Prodigal Tiger

An action-packed YA contemporary fantasy debut that brings vibrant Malaysian folklore to life.

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?

PRODIGAL TIGER is a rich, cinematic celebration of Malaysian magic and folklore, as well as an emotional exploration of never quite feeling like your whole self after living in the diaspora.

Author: Samantha Chong
Publisher: G.P. Putnam's Sons Books for Young Readers
Published: 03/17/2026
Pages: 352
Binding Type: Hardcover
Weight: 0.91lbs
Size: 8.47h x 5.81w x 1.27d
ISBN: 9780593860106
Audience: Young Adult


Review Citation(s):
Booklist 01/01/2026
Bulletin of Ctr for Child Bks 02/01/2026
Kirkus Reviews 02/01/2026
Publishers Weekly 12/08/2025

About the Author
Samantha Chong is a versatile cross-platform storyteller. Originally from Malaysia, she knits her multilingual and diverse backgrounds into every story she weaves. Her work has been published in BBC Travel, Gastro Obscura, OpenTable, and the Guggenheim. In Sam's free time, you'll find her eating her way through any city or losing track of time while falling down Wikipedia rabbit holes.