Tigers, Not Daughters - Samantha Mabry.

Title: Tigers, Not Daughters
Author: Samantha Mabry
Publisher: Algonquin Young Readers
Publication date: March 24, 2020
288 Pages
4/5 Stars

Goodreads Synopsis

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.

Review

I was first drawn to this story, because I heard someone describe it as a modern day "Little Women"...and I LOVE "Little Women." Other then the fact that this is a story about 4 sisters, 1 of whom dies, I'd say "Tigers, Not Daughters" and "Little Women" are on totally different levels and it's not really fair to compare them. That being said, I give this book a very solid 4 stars! I enjoyed it and would definitely read it again. I love stories about girls finding themselves, learning their worth...I also enjoyed the spooky side to this story.

I would warn you though - this book talks about some serious issues. TW (trigger warnings) - death, domestic violence, emotional and physical abuse, and depression.

I think one of the things that makes this book great is it talks about coming to terms with your grief, and your coping mechanisms. It's a story about young girls finding their strength and figuring out who they are as individuals and what their roles are in the family.

Each sister in this story is different, each copes with loss in their own way. They each support each other in a specific way, and each girl is dealing with her own set of demons. 

This story also talks about how young men often want to be girls' heroes, and when they have the choice to step up or fold, which will they choose?

I would highly recommend this book! Happy reading!