YA/MG Books to Satisfy Your Tiger King Obsession 🐅

Like everyone else, I binged Tiger King. And my head has not stopped spinning???

I definitely wasn’t sure what I was getting into, and I perhaps am not as into it as everyone else, but I was shocked and awed. I had to take days long breaks, because I could not wrap my head around the wild events and characters. Every few moments, I was like wtf, what is happening??? Is this real?? It’s a incredible journey, and I just finished episode 7, and my head still has not stopped reeling. The series shines a lot on the wild world of big cat owning (and how many are truly in captivity by our hands instead of helping them foster in the wild), but also the fantastical story of Joe Exotic.

The show includes some scenes of animal harm and death, so please know that before going in. 

If you’re looking to get over your binge hangover, perhaps picking up one of the following books might speed it along.

NOW THAT I’VE FOUND YOU 

Although this book isn’t out yet, it was one of the first books that I thought about. Evie Jones is posed to become Hollywood’s next big thing until something gets her blacklisted. Not ready to give up on the fame yet, she sets off to find the next thing that will save her career (including her famous grandmother and cute musician, Milo). Her desire for fame and whatever infamous incident definitely chronicles a bit of Joe Exotic’s journey – his rise, his fall, and, well, I guess some of his music.

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TIGERS, NOT DAUGHTERS 

I don’t know how this book managed to get on here. Surprisingly, this book is on the list for more reasons than sharing the word, “tiger.” Rosa Torres, one of our 3 main heroines, loves animals so much, sharing a kinship with them and trying to rescue them (especially when a hyena escapes from a local zoo), much like some of our cast in the show. The characters are also incredibly messy in this book – which certainly can be said for all of the people in the series.

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INFINITY SON 

“Growing up in New York, brothers Emil and Brighton always idolized the Spell Walkers—a vigilante group sworn to rid the world of specters. While the Spell Walkers and other celestials are born with powers, specters take them, violently stealing the essence of endangered magical creatures.”

Tell me this doesn’t sound like the premise of Big Cat Rescue where they are championing on saving big cats from being bred just to be house pets and the essence of their freedom. I haven’t read this yet, but it definitely sounds like it could definitely bring in the fight for justice aspect of the show of Baskin and her group. It also features m/m romance.

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BLOOD COUNTESS 

If you’re firmly in the camp that Carole Baskin isn’t telling the truth about what really happened to her first husband like Joe Exotic and co., then you might want to pick up this book. It’s a book full of twists and turns, and a woman that definitely is capable of what they said that Carole did.

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ARU SHAH AND THE END OF TIME 

This is really one of the few books that I distinctly remember a lot of animals in as characters. Although the animals aren’t just animals in this one (but symbolizing and standing in for gods and goddesses), they are some of the animals that you can see in the show. Yes, there are tigers and monkeys, so you can definitely get your fill of strong and majestic animals in this one with distinct personalities.

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SCREAM ALL NIGHT 

This book brings so much camp – and I was certainly saying wtf continuously. This book definitely had my head reeling, and I didn’t know what was coming or not coming next. It features a very odd cast of characters, and many could be interchanged with the people in the show. After reading this book, you will definitely be as dazed and confused like after finishing the show.

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ILLUMINAE

This series brings some of the biggest twists and turns that I’ve ever read, so I definitely recommend it if you’re looking to get your next fix of constantly being on the edge of your seat. There is so many moments that you don’t see coming and it’s definitely full of surprises, which is exactly what you’re getting.

What do you think? Did you watch the show? Let’s discuss in the comments below!