Inside the Tiger

by Hayley Lawrence

It’s not because Bel’s mother was murdered.
It’s not because her father is a politician.
Bel writes to a Death Row prisoner as an easy way out of an assignment.

But now he’s written back. Drawn to Micah’s world inside a Thai prison, she finds herself falling for the boy with ragged hair, shackles and a terrible past. Will Bel lose him too? And could it mean losing the people who mean the most to her at home?
Whatever happens, none of them will ever be the same .

Inside the Tiger is a 2019 Children's Book Council of Australia Notables book and was shortlisted for the Vogel Literary Prize in 2017, winning a Litlink Residency in 2016 and a PIP Fellowship in 2017 at Varuna, the Writers' House. In 2019, it long-listed for the Sisters-in-Crime Davitt Award.

Genres: Contemporary, Young Adult

340 pages, Paperback

First published September 3, 2018

About the author

Hayley Lawrence worked as a lawyer in a commercial firm in Sydney before trading city life for the coast when she married a pilot. Hayley and her husband had many adventures while she worked for a small law firm on the Mid-North Coast of NSW. They now have five vivacious daughters who continue to bring immense joy and utter mayhem to their life.

Despite leaving legal work, Hayley could not leave behind the stories of the people she’d encountered. They are stories that provoke questions about the nature of humanity, and it’s these questions that haunt her novels.

Reviews

[Paula Phillips · Rating 3 out of 5]

Daughter of a politician on the road to getting justice and harsher penalties, Bel has had enough of being her father's lackey in his cause. Just because her mother was murdered, Bel was forced to put on a big smile and her whole life growing up participate in her father's activism campaigns. Now at boarding school and away from that life, she can now create her path. That is until one of her courses requires her to pick a cause and work at it. She has had enough of social injustice and causes, so Bel picks something a little different. She decides to write to a death row prisoner held in Thailand. She chooses Micah who is being held in prison on drug charges. As we can recall from cases like the Schapelle Corby, over there the consequences for drugs is quite high. As Bel and Micah start exchanging letters and she also sends him parcels, the inevitable happens - she begins to fall in love with Micah. Of course, you can see where this book goes, and it does have a bleak ending. So if you are looking for a happy ending, then move along. I was drawn to this book with the whole idea of writing to a prisoner as it has always fascinated me and Inside the Tiger by Hayley Lawrence reminded me of another Australian author's similar themed book Letters from the Inside by John Marsden.

[Trisha · Rating 4 out of 5]

We loved that Inside the Tiger dealt with an issue rarely seen in YA fiction. It’s gritty read, and while Lawrence offers a cautionary element, it isn’t preachy or didactic. Bel is a sympathetic character, and the moral and ethical dilemmas she faces are big picture questions, giving readers a way to consider their own response to the plight of Micah and his friends. Interestingly, right up until we were previewing the novel, no one had been put to death in a Thai prison for almost ten years, but a week after finishing it, someone was injected with a lethal dose, which is extraordinary timing. Although the prisoner put to death was not sentenced on drug smuggling, many people on death row are, and this action marks a change in the way the prisoners might be treated in future.

Lawrence’s personal experience brings much authenticity to Bel and Micah’s story, and students will have to once again reconcile how unfair the justice system is in many parts of the world. Bel’s actions do not necessarily bring the results she may desire, but that she tries to do something speaks highly of her courage and determination. This is what we believe Australian young adult fiction does best – highlight contemporary issues as part of a well constructed plot, involving realistic characters who serve to offer compassionate and thoughtful views to often highly contentious issues.

[Booked For The Weekend · Rating 4 out of 5]

This book can give anyone a sense of purpose...while the book lacked a more in-depth writing style that I look for . The boon and the social issues it deals with makes you wonder about how you can make a difference in this world . The authors personal story was extremely moving at the end .
Well worth a read as it is something new and different that is very rarely spoken about and touched upon .

[Gabby gcdeditorial · Rating 5 out of 5]

"Born to die, play to live... Way I see it, you go living like you're dead, you might as well be. We're all born to die, but it's how you play your cards that counts."

Thanks to Penguin Australia for sending me a copy of INSIDE THE TIGER for review!
I requested this book for review because the synopsis sounded intriguing, I love supporting #LoveOZYA literature, and also (side note) the cover is gorgeous! But honestly, I had no idea what I was in for. I had no clue that this book was going to take me on the journey that it did, making me ball my eyes out, and also making me think not only about those on death row, but appreciating my own life, too.

"To lose someone, you had to have them in the first place."

I love Bel. She's complex and real. She makes mistakes and learns from them. She's lived a lot of her life in her own personal prison, but when she decides to write a letter to a real prisoner on death row, she breaks free from her shackles. She becomes fearless and adventurous. It was great to see her development over the course of the novel, and I was cheering her on the whole time.

"Sometimes there are only bad choices."

Micah! An unpredictable character who for a while I was unsure about. But as I learnt more about him, I grew to love him so so much. He, too, is complex and messed up a bit, landing himself on death row. But he never lets that get in the way of living the best life he can behind bars. It was heartbreaking to read about him and his story, but I was also able to learn a lot from his character and his perspective on life.

Possible unpopular opinion, but Eli kind of irked me. I don't really want to say much else, but just thought I'd let that little thought out...

"If you don't live your life, nobody will live it for you. You'll miss out, Bel."

This story has the ability to get a conversation going, and I was surprised to read about this topic in a YA novel, but it's super important! I remember learning a lot about death row in high school during Asian Studies class which was also around the time that the Bali Nine were executed, but I haven't really seen is around since. I think it's such an important topic and debate for young adults to learn about, but it isn't spoken or written about enough. I think the author did Micah's character and his situation a real justice, pointing out the hard truths of prisoners on death row and the conditions their forced to be kept in.

"Dying is quick, but living with a hole in your family? That's a life sentence."

What really got me, after reading the ending that I will not go into detail about because spoilers (but just know that it hit me in all the right places), was the author's note. I love author's notes and acknowledgements, especially when they give you a whole new perspective on the story. The author, Hayley Lawrence, herself wrote to a prisoner on death row, they exchanged letters, and she even went to visit him. Although the story of INSIDE THE TIGER doesn't follow her story, the feelings behind it were definitely influenced by it, and her personal touch made me love this novel even more. She also ended the author's note with a line that stuck out to me;
"Finally, I hope all of you find an Eli on your travels, a quiet hero to stand beside you while you make something beautiful with your life."

If it's not already obvious, I love INSIDE THE TIGER with all my heart. I highly recommend picking it up as it's not only beautifully written, with developed characters and a heart wrenching story line, but it's also educational and really gets you thinking. This is a book that I know will stick with me for a very long time.

"Some look for the easy way. But there is no easy way. We must endure. And find another way. One life. One short life. We make it good."

[Nicole · Rating 5 out of 5]

Aussie YA at its best!

Lawrence's experience in law comes through in this measured treatment of death row. While some might consider this tale unfashionably didactic, I believe it dodged the moralistic raindrops and showed the realities of retributive justice without the whitewashed glaze. This isn't didactic, this is brutally honest. It just so happens that telling things the way they are often seems to teach us something.

We are well aware that the crime was committed; Micah's incarceration is justified, but this novel allows us who are normally watching from the comfort from our tv screen to realise just how thinly that screen protects us from this situation. It could happen to one of us. Someone from our family. And how would we cope? Would we have a leg to stand on if we pled for mercy? It was one mistake. Let the one who hasn't made any mistake throw the first stone. It is this truth--that it could be one of us--that stings hard as we follow Bel's growing attachment to Micah.

Bel's voice was easy to connect to and her journey out of innocence and into the big wide world didn't feel contrived, but a natural outworking of events. I particularly enjoyed the scene at the rally which gave shivers, along with the sense of dread I felt for Eli in Bangkok.

With my penchant for minor characters, Marcella is the best contribution to this story, allowing an easy 'in' for the working class among us.

Parent Guide: 14/15+ Recommended (for adult themes--death row is no joke and it may disturb some more sensitive readers. One not-very-explicit sex scene.)

[Laura Trenham · Rating 4 out of 5]

A captivating and raw read about a school girl writing to a prisoner on death row (only a year older than herself).
It is a story of hope, determination and personal sacrifice.
It dealt with many issues which have not been addressed in YA before.

4 Stars 🌟

[Joy Adams · Rating 3 out of 5]

The daughter of a prominent anti-crime advocate, Bel has spent her entire childhood as an unwilling poster child for her father's crusade for justice reform. Following her mother's tragic murder, she's been dragged through countless rallies, press conferences, and political events, forced to smile for cameras while her father campaigns for tougher criminal penalties. Finally escaping to boarding school, Bel thinks she's found her freedom from the world of activism and social causes that has defined her young life.

But when a university assignment requires her to champion a cause of her own choosing, Bel finds herself at a crossroads. Exhausted by years of fighting for justice and tired of being surrounded by talk of crime and punishment, she makes an unexpected decision. Instead of selecting another social justice campaign, she chooses something that feels safely removed from her past - corresponding with a death row inmate in a Thai prison.

Enter Micah, an Australian serving time on serious drug trafficking charges in Thailand's notoriously harsh penal system. Anyone familiar with high-profile cases like Schapelle Corby knows the severe consequences that await those caught with drugs in Southeast Asia. What begins as a simple pen-pal arrangement for Bel's coursework slowly transforms into something deeper as letters are exchanged and care packages sent across continents.

The connection between Bel and Micah develops with an almost inevitable momentum. Through their correspondence, she discovers a person behind the prisoner number, and despite the circumstances, finds herself falling for someone she's never met face-to-face. Lawrence skillfully builds this unlikely romance through the intimate medium of letter-writing, showing how two people can form profound bonds across prison walls and international borders.

However, readers seeking a fairy-tale romance should look elsewhere. This story doesn't shy away from the harsh realities of its premise, and Lawrence delivers an ending that stays true to the brutal circumstances rather than offering false hope. The conclusion is uncompromisingly bleak, reflecting the real-world consequences of the situation these characters find themselves in.

What makes this novel compelling is its exploration of how we connect with others and the lengths we'll go to for love, even when logic tells us it's futile. The concept of prison correspondence has always held a certain fascination - there's something both touching and troubling about these relationships that develop in such constrained circumstances. Lawrence handles this delicate subject matter with sensitivity while never romanticizing the reality of the situation.

Inside the Tiger will particularly resonate with readers who enjoyed John Marsden's Letters from the Inside, as both novels explore the power of written communication to forge deep human connections despite seemingly impossible circumstances. For those drawn to stories about unlikely relationships, forbidden love, and the complex moral questions surrounding crime and punishment, this book offers a thought-provoking, if ultimately heartbreaking, reading experience.

[Joni Leimgruber · Rating 5 out of 5]

Inside the Tiger is a must-read for those who find themselves unsure about approaching and even befriending those who are vastly different to themselves. Anyone wanting to grow in their capacity for empathy and understanding will thoroughly enjoy and benefit from reading this book.

Through the fictional character of Bel, we learn about the highs and lows of embracing someone different to ourselves. And we also learn that despite the fact we may stuff it up at times, life is richer when we embrace those who are different to us and when we take the time to get to know them and to share our lives with them.

Thank you so much Hayley, for writing important books with help us grow in empathy and understanding.

[Skye · Rating 5 out of 5]

I loved every word in this book. At first finding to read the book was a little hard, but that didn’t worry me, as the slower I read the longer the book would last. I was so involved and felt connected to each character.
I highly recommend this book

[Grace · Rating 5 out of 5]

Crying. Best book I’ve read this year so far.

[Dave · Rating 5 out of 5]

Outstanding YA drama that isn't afraid of treating its intended audience as mature adults. Features strong characterisation and doesn't pull any punches as the plot escalates.

[Meghan · Rating 5 out of 5]

"This is a love story about imperfect people in imperfect places."

*5 STARS*

Inside The Tiger is a first and foremost a refreshingly creative, captivating story. You're taken on quite an emotional ride with Bel, the main character as she connects with Micah, a death row prisoner in Thailand. I loved that friendships and family relationships were developed throughout the story and all the relationships had such an important impact on Bel's character. This was an astounding first novel from the author and I can't wait for whatever she writes next!

[Peta · Rating 5 out of 5]

I read the book and loved it. The topic was a great choice and one that should get people talking whether it be a book club, a classroom, wherever. A great first book and I look forward to the next.

[NaomiEllen · Rating 5 out of 5]

The last two chapters of this book I did not stop crying. What an unexpected ending.
I loved this story so much and the Tavel aspect was amazing, traveling is something I love and hearing the way bel felt when she was first in Thailand reminded me of my first time in Indonesia.
I related to bel so much and I think that’s why I us such an emotional connection to this story.
Amazing.

[Cathy Hunt · Rating 5 out of 5]

Beautiful debut from Hayley Lawrence, a thought provoking read. Great exploration of love loss and beliefs.

[Sindy · Rating 5 out of 5]

I remember discussing the moral dilemma in his crime with my mum - conflicting yet I was sad for both parties :/

[TheCosyDragon · Rating 3 out of 5]

This review has been crossposted from my blog at The Cosy Dragon . Please head there for more in-depth reviews by me, which appear on a timely schedule.

Bel needs a social cause to support for a project at school. Rather than following in her father’s footsteps to promote harsher penalties for murderers, she chooses to write to a prisoner in the notorious Thailand ‘Tiger’ prison. Little does she know that she’s going to get in deeper than she imagined…

Bel is a likeable character, but it does feel a bit like ‘insta-love’. She falls really quickly for a boy she knows nothing about. I find it noble that she doesn’t care what Micah has done, but at the same time – wake up! Your own life should have tipped you off that nothing is what it seems.

I could have had more opinions from characters other than Bel. Bel seems to feel so sorry for herself all the time because she has a single parent who is busy all the time. I’m sorry, you have some really great friends and you’ve had this Christmas every year! Although Bel learns to speak up for what she wants, in the end she’s a pushover who somehow connives people into doing what she wants.

The ending is just as it should be. Good work Lawrence – it might not have been the ending we wanted, but it was the one we needed (I can’t remember what that’s from, but it’s a cliche sort of morning. It’s nice not to have a sugar coated ending.

I’m giving this 3 stars. I can’t say I was enthralled by it, but it wasn’t a bad read. It provides an interesting teenage insight into one of the toughest prisons in the world, with the most antiquated penalties.

[erin · Rating 5 out of 5]

loved this a whole ton. definitely doesn’t go how you expect it to, but i just that kinda depends which way you thing i’ll turn out. enjoyed this so much

[Sally Hall · Rating 5 out of 5]

This YA novel has it all...drama, complicated relationships, romance and intrigue.

When Bel writes to Micah, an Australian on death row in a Thai prison, it's for a school assignment. When he writes back she's drawn into his world.

Letter by letter they reveal to each other pieces of themselves that no one else gets to see but the deeper Bel falls for Micah, the more her relationships at home are put at risk. Her father, a politician set to increase prison sentences would never understand and Eli, the boy next door, has feelings for Bel that he can no longer hide.

This story draws you in until you can practically feel the clock ticking between letters, the desperate tug of wanting something you can't have and Bel's hope that Micah could eventually be transferred home to Australia.

I couldn't put this book down. I had to keep reading to find out what happened to Bel, Micah and Eli. It made me cry and smile. It made me think about prisoners in a new light and I really cared what happened to the characters.

I highly recommend reading the 'From the Author' section to understand how this story came about. Hayley Lawrence is a brilliant author and clearly has a big heart too!

[Valeria · Rating 4 out of 5]

I was in a bookstore and looking for new titles to read, this particular bookstore had a review by the staff next to some of the books, the review is what enticed me to buy this book and wow, I am so glad I did, I read it in 2 sittings. This book deals with very important social issues and it highlights the way in which different countries deal with serious crime. Micah is a 19 year old Australian sentenced to death row in Thailand for drug trafficking. Bel, a politician's daughter who attends a prestigious girls college in Sydney starts writing to Micah as part of a school assignment. Bel's mother was murdered by a drug addict but Bel does not know that Micah is in jail for drug trafficking until she is in too deep and in love with him. This story is very loosely based on the Author's own experience with writing to a death row prisoner. A sad story, I cried.
Note: In June 2018 Thailand executed its first prisoner by lethal injection since 2009.

[Kate · Rating 5 out of 5]

To be honest I wasn’t entirely sure how this book was gonna play out, but the ending was both sad, happy and completely unexpected. I truly loved this book, because it made me appreciate life and all the beautiful moments it brings. Such a powerful book. Couldn’t have been better.

Bel writes to a death row prisoner as a part of her assignment, but when he writes back things quickly escalate and he isn’t just an assignment anymore, bel tries and fights for the prisoners on death row, and tries to save Micah, but things aren’t that easy... Such a great book, with that small aspect of love and romance, in it which I love in books :)

Inside the tiger. Inspiring and powerful book, you will love, trust me !

[Chloe Hollis · Rating 5 out of 5]

I loved this book! The first book I’ve actually enjoyed reading in quite a long time.

I would of read it all in one go if I could of, I didn’t wanna put it down.

This book is so raw and messes with your emotions, I used to think of writing to someone on death row, what it would be like and I guess I just found out.
Through the book I was hoping that Micah would be allowed a transfer or a kings pardon so when I got to the end to find a very different outcome I actually cried.
Reading this made me happy and sad. I really hope the author keeps up the good work and writes more stories like these.

[Jemmy 🌶️ · Rating 5 out of 5]

This book started slow however it got really intriguing. The last few chapters changed me, I was a mess after reading what Micah said to his mum, and the thing that got me hysterically crying was when Micah said and I quote “ please don’t cry Mum, because living here it was no life, only setting me free. No more eating that fishy soup no more shackles and squat holes and lice in the mattress no more fighting to survive. where I’m going there’s no rules and no screws and I can play poker with Dutchy all day long without someone saying that I robbed them”…. The saddest thing ever, also Dutchy was Micah best friend but he got executed way before Micah did… anyway this book is a 8/10.

[Livvy · Rating 5 out of 5]

This book tugged at my heartstrings and played with my sense of right and wrong.

First of all, I love Australian contemporary books, there is just something so relatable about them for me. This one especially hit the spot being set in Sydney. I enjoy being drawn in by the familiar names of places.

Hayley Lawrence's writing style is truly magnificent. Her descriptions and language transported me into the life of the Bel. I felt for Bel's struggled. I also throughout the book went for shipping Bel and Miach and then Bel and Eli

[Karen OConnor · Rating 5 out of 5]

A real page turner. I felt such empathy with Bel’s plight, challenges, emotions and interactions with her father and friends. All the while, the underlying issue conflicting with Bel’s personal life, is something rarely discussed, especially in young adult fiction. We have seen for ourselves via the media, how the death penalty impacts on our own people when they are imprisoned overseas. We need empathetic characters such as Bel, sensitive to social justice issues and how the power of one person can contribute to bringing light to issues needing serious discussion.

[Julia · Rating 2 out of 5]

This book left me with two completely different feelings, one negative, one positive.

I launched into this book wholeheartedly, the first half held so much promise. Let's just say that it was a far from satisfying plotline. I couldn't stand the love triangle, and the ending made me want to scream.

On a better note, this book had an empowering message. And although I left it wanting to scream about the terrible ending, I also wanted to scream from the rooftops my beliefs. It inspired me to try and change the world.

[Shelley · Rating 5 out of 5]

Such a riveting novel, even for a non-reader like myself. Talk about a page turner! I found it impossible not to fall in love with Bel and Micah as they journeyed through their own personal struggles and found themselves in a checkmate situation. I love the way that the author was able to show without telling. Her use of descriptive language captivated me as the story effortlessly unfolded. A+++ Highly recommended read!

[Ruth Deaton · Rating 5 out of 5]

A new story for YA readers, so beautifully told that I gave it to my twelve year old to read. She asked me if the book gets dramatic and I told her it stays true to life and tackles political issues of drug smuggling, amidst the struggles of growing up. She can’t put the book down, as neither could I!

[Betty Macdonald Saudemont · Rating 5 out of 5]

𝘐𝘯𝘴𝘪𝘥𝘦 𝘵𝘩𝘦 𝘵𝘪𝘨𝘦𝘳 is a novel that deals with a lot of important and divisive topics like the death penalty, at what length are we prepared to stand up for our beliefs, restorative versus retributive justice... ⁣⁣⁣
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It's an heavy book that I found surprisingly very enjoyable, gritty and easy to read. This book made me think. The questions that erupted into my head while reading this book will definitely stay with me.⁣⁣⁣
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I thought the characters were very believable and offered compassionate and thoughtful views on highly contentious issues, in a very well constructed plot.⁣⁣⁣
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[Rat · Rating 3 out of 5]

I didn't expect much when I picked this book up, but it ended up being pretty good. I thought the political elements were well done, along with the emotional beats of the story (I cried lol). I did think the romance (even though it was fun) damped the impact of some of the more serious topics broached, but it still remained a good book.