Prodigal Tiger
For five years, Caroline Chua has lived in exile from her home and family in Malaysia at a magical academy in New York City–far enough away that she can’t hurt the people she loves. That is until she is abruptly summoned home in an emergency—her beloved older brother, Aaron, who is next in line to become the Protector of the Island, has vanished. And now back in Penang, she can’t help but notice that things don’t feel the same as they once did and it’s unclear if she’s changed, or the island.
Despite her family’s desire to keep her close and the Council’s explicit instructions to stay out of trouble, stubborn, self-sufficient Caroline is hell-bent on saving her brother with or without anyone’s help. But when it turns out that Aaron has been kidnapped by vengeful ghosts with a centuries-old grudge, even Caroline must admit she’s in over her head and will need the help of the friends she had abandoned, including her first love, J.J.
The ghosts’ goals are simple: break the barriers between the ghost and mortal realms during the Hungry Ghost Festival using Aaron to take the island’s magic, and cement their rightful place as the true—albeit dead—rulers of the island. With only seven days before the barrier weakens, Caroline is in a race against time to save her brother. But as enemies stack up, always one step ahead, Caroline can’t help but wonder if she’s strong enough for this battle. Or is she doomed to repeat the mistakes that sent her away all those years ago?
Additional information
Genre | Fantasy |
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Age | Young Adult |
Publisher | Penguin Random House |
Imprint | G.P. Putnam's Sons Books for Young Readers |
Language(s) | English |
Format(s) | eBook, Hardcover |
Author | Samantha Chong |
Release Date | 17 March 2026 |
Release Month | March Releases |
Author Identity | BIPOC |
About the Author
Samantha Chong is a Malaysian fiction writer, and her debut YA novel, Prodigal Tiger, will be published by Putnam Children’s in spring 2026. Samantha is constantly exploring what it means to belong, whether that’s tied to places, people, or the myriad of ways that someone can carve out their space in an increasingly shifting world. When she’s not writing, Samantha is out looking for hidden histories, cooing over cats, or attempting to whip up culinary creations.