The Year of the Tiger

‘I devoured The Year of the Tiger in one sitting! This book is such a powerful love letter to family–bound by blood as well as choice. Maria Mahat’s beautiful prose immersed me right into 1950s Singapore and taught me so much about that era. The Year of the Tiger doesn’t shy away from difficult realities but explores them with thoughtful compassion through the lens of Zaiton and her family. Zaiton is a feisty and lovable protagonist who is so easy to root for. What a beautiful homage to two families with so much in common despite their differences, perfectly embodied by Zaiton herself: anak Cina, hati Melayu!’

‘Lovingly written, this vivid exposition of 1950s Singapore and Malaya is a heartfelt tribute to the rich tapestry of our intercultural, multilingual relationships with neighbours and chosen family. I recognize my mother, aunt, and many of their friends in this story.’

‘Maria Mahat is a masterful storyteller–I was hooked from start to end and finished this page-turner in one sitting. Set in the backdrop of early Singapore, The Year of the Tiger is a heartwarming coming-of-age story about adoption and familial love. This local fiction will resonate with readers young and old– middle-graders learning about Singapore’s history and the strength of our diversity born out of it will be captivated by Zaiton’s story, while the latter will appreciate the brief journey on a time machine, evoking nostalgia and familiarity. Inspired by her mother’s life story, Maria’s clear and compelling prose will move and remind us of the power of sacrifice, and how blood is truly thicker than water.’

‘Maria Mahat’s The Year of the Tiger is a story that is sure to tug at your heartstrings. Beyond its themes of adoption and family love, it portrays the genuine solidarity of a people that is not bound by race, language, or religion. We need to tell and celebrate more stories from the past that never made it into the official narratives of history textbooks, rather than being constantly reminded on every Racial Harmony Day of how fragile we are as a nation, always haunted by the spectre of the infamous 1964 racial riots. In other words, what we need is a pedagogy of love through narratives that underscore the humanistic ethics of compassion, empathy, and care as opposed to a pedagogy of fear that only aims to control our behaviour and numb our critical faculty. As we celebrate our sixth decade as an independent nation, let The Year of the Tiger be one of the books on our children’s reading lists for them to cherish a piece of a people’s history.’

‘The Year of the Tiger opens in 1950s Singapore, where a baby girl is born in the Year of the Tiger–considered bad luck and less desired than a baby boy. This is a touching tale of two families, one Malay and one Chinese, bound together by one shared secret in pre-independent Singapore. Their mutual struggles and joys demonstrate how a sense of kinship can grow as deep as those with blood ties.’

‘The Year of the Tiger was absolutely riveting! Maria Mahat captured intimately the social fabric of Singapore and Malaysia of the 1950s and completely immerses the reader in Zaiton’s cosy, loving, yet complex world. A beautiful story that is paced softly but relentlessly. I could not put it down!’

‘This beautiful story is filled with so much heart and heritage; a book that celebrates our shared histories in Singapore, especially the close bonds between neighbours of different backgrounds and the multilingual banter that fills our community and homes. I felt transported back to my childhood where wet markets and wayang theatres were a regular feature of our lives, just like the superstitions and hantus! For me, this is more than a coming-of-age story. It is a book that explores themes of identity, culture, and belonging, while also weaving in important social and historical contexts–from kampung life to inter-ethnic relations and the lived experiences of blended families. Particularly, I love how real and relatable the characters felt from Zaiton’s Mak and Abah to her Chinese Ma and siblings. It’s a reminder that family isn’t always about blood–sometimes, it’s about love, loyalty, and showing up for one another.’

‘With vivid details, Maria paints a vibrant and immersive tapestry of life, transporting readers to a bygone era filled with charm and resilience. This is a tender and evocative tale that beautifully weaves together themes of family and love; a celebration of the ties that shape our lives; and the legacy of love that endures across generations, race, and culture.’

Maria Mahat is an author, educator, storyteller, award-winning television producer, and co-founder of Ungu Pen, an independent publisher. She holds a Master of Science in Early Childhood Education and an Advanced Certificate in Assessment and Training, and has also contributed to policymaking and educational research.

A passionate advocate for well-represented literature, she has authored and produced over thirty children’s picture books, middle-grade novels, novellas, short stories, and a best-selling novel, Maybe This is Love. Fluent in English and Malay, she connects with diverse audiences through her bilingual children’s books. The title There are Saga Seeds in Our Pockets! for example bridges cultural and linguistic gaps, and is supported by grants from the National Heritage Board and National Library Board. Its adaptation into a digital program for Esplanade, Singapore, and its translation into Mandarin highlight Maria’s adaptability and reach.

Her middle-grade book, Sahabat Hebat: Rahsia Haiwan Hibrid (Fantastic Friends: Secrets of the Hybrid Animal), was published under the Singapore Book Council and the National Arts Council’s ‘Beyond Words’ series, which aims to promote children’s literature in Singapore’s mother tongue languages. Through Ungu Pen, Maria develops high-quality content for children and young adults, spearheading numerous publications and initiatives that blend technology with storytelling. And with support from the Lee Kuan Yew Fund for Bilingualism, Maria has also produced picture books featuring animation, songs, and augmented reality, exemplifying her innovative approach to education and storytelling.

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