Tigers, not Daughters by Samantha Mabry

I was in a session with Samantha Mabry at the School Library Journal's conference, which was moderated by my review editor.  I immediately ordered this book for WHHS. A ghost story with strong Latina leads?  Yes, please.

This book did not disappoint.  I read it in a day; I could not put it down.  The four Torres sisters--Ana, Jessica, Iridian, and Rosa are all incredibly different, but also inherently the same.  Being raised by a single father (their mother died in childbirth with Rosa) in poverty, surrounded by gangs, theft, drugs, and classism but also by family, faith, and resilience.  The girls hatch a plot to escape to an aunt's in the country, by their father finds out and drags them home.  Two months later, Ana kills herself by jumping out a window (it is possible she fell trying to escape again or was pushed--I don't want to spoil too much).  A year later, Jessica is dating Ana's ex, Iridian is folding in upon herself mentally, and Rosa has turned to Jesus to help animals in need as a distraction. Ana's ghost is not happy.

As this IS a ghost story, with a very angry ghost trying to deliver a message and, perhaps revenge, I will stop the plot review there.  But, I promise, you will not be able to stop reading this!

Find this front and center come my Halloween display!

All opinions expressed on this blog are solely those of Mrs W.