A refreshing revival of timeless, magical women that will inspire readers to dream their own stories.
This collection of mythical goddesses showcases global legends associated with deities ranging from ancient Greece’s Aphrodite to the West African sea goddess Osun.
Though each of these goddesses figure in many timeless tales, this anthology offers accessible versions of the more popular stories, such as the well-known Egyptian drama of Isis and her twin brother, Osiris, killed by their jealous brother, Set, only for Osiris to be resurrected by Isis. Readers are also likely to be familiar with Mulan, China’s mighty girl warrior who pretends to be a boy in order to fight for her family, but its vision of Brigit, the British Isles’ “shape-shifting ancestor,” appears in a contemporary, even cheeky tale of newspapers, snakes, and skyscrapers. Other regions represented include Iraq, Russia, India, Mexico, Tibet, Japan, and Iran. The collection ends with an appendix that explains the symbols that give each of the goddesses their powers. The strength of this collection of tales lies in Pattullo’s colorful and quirky illustrations, which capture the cultural diversity with radiance and energy. Parvati, from the Hindu tradition, bathes in the Ganges and becomes “her big self”—a human-shaped agglomeration of blooms; from the murdered Mayahuel sprouts the maguey plant relied upon by the Aztecs. A closing bibliography lists sources, sometimes several, for each tale. Figures from the Abrahamic religions are absent.
A refreshing revival of timeless, magical women that will inspire readers to dream their own stories. (Folklore. 10-14)Pub Date: June 9, 2020
ISBN: 978-0-500-65191-9
Page Count: 128
Publisher: Thames & Hudson
Review Posted Online: March 14, 2020
Kirkus Reviews Issue: April 1, 2020
A breezy, bustling bucketful of courageous acts and eye-popping feats.
Why should grown-ups get all the historical, scientific, athletic, cinematic, and artistic glory?
Choosing exemplars from both past and present, Mitchell includes but goes well beyond Alexander the Great, Anne Frank, and like usual suspects to introduce a host of lesser-known luminaries. These include Shapur II, who was formally crowned king of Persia before he was born, Indian dancer/professional architect Sheila Sri Prakash, transgender spokesperson Jazz Jennings, inventor Param Jaggi, and an international host of other teen or preteen activists and prodigies. The individual portraits range from one paragraph to several pages in length, and they are interspersed with group tributes to, for instance, the Nazi-resisting “Swingkinder,” the striking New York City newsboys, and the marchers of the Birmingham Children’s Crusade. Mitchell even offers would-be villains a role model in Elagabalus, “boy emperor of Rome,” though she notes that he, at least, came to an awful end: “Then, then! They dumped his remains in the Tiber River, to be nommed by fish for all eternity.” The entries are arranged in no evident order, and though the backmatter includes multiple booklists, a personality quiz, a glossary, and even a quick Braille primer (with Braille jokes to decode), there is no index. Still, for readers whose fires need lighting, there’s motivational kindling on nearly every page.
A breezy, bustling bucketful of courageous acts and eye-popping feats. (finished illustrations not seen) (Collective biography. 10-13)Pub Date: May 10, 2016
ISBN: 978-0-14-751813-2
Page Count: 320
Publisher: Puffin
Review Posted Online: Nov. 10, 2015
Kirkus Reviews Issue: Dec. 1, 2015
The app takes advantage of zoom features to take readers through panel by panel, providing a sense of forward motion that...
Traditionally a paper-based series, Middle School Confidential adapts its first graphic novel to the iPad leveraging the device’s functionality to infuse a wide variety of sounds, short songs and character voices.
The app takes advantage of zoom features to take readers through panel by panel, providing a sense of forward motion that synchronizes well with the text’s format. Divided into eight chapters, the story introduces relevant teen topics such as body image, self-esteem, popularity and stress through short, everyday interactions among a group of six male and female friends. To round out each chapter, a teen presents a related short message that’s more public-service announcement than component of the story, which may feel over the top to the audience. Each character is presented through actions and dialogue in the short chapters and with a brief bio that includes his or her strengths and insecurities. Additionally, each bio includes an e-mail address, which links to the iPad’s e-mail function; there is no indication of who will actually receive a reader’s e-mail message and what if any response such an e-mail might trigger. The images in the line-and-watercolor panels mirror and reinforce the characters’ related emotions or actions.Pub Date: April 1, 2011
ISBN: N/A
Page Count: -
Publisher: Free Spirit Publishing
Review Posted Online: May 3, 2011
Kirkus Reviews Issue: June 1, 2011
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