The Book That Started It All – Never Trust a Tiger by Char Valdez

Char Valdez’s novel Never Trust a Tiger is where the magic began. Set against the dusty backdrop of America’s forgotten circuses, the book tells a deeply personal coming-of-age tale through the eyes of Marta Lundeen, a girl growing up on a rural Illinois farm with dreams bigger than the prairie sky. Char’s prose are rich, lyrical, and steeped in historical realism. The book dives into themes of loss, resilience, female agency, and what it means to find one’s voice in a world that expects silence. With strong characters, haunting atmosphere, and emotional depth, the novel lays the foundation for a visual adaptation that honors it’s heart while expanding it’s scope.