially when the first chapter started off like that already and the story has been told from the first person plural, which is something i have never read before i think! each of the sisters’ chapters had their own charme and you could really tell what each of them were passionate about and what made them so different.
truth be told, i found the ending to be really unsatisfying. it felt kind of rushed and like it came too short, as if the book had needed a few more pages or chapters to be wrapped up properly. this was very unfortunate, as i had been quite enjoying the story and had needed that like rounded it up fully? but i also found out that this book is now getting a sequel, so i’m very eager to see what that will be about and if it’s a direct continuation because i currently have absolutely no idea what it could be about then!
thank you so much to the publisher for providing me with an arc in exchange for an honest review!
→ 4 stars
January 19, 2020
DNF at 40%
I wanted to like this so bad. The cover was so beautiful, but the story, the characters - i didn't like it. How the story was 'cut up' in a way focusing on the characters here and there. But i just could'nt connect or like any of the characters or the story that unfolded in the book. This was not my cup of tea.
I wanted to like this so bad. The cover was so beautiful, but the story, the characters - i didn't like it. How the story was 'cut up' in a way focusing on the characters here and there. But i just could'nt connect or like any of the characters or the story that unfolded in the book. This was not my cup of tea.
June 19, 2020
"Human hearts are very complicated. They can pull a person this way, then that. They can convince someone easy things are hard, or cloudy things are clear."
Do you believe in ghosts or spiritual beings? I do and my husband and I lived through some insane hauntings. At a young age, a fortune teller told me that I was born with my third eye open and that my third eye lead directly into my soul which would make me more susceptible to ghosts making themselves known around me. It was a heavy situation to lay on a younger me but you learn to live with it. But what happens when that ghost is someone you love with your entire heart?
This book was an experience that left a mark on my heart and my soul. It was lyrically beautiful and crafted magnificently. The sisterly bond was something I wished happened in my life and it made me love the story more. This was deep, full of heart, and some heartbreak. This story brings forth life and moving on after a tragic accident.
Tigers, Not Daughters was a haunting read that opened my eyes more. We don’t know what people are going through and it’s easy for us to judge them. Maybe it’s time we open our eyes and our hearts and be better people. This story was a tad bit spooky but made me think more with my heart. It’s dark but beautiful.
Do you believe in ghosts or spiritual beings? I do and my husband and I lived through some insane hauntings. At a young age, a fortune teller told me that I was born with my third eye open and that my third eye lead directly into my soul which would make me more susceptible to ghosts making themselves known around me. It was a heavy situation to lay on a younger me but you learn to live with it. But what happens when that ghost is someone you love with your entire heart?
This book was an experience that left a mark on my heart and my soul. It was lyrically beautiful and crafted magnificently. The sisterly bond was something I wished happened in my life and it made me love the story more. This was deep, full of heart, and some heartbreak. This story brings forth life and moving on after a tragic accident.
Tigers, Not Daughters was a haunting read that opened my eyes more. We don’t know what people are going through and it’s easy for us to judge them. Maybe it’s time we open our eyes and our hearts and be better people. This story was a tad bit spooky but made me think more with my heart. It’s dark but beautiful.
April 13, 2020
I was sent this book as an advance listening copy via libro.fm for reviewing purposes, but all opinions are my own.
2.5 stars I think?
It was an important book that I didn't manage to connect to. I suspect a lot has to do with the fact that they chose a male narrator for the audiobook, when this is a story that's so intrinsically about women and their experiences. There was a disconnect in what was being said and the male voice that never made me feel anything on an emotional level.
TW: abuse, parental neglect, death
2.5 stars I think?
It was an important book that I didn't manage to connect to. I suspect a lot has to do with the fact that they chose a male narrator for the audiobook, when this is a story that's so intrinsically about women and their experiences. There was a disconnect in what was being said and the male voice that never made me feel anything on an emotional level.
TW: abuse, parental neglect, death
Want to read
March 2, 2020March 2, 2020: I did receive a digital review copy via Netgalley but seeing this available as an audiobook will push it up my TBR so thank you so much, LibroFm & Recorded Books for the advanced listening copy!
October 11, 2019:
☀️fantasy + contemporary
☀️ghost story + love story + family drama
☀️magical Little Women for modern times
October 11, 2019:
☀️fantasy + contemporary
☀️ghost story + love story + family drama
☀️magical Little Women for modern times
March 27, 2020
"She was determined to be the hero for once. She was fed up with men trying to leave their bruises all over her and her sisters."
Tigers, Like Daughters is a hard hitting story of three sisters who are torn apart after the death of their oldest sister, Ana. The story is told from the three sisters POV as well as a group of neighborhood boys who lived next door to the Torres sisters and often watched them from afar. It does tackle heavier topics such as physical and emotional abuse from a lover and a parent but when it's all said and done it's a beautiful story about living and coping with grief and how a broken group of girls finds their way back to one another with a dash of magical realism. It's basically everything I love in a contemporary novel.
The writing in this was so incredibly good. I can't remember the last time I read a book in one sitting but I legitimately could not put this down. Between being invested in all of the characters, the strange occurrences at the Torres house, and the bigger revelations coming to life it was all so entertaining. The author does a fantastic job of bringing each of the sisters Jessica, Iridian, and Rosa, to life and making them all likable characters despite not always making the best choices. Jessica, is essentially the breadwinner of the family but dreams of leaving her hometown one day. Iridian, is an aspiring author who spends most of her days lost in her favorite book. And Rosa, the youngest, is a bit of a free spirit who seems to have a touch of magic within her. Together, the three of them are stuck in their house with their father who spends more time drinking, gambling, being manipulative towards the girls, and never repaying his debts.
As the story progresses the girls realize that strange occurrences are beginning to happen in the house and it can only be from one person, Ana, their dead sister who is back with one goal in mind - bring her sisters back together. To me, there is nothing in this world quite like the bond of sisters and even though this book did have it's tougher moments, there is nothing more empowering than sisters who band together and will go down swinging for one another even when the odds feels like they're stacked against you. Like, I cannot emphasis how much I love that. So, when the sisters finally put their differences aside and fought back against the people who hurt them I was cheering so damn loud. Queue the happy tears.
All in all, if enjoy contemporary stories with a bit of magical realism and even a little bit of creepiness Tigers, Like Daughters should definitely be on your radar. This is definitely one of the books that I'm going to be telling so many of my friends to pick up and I can't wait for the sequel to come out next year!
Thank you Algonquin Young Readers for providing me with an e-ARC in exchange for a honest review!
Blog | Twitter
Tigers, Like Daughters is a hard hitting story of three sisters who are torn apart after the death of their oldest sister, Ana. The story is told from the three sisters POV as well as a group of neighborhood boys who lived next door to the Torres sisters and often watched them from afar. It does tackle heavier topics such as physical and emotional abuse from a lover and a parent but when it's all said and done it's a beautiful story about living and coping with grief and how a broken group of girls finds their way back to one another with a dash of magical realism. It's basically everything I love in a contemporary novel.
The writing in this was so incredibly good. I can't remember the last time I read a book in one sitting but I legitimately could not put this down. Between being invested in all of the characters, the strange occurrences at the Torres house, and the bigger revelations coming to life it was all so entertaining. The author does a fantastic job of bringing each of the sisters Jessica, Iridian, and Rosa, to life and making them all likable characters despite not always making the best choices. Jessica, is essentially the breadwinner of the family but dreams of leaving her hometown one day. Iridian, is an aspiring author who spends most of her days lost in her favorite book. And Rosa, the youngest, is a bit of a free spirit who seems to have a touch of magic within her. Together, the three of them are stuck in their house with their father who spends more time drinking, gambling, being manipulative towards the girls, and never repaying his debts.
As the story progresses the girls realize that strange occurrences are beginning to happen in the house and it can only be from one person, Ana, their dead sister who is back with one goal in mind - bring her sisters back together. To me, there is nothing in this world quite like the bond of sisters and even though this book did have it's tougher moments, there is nothing more empowering than sisters who band together and will go down swinging for one another even when the odds feels like they're stacked against you. Like, I cannot emphasis how much I love that. So, when the sisters finally put their differences aside and fought back against the people who hurt them I was cheering so damn loud. Queue the happy tears.
All in all, if enjoy contemporary stories with a bit of magical realism and even a little bit of creepiness Tigers, Like Daughters should definitely be on your radar. This is definitely one of the books that I'm going to be telling so many of my friends to pick up and I can't wait for the sequel to come out next year!
Thank you Algonquin Young Readers for providing me with an e-ARC in exchange for a honest review!
Blog | Twitter
March 20, 2022
Tigers, not daughters are one of the best books I have read this year. This is the story of four Latina sisters and how they struggle to live after their big sister Ana dies.
One year after Ana's death, mysterious things begin to happen which make the Torres sisters think that Ana is trying to send them a message.
Overall, I couldn't put it down, the book writing is beautiful and unique and I love the hints of magical realism that were included in the story.
Trigger warnings: death, abusive relationship, abusive family
5 stars
thanks to netgalley and Algonquin young readers for an ARC of this title in exchange for an honest review.
One year after Ana's death, mysterious things begin to happen which make the Torres sisters think that Ana is trying to send them a message.
Overall, I couldn't put it down, the book writing is beautiful and unique and I love the hints of magical realism that were included in the story.
Trigger warnings: death, abusive relationship, abusive family
5 stars
thanks to netgalley and Algonquin young readers for an ARC of this title in exchange for an honest review.
November 8, 2020
trigger warning: emotional and physical abuse, family neglect, death of a loved one
To be honest, I didn't have high hopes for this novel and still left me unsatisfied. Before receiving an arc, I did not know about the author's debut and it's harmful portrayed of Puerto Rico, I highly recommended checking out own voices reviews of A Fierce and Subtle Poison. And yes, that already set me in a headspace about this book, for sure.
Anyway, on to the book, which was a mess on its own.
Tigers, Not Daughters follow the Torres sisters after one year of the tragic death of their older sister, Ana when strange things start happening in the house. A story that deals with grief, trauma, sisterhood, and haunted spaces, alternating point of view between the three sisters and some neighborhood boys. It's a very character-driven story, a close introspection into grief in a family, the Torres family. In concept, this book sounded like something I would love. I adore slow-paced stories, focus on characters and their feelings, stories that deal with the death of loved ones, and haunted spaces. However, Samantha Mabry's book was very underwhelming.
This is such a violent story, but violent in a way that feels violating and cruel for no reason. Trigger warning for physical and emotional abuse, harassment, and death. As I said, the chapters alternate between the sisters and neighborhood boys, and the boy chapters were creepy and disturbing. They know everything about the Torres sisters, always looking at their windows and following them around. Every time I would start one of their chapters I thought about dnfing the book. For a story that deals with the trauma of the sisters to then have these random boys looking from the outside to their pain, it felt very insensitive and disrespectful.
Besides that, I found this book such an old YA, it was so weird. From the references to the way the sisters' act, it just felt like this book was set in the 1990s or something. Wait, is it set in the 90s? it's not clear at all. I thought we have left the not like the other girls behind, apparently not. Also, Iridian loves reading and her favorite book is Anne Rice and I'm like, do teens even know who Anne Rice is? In 2020? And there's this whole scene where she wants to write about sex but wants to experience it first and she makes this weird plan and I'm like, the internet doesn't exist here? She's supposed to be a teenager and doesn't even think about looking up, I don't know, porn?
Overall, I was left wanting more, more of the characters, more of the world they live in, more of the resolution. Funny thing, they have a Spanish last name but no mention of their identity. And of course, characters don't have to advertise their latinidad or anything, but if I see this book promoted as Latinx but then there's not mentioned anything, well, that just feels misleading. It feels like representation in name but not in practice. Considering the author's track record, well, it does leave you to think about writing the bare minimum with no context or place. Although I love books where Latinx characters just exist, this is not what I mean. Existing means that your culture influence you, the way you speak, inhabit, and even grief. And yes, maybe this is me also projecting after reading Afterlife by Julia Alvarez.
I know many people have loved this book and its message, but for me, this was a huge miss.
An arc was provided by the publisher in exchange for an honest review.
To be honest, I didn't have high hopes for this novel and still left me unsatisfied. Before receiving an arc, I did not know about the author's debut and it's harmful portrayed of Puerto Rico, I highly recommended checking out own voices reviews of A Fierce and Subtle Poison. And yes, that already set me in a headspace about this book, for sure.
Anyway, on to the book, which was a mess on its own.
Tigers, Not Daughters follow the Torres sisters after one year of the tragic death of their older sister, Ana when strange things start happening in the house. A story that deals with grief, trauma, sisterhood, and haunted spaces, alternating point of view between the three sisters and some neighborhood boys. It's a very character-driven story, a close introspection into grief in a family, the Torres family. In concept, this book sounded like something I would love. I adore slow-paced stories, focus on characters and their feelings, stories that deal with the death of loved ones, and haunted spaces. However, Samantha Mabry's book was very underwhelming.
This is such a violent story, but violent in a way that feels violating and cruel for no reason. Trigger warning for physical and emotional abuse, harassment, and death. As I said, the chapters alternate between the sisters and neighborhood boys, and the boy chapters were creepy and disturbing. They know everything about the Torres sisters, always looking at their windows and following them around. Every time I would start one of their chapters I thought about dnfing the book. For a story that deals with the trauma of the sisters to then have these random boys looking from the outside to their pain, it felt very insensitive and disrespectful.
Besides that, I found this book such an old YA, it was so weird. From the references to the way the sisters' act, it just felt like this book was set in the 1990s or something. Wait, is it set in the 90s? it's not clear at all. I thought we have left the not like the other girls behind, apparently not. Also, Iridian loves reading and her favorite book is Anne Rice and I'm like, do teens even know who Anne Rice is? In 2020? And there's this whole scene where she wants to write about sex but wants to experience it first and she makes this weird plan and I'm like, the internet doesn't exist here? She's supposed to be a teenager and doesn't even think about looking up, I don't know, porn?
Overall, I was left wanting more, more of the characters, more of the world they live in, more of the resolution. Funny thing, they have a Spanish last name but no mention of their identity. And of course, characters don't have to advertise their latinidad or anything, but if I see this book promoted as Latinx but then there's not mentioned anything, well, that just feels misleading. It feels like representation in name but not in practice. Considering the author's track record, well, it does leave you to think about writing the bare minimum with no context or place. Although I love books where Latinx characters just exist, this is not what I mean. Existing means that your culture influence you, the way you speak, inhabit, and even grief. And yes, maybe this is me also projecting after reading Afterlife by Julia Alvarez.
I know many people have loved this book and its message, but for me, this was a huge miss.
An arc was provided by the publisher in exchange for an honest review.
March 29, 2020
This book is a moving story of sisterly-love and a powerful demonstration that love can get you through anything, and you'll be stronger at the end. I completely devoured the book in 2 days, and had goosebumps often from everything that happens to the Torres girls.
I find it fascinating to see that there are so many different ways to mourn. Grief is a powerful emotion, and everyone reacts differently to the death of a loved one. It was marvellous too to see the tight bond between the sisters.
Teenagers being teenagers, this tale brings tw for bullying, and physical abuse.
I felt hope reading this book. You will too.
Many thanks to Algonquin for the complimentary e-copy of this book through NetGalley. Opinions expressed in this review are completely my own.
I find it fascinating to see that there are so many different ways to mourn. Grief is a powerful emotion, and everyone reacts differently to the death of a loved one. It was marvellous too to see the tight bond between the sisters.
Teenagers being teenagers, this tale brings tw for bullying, and physical abuse.
I felt hope reading this book. You will too.
Many thanks to Algonquin for the complimentary e-copy of this book through NetGalley. Opinions expressed in this review are completely my own.
Shelved as 'dnf'
March 10, 2020DNF @25% 😬
I’ve decided to dnf this book... I’ve read some of the negative reviews and turns out that they had the similar issues with this book as I did, so I’m pretty sure I wouldn’t have enjoyed the other 3/4 of it either...
One of the issues I had are the many perspectives. I don’t usually mind a few perspectives, but with this book it always took me a little to get used to the perspective and then it switched again to a different character, which was obviously annoying... That’s also one point of why I couldn’t connect with any of the characters.
I couldn’t connect to the writing either.
Overall, this book just wasn’t for me.
(Sidenote: if you are interested in this book, but easily get triggered, check the warnings first!)
[I got an e-arc via netgalley, in exchange for a honest review.]
I’ve decided to dnf this book... I’ve read some of the negative reviews and turns out that they had the similar issues with this book as I did, so I’m pretty sure I wouldn’t have enjoyed the other 3/4 of it either...
One of the issues I had are the many perspectives. I don’t usually mind a few perspectives, but with this book it always took me a little to get used to the perspective and then it switched again to a different character, which was obviously annoying... That’s also one point of why I couldn’t connect with any of the characters.
I couldn’t connect to the writing either.
Overall, this book just wasn’t for me.
(Sidenote: if you are interested in this book, but easily get triggered, check the warnings first!)
[I got an e-arc via netgalley, in exchange for a honest review.]
April 3, 2020
Thank you, Algonquin Young Readers, for giving me an ARC of this book in exchange for an honest review.
I write about the things of which I'm afraid—it's my way of fighting my fears. — Samantha Mabry
Are you fond of ghost stories? If you're looking for something mildly creepy to read during this very long quarantine, you're in the right place. I finished this book in three days, even though my Nintendo Switch kept on distracting me. Haha. But from the get-go, you should know that novels with magical realism are hardly horrific because they make the paranormal seem so...normal.
Tigers, Not Daughters follows three teenage girls: Jessica, Iridian, and Rosa. Their big sister, Ana, died a year ago, and they still haven't moved on. Ana was the light in the Torres household, the girls' only hope of escaping their not-so-happy life with their pathetic father in San Antonio. So now that she's gone, Jessica, Iridian, and Rosa are stuck in the status quo. One day, weird things start happening in their home, and the signs all point to Ana. Has she really come back to haunt them?
Every Torres girl had a distinguishable trait. Jessica was a tough girl in an abusive relationship, Iridian was a budding author who hated emotions, and Rosa was a dreamer who loved animals. I enjoyed all of their perspectives but felt more invested in Iridian's character development. One of her struggles was that she couldn't accurately describe things that she hadn't experienced. And since she disliked going outside (thanks to a traumatic event at school), her experience of the world was limited. As a fellow writer and homebody, I could relate to Iridian's dilemma. If you want to be a better writer, you really have to widen your horizons.
Jessica was both frustrating and interesting. She had a flaring temper and was obsessed with becoming like Anna. Her obsession led her to date John, her dead sister's boyfriend. Like...what the heck, girl? And John turned out to be a despicable boyfriend who always wanted to get into Jessica's pants. Their interactions were mostly terrible, so I was glad every time Peter (Jessica's kind neighbor/workmate entered the scene. I liked that he returned Jessica's bitterness with kindness. He made me very excited about Jessica's redemption.
Rosa, the youngest, had the most whimsical (and mature) point of view. People considered her the most innocent Torres girl, but she was actually capable of protecting her big sisters from bad men, including their dad. In many ways, Rosa deserved the title of the eldest. Without her, the book probably wouldn't have a satisfying ending.
Ultimately, Tigers, Not Daughters gave me a glimpse of what it's like to have many sisters. I'm very familiar with the strength of brotherhood, but the beauty of sisterhood is on a different level. This not-so-scary ghost story reminded me that sisters could connect in a uniquely meaningful way. If you have sisters, I hope that they also bring out the best in you.
I write about the things of which I'm afraid—it's my way of fighting my fears. — Samantha Mabry
Are you fond of ghost stories? If you're looking for something mildly creepy to read during this very long quarantine, you're in the right place. I finished this book in three days, even though my Nintendo Switch kept on distracting me. Haha. But from the get-go, you should know that novels with magical realism are hardly horrific because they make the paranormal seem so...normal.
Tigers, Not Daughters follows three teenage girls: Jessica, Iridian, and Rosa. Their big sister, Ana, died a year ago, and they still haven't moved on. Ana was the light in the Torres household, the girls' only hope of escaping their not-so-happy life with their pathetic father in San Antonio. So now that she's gone, Jessica, Iridian, and Rosa are stuck in the status quo. One day, weird things start happening in their home, and the signs all point to Ana. Has she really come back to haunt them?
Every Torres girl had a distinguishable trait. Jessica was a tough girl in an abusive relationship, Iridian was a budding author who hated emotions, and Rosa was a dreamer who loved animals. I enjoyed all of their perspectives but felt more invested in Iridian's character development. One of her struggles was that she couldn't accurately describe things that she hadn't experienced. And since she disliked going outside (thanks to a traumatic event at school), her experience of the world was limited. As a fellow writer and homebody, I could relate to Iridian's dilemma. If you want to be a better writer, you really have to widen your horizons.
Jessica was both frustrating and interesting. She had a flaring temper and was obsessed with becoming like Anna. Her obsession led her to date John, her dead sister's boyfriend. Like...what the heck, girl? And John turned out to be a despicable boyfriend who always wanted to get into Jessica's pants. Their interactions were mostly terrible, so I was glad every time Peter (Jessica's kind neighbor/workmate entered the scene. I liked that he returned Jessica's bitterness with kindness. He made me very excited about Jessica's redemption.
Rosa, the youngest, had the most whimsical (and mature) point of view. People considered her the most innocent Torres girl, but she was actually capable of protecting her big sisters from bad men, including their dad. In many ways, Rosa deserved the title of the eldest. Without her, the book probably wouldn't have a satisfying ending.
Ultimately, Tigers, Not Daughters gave me a glimpse of what it's like to have many sisters. I'm very familiar with the strength of brotherhood, but the beauty of sisterhood is on a different level. This not-so-scary ghost story reminded me that sisters could connect in a uniquely meaningful way. If you have sisters, I hope that they also bring out the best in you.
Read
January 17, 2021Samantha Mabry’s third novel Tigers, Not Daughters is a ghost story that begins with four Latina sisters running away from their irresponsible father’s San Antonio home. They don’t get far, but the episode introduces the sisters: Ana, the beautiful and doomed oldest sister; Jessica, the angry, not-quite-good-enough sister; Rosa, the gentle, spiritual sister; and Iridian, the youngest, a writer whose words on paper cause problems for her in the physical world.
By the second chapter, Ana has been dead for a year, and each family member is struggling emotionally. Then there are signs that Ana’a ghost may be visiting her former home and neighborhood. The supernatural elements of Tigers, Not Daughters grow in intensity throughout the book, but they never become the focus. Much more horrific is the physical and psychological violence taking place between the sisters, their father, and Jessica’s abusive boyfriend.
The book’s third-person narration rotates between the perspectives of each sister and a gaggle of boys who live across the street. Each short chapter moves the story forward as character development unfolds through how each sister sees herself and the others.
The title Tigers, Not Daughters is a nod to the insult thrown at his daughters by Shakespeare’s King Lear, but as Mabry says in her acknowledgements, “I’ve always loved that line, and wanted to write a story about daughters and their father in which those words perhaps meant something completely different, and weren’t an insult at all.”
Tigers, Not Daughters is an excellent choice to offer young readers who want more books like Erika Sanchez’s I Am Not Your Perfect Mexican Daughter.
Note: Because of my work with the 2020 Cybils Awards in young adult literature, for the next couple of months I will review but not rate works of young adult literature in an attempt to keep the judging process as opaque as possible.
By the second chapter, Ana has been dead for a year, and each family member is struggling emotionally. Then there are signs that Ana’a ghost may be visiting her former home and neighborhood. The supernatural elements of Tigers, Not Daughters grow in intensity throughout the book, but they never become the focus. Much more horrific is the physical and psychological violence taking place between the sisters, their father, and Jessica’s abusive boyfriend.
The book’s third-person narration rotates between the perspectives of each sister and a gaggle of boys who live across the street. Each short chapter moves the story forward as character development unfolds through how each sister sees herself and the others.
The title Tigers, Not Daughters is a nod to the insult thrown at his daughters by Shakespeare’s King Lear, but as Mabry says in her acknowledgements, “I’ve always loved that line, and wanted to write a story about daughters and their father in which those words perhaps meant something completely different, and weren’t an insult at all.”
Tigers, Not Daughters is an excellent choice to offer young readers who want more books like Erika Sanchez’s I Am Not Your Perfect Mexican Daughter.
Note: Because of my work with the 2020 Cybils Awards in young adult literature, for the next couple of months I will review but not rate works of young adult literature in an attempt to keep the judging process as opaque as possible.
Read
October 29, 2020Ahhh, I think I wasn't in the right headspace when reading this. So it's absolutely a me thing and not the book, and that's why I've omitted a rating.
Reading it, I know it's an incisive story about sisterhood and grief, and people have likened it to Little Women but with a dark and twisty turn. Perfect for readers who love a story about complex familial relationships, the different ways we grapple with grief, and those that like the idea of a story with paranormal elements that work as an analogy for how we navigate guilt, pain, and freedom.
Thank you to Libro.fm for providing me with an audiobook listening copy in exchange for an honest review.
Reading it, I know it's an incisive story about sisterhood and grief, and people have likened it to Little Women but with a dark and twisty turn. Perfect for readers who love a story about complex familial relationships, the different ways we grapple with grief, and those that like the idea of a story with paranormal elements that work as an analogy for how we navigate guilt, pain, and freedom.
Thank you to Libro.fm for providing me with an audiobook listening copy in exchange for an honest review.
November 10, 2020
ARC provided by Edelweiss+ in exchange for an honest review
💌 full review can also be found on my blog!
Tigers, Not Daughters is a powerful story that revolves around grief and sisterhood. It’s a tale about three sisters who struggle to survive after their sister’s death; in dealing with their alcoholic widowed father to strange events that happened in their house. Each sisters have their own way to deal with their grief. Meet the Torres sisters; Ana, Iridian, Jessica and Rosa. They long for a freedom, away from their house. They want to go anywhere but San Antonio. They want to runaway and never go back. But Ana’s dead and there’s nothing they can do about it.
The story takes place about a year after Ana’s death and it’s told from each sister’s point of view. Samantha Mabry successfully created a story about grieving for the loss of your loved one; the truth about healing, huge wave emotions the Torres experience, the courage to move on and continue with life. Her writing is lyrical and honest; she didn’t need to sugarcoat the truth about losing your loved one nor romanticizing problematic issues and toxic behaviors we often see and experience when we’re grieving.
It’s not hard to get lost in Mabry’s world. Her story is so atmospheric it feels like you’re in San Antonio watching the sisters go on their day to day basis. She stirred her story from normal life in a small city to supernatural event without feeling like it’s out of place. The essential part of the story remained consistent. It’s still centered around the life of the sisters’ coping mechanism.
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