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Stories of the Islands
Journey into a land of magic and powerful girls in this feminist graphic novel retelling of three Indonesian folktales, lushly reimagined by a debut author-illustrator.
Once upon a time. . .
A princess was cursed to live as a snail,
Two sisters were trapped by their father’s wrath,
And a mother and daughter faced a hungry giant.
No one is coming to save them.
Will they get their happily ever after?
In this collection of reimagined Indonesian fairy tales, the girls are the ones with power. The power to fight evil, to protect others, and to grow as people. Because why should girls in folktales always need saving? What if they save themselves instead?
Based on graphic novelist Clar Angkasa’s favorite childhood stories and gorgeously illustrated with a dedicated color palette for each tale, this retelling of “Keong Mas,” “Bawang Merah Bawang Putih,” and “Timun Mas” is filled with spectacular landscapes, deep emotions, and a firm belief in the power of girls’ stories.
A Junior Library Guild Gold Standard Selection
Once upon a time. . .
A princess was cursed to live as a snail,
Two sisters were trapped by their father’s wrath,
And a mother and daughter faced a hungry giant.
No one is coming to save them.
Will they get their happily ever after?
In this collection of reimagined Indonesian fairy tales, the girls are the ones with power. The power to fight evil, to protect others, and to grow as people. Because why should girls in folktales always need saving? What if they save themselves instead?
Based on graphic novelist Clar Angkasa’s favorite childhood stories and gorgeously illustrated with a dedicated color palette for each tale, this retelling of “Keong Mas,” “Bawang Merah Bawang Putih,” and “Timun Mas” is filled with spectacular landscapes, deep emotions, and a firm belief in the power of girls’ stories.
A Junior Library Guild Gold Standard Selection
171 pages, Paperback
First published October 31, 2023
5 people are currently reading
540 people want to read
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 165 reviews
May 10, 2023
There was a time, oh best beloved, when fairytales and works of folklore ruled children’s libraries across America. It was an era before the big box bookstores, long before the internet, when librarians set the tone for what would and wouldn’t sell in the world of children’s literature. Back then, if you wanted to look at world cultures, fairytales and folktales were your one and only way of doing so. Even then, few distinguished between the tales told by white people about other cultures and tales told by people from those cultures themselves. These days, folktales have long since fallen out of favor in the publishing industry. And gone is the time when librarians became sticklers for “original” rather than fractured or rewritten versions of classic tales. These days, if you’d like to rewrite a story, you are fully within your rights to do so. After all, isn’t that how folktales began in the first place? Told from person to person over time, until they morphed and changed to fit a variety of cultures? Much of this was in my head as I read Clar Angkasa’s reworking of three Indonesian folktales from her childhood. In her hands, the stories “Keong Mas”, “Bawang Merah Bawang Putih”, and “Timun Mas” take on new life for a new era of readers in this clever collection. And as I’ve said many times before, if folktales and fairytales are to remain pertinent, it’s entirely possible that adapting them into the graphic novel format is the perfect way to make that happen.
Three traditional Indonesian folktales. Three ways of looking at the world. Three entirely new interpretations. Clar Angkasa asks us, “Who are these women beyond the hero’s love interest? What are their hopes and dreams outside of what’s expected of them? Why are they waiting for their saviors instead of just saving themselves.” Stories of the Islands is her answer. Three tales are selected in total. In the first, “Keong Mas” a proud princess is turned into a snail and can only save herself if she truly wishes to save others. “Bawang Merah Bawang Putih” is different, following the travails of a pair of adopted sisters and the beloved father who becomes their enemy. Finally “Timun Mas” is the story of a woman who unexpectedly becomes a mother and must outwit the giant that would take what she holds most dear. Playing off of the original tales, Angkasa reworks these old stories, while still retaining the elements that have made them memorable favorites for so many years.
In her Author’s Note at the end of the book, Clar Angkasa offers what I can only call a bit of an explanation about what you’ve just read. She tells us that she was raised by a badass single mom and that that experience gave her “a strong distaste for narratives that perpetuate the concept that a woman is limited to what society expects of them.” How then to come to grips with the traditional Indonesian folk tales she grew up with? Simple. Rewrite them. As such, she plucked the three tales she knew best and found ways to make them just a bit different. And folktale purists (for no matter the form of art, you will find a purist lurking in its shadows) will no doubt take issue with the changes. What made me happy, though, was how Angkasa owns up to what she’s done. Not only does she include an Author’s Note with her thoughts on the subject of changing folktales, she also writes out the three stories in their original forms at the back of the book so that kids can compare and contrast. Which do you prefer? Why? Why did the creator of this book make the changes that she did? Should she have changed more? Less? Explain!
This year, the same year that Angkasa releases Stories of the Islands, a different publisher is releasing a very different adapted folktale. Jon Klassen’s The Skull is a Tyrolean folktale. In his explanation at the end of the book, Klassen notes that it is the very nature of folktales to be changed. Historically they were oral tales, and in the telling, some details or elements would be changed and passed on. So when you change a folktale, you’re really just in keeping with the nature of storytelling itself. I take heart in this. I look at the old collections of fairytales and folktales in children’s libraries across the country, and I think how people are still telling those tales. They may adapt them to modern times so that kids today better understand them, but their ultimate purpose, to tell a good tale, remains intact. They may not remain the stories we remember from our youth, but if we open ourselves up to the possibility that they might be even better, we allow our kids to take part in a tradition as old as human speech.
All right. Back up a bit. I’m going to nerd out on some stuff, so you can take a breather, if you so choose. There are three different stories in this book, right? And each, to varying degrees, has been changed for a contemporary audience. So how did Clar Angkasa and her editor decide on the order of these stories? You see, the flow of this reading is very important. You need to lure the audience in with the first story. Do something too bold and forthright and you run the risk of alienating your audience. Do something too calm and thoughtful and you’ve the same result. So Angkasa needed to make that first story the most appealing of the three. She went with “Keong Mas” the story of the princess turned into a snail, which I feel was a rather bold choice. Her telling of this story plays with time frames. When the tale starts all you know is that someone is trapped in the form of a snail. The flashback sequence that follows is made up of muted colors, but Angkasa doles out the information of how our princess ended up in her spiral prison in fits and starts. What, in another author’s hands, would have been a linear telling from point A to point B appears here as a story that kids almost have to decode and decipher. Had I been writing this book, I don’t know that I would have started with something this intricate. Still, in retrospect it makes sense. The stakes are low in “Keong Mas” whereas in “Bawang Merah, Bawang Putih” the two main characters’ lives are at stake and in the final story “Timun Mas” there’s a giant to defeat. The tales increase in excitement and danger as you read. “Keong Mas” is still, I think, the most ambitious of the three tellings, but a dedicated reader will be able to figure out what’s happening. Absolutely.
As for the art itself, it’s magnificently appealing. I’m not well-versed enough in the terminology of early 21st century graphic novels for kids to be able to give a name to precisely the kind of clear cut art that Angkasa is employing here. It owes a bit of itself to Raina Telgemeier, but the sheer beauty of the watercolors being utilized on the pages are unique. What I can call it, without doubting myself, is engaging. Since this is aimed at an 8-12 year-old readership, this acts as a kind of gateway comic for kids who may be less comfortable with some of the more ambitious GNs out there. The layouts of the panels, along with Angkasa’s storytelling methodology, are straightforward. While I might have had to clarify which princess was which in the first story, kids should have no problem. Plus there are some particularly keen artistic flourishes at work, if you look for them. The giant of “Keong Mas”, which is rendered as more of a shadow person than a minutely delineated character, is a perfect villain precisely because it hasn’t any clear features at all. Sometimes when I read a comic, I’ve no idea if the creator thought every detail through. With Stories of the Islands I never had a doubt.
Of the three tales, "Timun Mas" (a.k.a. “Golden Cucumber”) is the most similar to its original story. In both the old and the new, a woman and her daughter outwit a giant and return to one another at the end. The difference is that in the original the mother goes to a dukun for the solution to her problems. Here, the women figure out what to do on their own. I suppose that’s a perfect capper for this book, and a perfect explanation as to why the author/artist made the changes that she did. Passive protagonists are hard to root for, so in each one of these stories the woman or girl being put upon has a moment where she has to take her life into her own hands, make her own decisions, and set off on paths unknown. Our old folktales can contain many outdated ideas and notions, but dig a little deeper and you’ll find that there’s something about them that carries on and prevails, year after year, century after century. It’s just a matter of reworking them into tales we can be proud to share with our own kids. A marvelous example of bringing the old and the new together to create something that contains the best of both worlds. A beautiful potential future for folktales worldwide.
Three traditional Indonesian folktales. Three ways of looking at the world. Three entirely new interpretations. Clar Angkasa asks us, “Who are these women beyond the hero’s love interest? What are their hopes and dreams outside of what’s expected of them? Why are they waiting for their saviors instead of just saving themselves.” Stories of the Islands is her answer. Three tales are selected in total. In the first, “Keong Mas” a proud princess is turned into a snail and can only save herself if she truly wishes to save others. “Bawang Merah Bawang Putih” is different, following the travails of a pair of adopted sisters and the beloved father who becomes their enemy. Finally “Timun Mas” is the story of a woman who unexpectedly becomes a mother and must outwit the giant that would take what she holds most dear. Playing off of the original tales, Angkasa reworks these old stories, while still retaining the elements that have made them memorable favorites for so many years.
In her Author’s Note at the end of the book, Clar Angkasa offers what I can only call a bit of an explanation about what you’ve just read. She tells us that she was raised by a badass single mom and that that experience gave her “a strong distaste for narratives that perpetuate the concept that a woman is limited to what society expects of them.” How then to come to grips with the traditional Indonesian folk tales she grew up with? Simple. Rewrite them. As such, she plucked the three tales she knew best and found ways to make them just a bit different. And folktale purists (for no matter the form of art, you will find a purist lurking in its shadows) will no doubt take issue with the changes. What made me happy, though, was how Angkasa owns up to what she’s done. Not only does she include an Author’s Note with her thoughts on the subject of changing folktales, she also writes out the three stories in their original forms at the back of the book so that kids can compare and contrast. Which do you prefer? Why? Why did the creator of this book make the changes that she did? Should she have changed more? Less? Explain!
This year, the same year that Angkasa releases Stories of the Islands, a different publisher is releasing a very different adapted folktale. Jon Klassen’s The Skull is a Tyrolean folktale. In his explanation at the end of the book, Klassen notes that it is the very nature of folktales to be changed. Historically they were oral tales, and in the telling, some details or elements would be changed and passed on. So when you change a folktale, you’re really just in keeping with the nature of storytelling itself. I take heart in this. I look at the old collections of fairytales and folktales in children’s libraries across the country, and I think how people are still telling those tales. They may adapt them to modern times so that kids today better understand them, but their ultimate purpose, to tell a good tale, remains intact. They may not remain the stories we remember from our youth, but if we open ourselves up to the possibility that they might be even better, we allow our kids to take part in a tradition as old as human speech.
All right. Back up a bit. I’m going to nerd out on some stuff, so you can take a breather, if you so choose. There are three different stories in this book, right? And each, to varying degrees, has been changed for a contemporary audience. So how did Clar Angkasa and her editor decide on the order of these stories? You see, the flow of this reading is very important. You need to lure the audience in with the first story. Do something too bold and forthright and you run the risk of alienating your audience. Do something too calm and thoughtful and you’ve the same result. So Angkasa needed to make that first story the most appealing of the three. She went with “Keong Mas” the story of the princess turned into a snail, which I feel was a rather bold choice. Her telling of this story plays with time frames. When the tale starts all you know is that someone is trapped in the form of a snail. The flashback sequence that follows is made up of muted colors, but Angkasa doles out the information of how our princess ended up in her spiral prison in fits and starts. What, in another author’s hands, would have been a linear telling from point A to point B appears here as a story that kids almost have to decode and decipher. Had I been writing this book, I don’t know that I would have started with something this intricate. Still, in retrospect it makes sense. The stakes are low in “Keong Mas” whereas in “Bawang Merah, Bawang Putih” the two main characters’ lives are at stake and in the final story “Timun Mas” there’s a giant to defeat. The tales increase in excitement and danger as you read. “Keong Mas” is still, I think, the most ambitious of the three tellings, but a dedicated reader will be able to figure out what’s happening. Absolutely.
As for the art itself, it’s magnificently appealing. I’m not well-versed enough in the terminology of early 21st century graphic novels for kids to be able to give a name to precisely the kind of clear cut art that Angkasa is employing here. It owes a bit of itself to Raina Telgemeier, but the sheer beauty of the watercolors being utilized on the pages are unique. What I can call it, without doubting myself, is engaging. Since this is aimed at an 8-12 year-old readership, this acts as a kind of gateway comic for kids who may be less comfortable with some of the more ambitious GNs out there. The layouts of the panels, along with Angkasa’s storytelling methodology, are straightforward. While I might have had to clarify which princess was which in the first story, kids should have no problem. Plus there are some particularly keen artistic flourishes at work, if you look for them. The giant of “Keong Mas”, which is rendered as more of a shadow person than a minutely delineated character, is a perfect villain precisely because it hasn’t any clear features at all. Sometimes when I read a comic, I’ve no idea if the creator thought every detail through. With Stories of the Islands I never had a doubt.
Of the three tales, "Timun Mas" (a.k.a. “Golden Cucumber”) is the most similar to its original story. In both the old and the new, a woman and her daughter outwit a giant and return to one another at the end. The difference is that in the original the mother goes to a dukun for the solution to her problems. Here, the women figure out what to do on their own. I suppose that’s a perfect capper for this book, and a perfect explanation as to why the author/artist made the changes that she did. Passive protagonists are hard to root for, so in each one of these stories the woman or girl being put upon has a moment where she has to take her life into her own hands, make her own decisions, and set off on paths unknown. Our old folktales can contain many outdated ideas and notions, but dig a little deeper and you’ll find that there’s something about them that carries on and prevails, year after year, century after century. It’s just a matter of reworking them into tales we can be proud to share with our own kids. A marvelous example of bringing the old and the new together to create something that contains the best of both worlds. A beautiful potential future for folktales worldwide.
September 8, 2023
"Once upon a time. . .
A princess was cursed to live as a snail,
Two sisters were trapped by their father’s wrath,
And a mother and daughter faced a hungry giant.
No one is coming to save them.
Will they get their happily ever after?"
Clar Angkasa uses her own words and imagery to reimagine three folk tales from her childhood in Indonesia where the central female characters and provided with autonomy and vitality.
I adored all three equally, as well as the females who centred in them. Each was lightly infused with the fantastic but full of fierce hearts and brave spirits. I flew through the pages and, despite the limited wording, felt I got a good understanding for who each of the female characters were and rooted for them as if I had spent a full-length novel getting to know them and their various personalities.
I received this book in exchange for an honest review. Thank you to the author, Clar Angkasa, and the publisher, Holiday House, for this opportunity.
A princess was cursed to live as a snail,
Two sisters were trapped by their father’s wrath,
And a mother and daughter faced a hungry giant.
No one is coming to save them.
Will they get their happily ever after?"
Clar Angkasa uses her own words and imagery to reimagine three folk tales from her childhood in Indonesia where the central female characters and provided with autonomy and vitality.
I adored all three equally, as well as the females who centred in them. Each was lightly infused with the fantastic but full of fierce hearts and brave spirits. I flew through the pages and, despite the limited wording, felt I got a good understanding for who each of the female characters were and rooted for them as if I had spent a full-length novel getting to know them and their various personalities.
I received this book in exchange for an honest review. Thank you to the author, Clar Angkasa, and the publisher, Holiday House, for this opportunity.
March 23, 2024
This graphic novel brings three Indonesian folktales to life, focusing on the women and empowering them to help themselves. Clar helpfully includes the original folktales at the end and I have to say that I liked these updated versions much better. The illustrations throughout are gorgeous and help bring the tales to life.
September 12, 2023
I really enjoyed these 3 beautifully illustrated retellings of classic Indonesian folklore!!
This wasn't a topic I was hugely familiar with so I was really excited when I got accepted for this ARC! I love learning about new cultures and this was a great way to do so! I really appreciated having the original versions of the stories at the end of the book too!
the art is stunning! I love the color pallet a lot in this one!
As always thank you so much to Netgalley, the publishers and the author for a copy of the graphic novel in exchange for an honest review!!
This wasn't a topic I was hugely familiar with so I was really excited when I got accepted for this ARC! I love learning about new cultures and this was a great way to do so! I really appreciated having the original versions of the stories at the end of the book too!
the art is stunning! I love the color pallet a lot in this one!
As always thank you so much to Netgalley, the publishers and the author for a copy of the graphic novel in exchange for an honest review!!
August 9, 2024
Amazing collection of 3 stories re-told and illustrated by the author making the women in these folktales self-sufficient, strong and determined. The original versions are also included at the end of the book.
Easy to understand and simply, colorfully illustrated, these tales are wonderful lessons for all girls and young women learning the ways of the world.
Easy to understand and simply, colorfully illustrated, these tales are wonderful lessons for all girls and young women learning the ways of the world.
October 24, 2023
Hello Again!
For our review today, I read a new graphic novel! I saw this graphic novel on Netgalley and knew I would really want to give it a try. I read the summary and did a little research on the graphic novel and was very excited when I received an E-ARC from the publisher in exchange for my honest opinions (thank you all so much)! So without further ado, let’s jump in!
SPOILERS AHEAD
Three Indonesian tales are retold in this wonderful graphic novel. In one story we meet a pair of sisters whose family is struggling after their mother’s death. In another story, we learn of a woman who lives on the outskirts of a small village alone, until one day she makes a deal. In the final story, we meet a woman who lives with a snail as a companion, trapped in another life.
I really loved this graphic novel. The three different stories all had amazing artwork and were really interesting. I also loved that the author put the original stories to read at the end of the graphic novel. I would love to have more Stories of the Islands (maybe a volume two) in the future. In the meantime, this graphic novel comes out on October 31st, 2023, and I highly recommend checking it out.
Goodreads Rating: 5 Stars
**Thank you so much to the publisher for the E-ARC in exchange for my honest opinions.
For our review today, I read a new graphic novel! I saw this graphic novel on Netgalley and knew I would really want to give it a try. I read the summary and did a little research on the graphic novel and was very excited when I received an E-ARC from the publisher in exchange for my honest opinions (thank you all so much)! So without further ado, let’s jump in!
SPOILERS AHEAD
Three Indonesian tales are retold in this wonderful graphic novel. In one story we meet a pair of sisters whose family is struggling after their mother’s death. In another story, we learn of a woman who lives on the outskirts of a small village alone, until one day she makes a deal. In the final story, we meet a woman who lives with a snail as a companion, trapped in another life.
I really loved this graphic novel. The three different stories all had amazing artwork and were really interesting. I also loved that the author put the original stories to read at the end of the graphic novel. I would love to have more Stories of the Islands (maybe a volume two) in the future. In the meantime, this graphic novel comes out on October 31st, 2023, and I highly recommend checking it out.
Goodreads Rating: 5 Stars
**Thank you so much to the publisher for the E-ARC in exchange for my honest opinions.
September 20, 2023
thank you so much to the publisher and netgalley for letting me read an arc of this sweet-but-short graphic novel! i really loved reading these short stories and i really loved that at the end we got to read the original stories to see how the author adapted them to make those in the book. i loved that they were all flipped to show themes of female empowerment and women supporting women! i think fairytales like this are crucial for young people, and especially girls, to read as it teaches them the important life lessons in an empathetic and empowering way! i definitely recommend reading this book and would suggest that anyone with children read it with them as well!
October 7, 2023
4/5
- Thank you to the author and the publisher for approving me a copy of this title through NetGalley. -
What a cute hidden gem this was.
The overall artwork is super pretty, as was the color palette chosen.
At the end of the volume we could read the original stories or our three short tales as well.
All of them are unique and full of heart in it. All of them had that nostalgic feeling to them, like they were something from the past that we only had the chance to read now, like a lost book of tales or something.
The topics used in all of them were serious but treated very well at the same time, the author was able to keep the stories light with that touch of the good old fantasy elements.
I can totally see them as little episodes in a kids animated series, just like the ones I was used to watch as a child.
- Thank you to the author and the publisher for approving me a copy of this title through NetGalley. -
What a cute hidden gem this was.
The overall artwork is super pretty, as was the color palette chosen.
At the end of the volume we could read the original stories or our three short tales as well.
All of them are unique and full of heart in it. All of them had that nostalgic feeling to them, like they were something from the past that we only had the chance to read now, like a lost book of tales or something.
The topics used in all of them were serious but treated very well at the same time, the author was able to keep the stories light with that touch of the good old fantasy elements.
I can totally see them as little episodes in a kids animated series, just like the ones I was used to watch as a child.
December 31, 2024
4.5⭐️ loved the illustrations & the feminist retelling of 3 Indonesian folktales! The end also had a page for each story so you knew what the og take was. The 3 were Keong Mas,” “Bawang Merah Bawang Putih,” & “Timun Mas
January 22, 2024
Gorgeous art, inspired adaptations that give full arcs to, and builds full characters from, women and girls in Indonesian stories.
December 7, 2023
I was completely captivated by this debut graphic novel! Sharing new perspectives of Indonesian folktales in a gorgeous illustration style, "Stories of the Islands" flips the script on women's roles in traditional stories. I did not know anything about Indonesian folktales prior to reading this and I was grateful that the author also inserted the original stories in the back of the book to compare to her renditions. Since we are dropped into the middle of the stories, I would have appreciated some further explanations and contexts to fully understand the stories and their impact.
June 24, 2024
"Stories of the Islands" is a beautifully crafted graphic novel that reimagines three traditional Indonesian folk tales, focusing on the perspectives of the female characters and their journeys towards freedom and empowerment.
The narrative delves into the following tales: In "Keong Mas," a princess is cursed to live as a snail, exploring her quest to break free from the enchantment. "Bawang Merah Bawang Putih" tells the story of two sisters ensnared by their father's anger, navigating their path towards reconciliation and liberation. In "Timun Mas," a mother and daughter face the threat of a ravenous giant, seeking to overcome the dangers through bravery and wit.
Each story is illustrated with a distinct color palette, adding depth and emotion to the tales. The artwork combines panel art with full dramatic spreads, making the visual experience as compelling as the narrative. Angkasa's retellings emphasize the power of solidarity, care, and the agency of the female protagonists, challenging traditional tropes that often sideline women in folk tales.
Reasons I loved this book:
The graphic novel brilliantly represents Indonesian culture and folklore, providing a fresh perspective that is both educational and entertaining.
The focus on female empowerment and solidarity is a significant strength, offering a modern twist to traditional tales.
The dedicated color palettes and mix of panel art with full spreads enhance the storytelling, making it a visually stunning work.
The retelling of each tale is filled with deep emotion and spectacular settings, engaging readers of all ages.
The narrative delves into the following tales: In "Keong Mas," a princess is cursed to live as a snail, exploring her quest to break free from the enchantment. "Bawang Merah Bawang Putih" tells the story of two sisters ensnared by their father's anger, navigating their path towards reconciliation and liberation. In "Timun Mas," a mother and daughter face the threat of a ravenous giant, seeking to overcome the dangers through bravery and wit.
Each story is illustrated with a distinct color palette, adding depth and emotion to the tales. The artwork combines panel art with full dramatic spreads, making the visual experience as compelling as the narrative. Angkasa's retellings emphasize the power of solidarity, care, and the agency of the female protagonists, challenging traditional tropes that often sideline women in folk tales.
Reasons I loved this book:
The graphic novel brilliantly represents Indonesian culture and folklore, providing a fresh perspective that is both educational and entertaining.
The focus on female empowerment and solidarity is a significant strength, offering a modern twist to traditional tales.
The dedicated color palettes and mix of panel art with full spreads enhance the storytelling, making it a visually stunning work.
The retelling of each tale is filled with deep emotion and spectacular settings, engaging readers of all ages.
December 11, 2023
Stories of the Islands is a stunning graphic novel debut from Clar Angkasa. Angkasa takes beloved Indonesian folktales and rewrites them with a feminist bent, giving the power and happy endings back to the women in them. There's only three stories (one about a woman who is turned into a snail but finds friendship, one about two sisters who look after each other with love and kindness when their mother dies and their father turns cruel, and one about a woman who raises a surprise baby born of a cucumber that a giant expects to eat), but they're all really enjoyable. The end of the book includes a short version of the originals of the stories for comparison, which I really enjoyed, especially since it gave me added appreciation for Angkasa's interpretations. The art is absolutely gorgeous with a very dreamy colour palette.
I have a soft spot for all things folk tale and fairy tale, and I really enjoyed this one. I would definitely recommend it. I also hope to see more from Clar Angkasa in the future.
I have a soft spot for all things folk tale and fairy tale, and I really enjoyed this one. I would definitely recommend it. I also hope to see more from Clar Angkasa in the future.
September 18, 2024
I wish the second story showed the father's fate, but otherwise, the stories were very satisfying! I appreciated Clar Angkasa's goal of taking these Indonesian folktales from her childhood and making them less misogynistic. She made the women in these works come alive!
At first I disliked how the character in the third story was absolutely adamant about not having a husband or a child, but was tricked into motherhood, and came to love it. I resented that the townsfolk urging her to have children were validated in their beliefs about a woman's "place." However, after reading the author's note and the original version of the tale, I decided that I was reading it in bad faith. I don't think the moral of the story is that a woman shouldn't have ambition or desire anything outside of a nuclear family. I think the point is that a woman can overcome any challenge, no matter how big, and make her own happiness.
This is another one I'll definitely buy for the Media Center!
At first I disliked how the character in the third story was absolutely adamant about not having a husband or a child, but was tricked into motherhood, and came to love it. I resented that the townsfolk urging her to have children were validated in their beliefs about a woman's "place." However, after reading the author's note and the original version of the tale, I decided that I was reading it in bad faith. I don't think the moral of the story is that a woman shouldn't have ambition or desire anything outside of a nuclear family. I think the point is that a woman can overcome any challenge, no matter how big, and make her own happiness.
This is another one I'll definitely buy for the Media Center!
September 9, 2023
3.75 stars. The art in this book is gorgeous- soft dreamy hues. This graphic novel features three retellings of Indonesian folktales that feature women. The first is a story of a selfish, manipulative princess turned into a snail by her jealous younger sister. As a snail, she befriends a fisherwoman and becomes a more selfless, compassionate person. The second tale features two stepsisters whose powerful bond of friendship gets them through difficult times in the face of death, abuse and greed. The third and final tale features a woman who becomes a mother after a giant gives her an enchanted seed that grows a baby from a golden cucumber. The woman must find a way to protect her daughter from the giant’s promised return in 17 years. Overall, the stories feel very much like fables or parables. The author intentionally features stories that do not highlight a central heteronormative romance. I appreciate the overall idea of these tales but wanted a bit more depth and impactful takeaway/endings. I’m grateful to NetGalley for the opportunity read this book.
September 15, 2023
I received an eARC via Netgalley. This does not influence my opinion.
This was a great graphic novel and I loved the feminist message behind it.
The stories were also interesting and great fairytales, the kind I want to read my kids one day.
The art style was very cute and while relatively simple, the characters always were very expressive through body language and facial expressions.
Some plot points remained unresolved though, in my opinion they could have been tied up while keeping the moral/message of the story.
All in all a great read!
This was a great graphic novel and I loved the feminist message behind it.
The stories were also interesting and great fairytales, the kind I want to read my kids one day.
The art style was very cute and while relatively simple, the characters always were very expressive through body language and facial expressions.
Some plot points remained unresolved though, in my opinion they could have been tied up while keeping the moral/message of the story.
All in all a great read!
September 18, 2023
Stories of the Islands is an illustrated rendition of three Indonesian folktales by Clar Angkasa. This is a quick read; all of the stories are short and to the point. Although short, the illustrations do not lack magic or adventure. The images help bring Indonesian folklore to life! My only criticism is the plot holes in the first story. I was a little confused at first and would have liked a bit more context & storytelling as someone who was completely unfamiliar with Indonesian folklore. I do think think it could have been longer. Overall, I did enjoy reading Stories of the Islands and would definitely read more from this author!
November 1, 2023
Really very good. The art is swirling and visually rich. Each of the three stories told is interesting and distinctive and the three flow well together. The marriage of visual storytelling with text is seamless and makes for a delightful book. I will say, I think this is a graphic novel for someone who is practiced at reading graphic novels -- the layout is not for someone who is new to the format.
October 18, 2023
This was a fantastic graphic novel! I've never read any Indonesian folktales so this was a really fun experience. The three stories, “Keong Mas”, “Bawang Merah Bawang Putih”, and “Timun Mas”, were all great stories and I think that they lent themselves to the graphic novel medium very well. The artwork and the colors really popped. I hope that this author does more, I would love to read more Indonesian folktales.
September 25, 2024
These three stories were amazing! I love the adaptation changes (the originals are shared at the end) and the artwork is stunning.
content warnings
Moderate: Death (Death of parent)
Minor: Sexism and Violence
content warnings
Moderate: Death (Death of parent)
Minor: Sexism and Violence
July 31, 2025
Reimagines three Indonesian folktales: 1) Keong Mas, 2) Bawang Merah Bawang Putih, 3) Timun Mas with feminist characters. The book offers a visual main lead with its eye-catching graphic design. I loved the whole story in this book!
December 4, 2023
Super pretty quick read :)
September 24, 2023
Before reading this novel I knew approximately zero Indonesian folktales, so this was a lovely introduction.
The art style was stunning and I really liked how the author portrayed different kinds of relationships between women (sisters, mother - daughter). Apparently the author tweaked each story a little to give the women more autonomy, which I'm absolutely here for. There were short summaries of the actual folktales in the end of the book, so it was easy to recognise the changes Clar Angkasa has made.
In short, if you enjoy folklore and graphic novels, this is the book for you.
[I received a free copy from the publisher in exchange for an honest review.]
The art style was stunning and I really liked how the author portrayed different kinds of relationships between women (sisters, mother - daughter). Apparently the author tweaked each story a little to give the women more autonomy, which I'm absolutely here for. There were short summaries of the actual folktales in the end of the book, so it was easy to recognise the changes Clar Angkasa has made.
In short, if you enjoy folklore and graphic novels, this is the book for you.
[I received a free copy from the publisher in exchange for an honest review.]
November 26, 2023
This was a wonderful way to introduce kids and young adults to stories and tales from the Pacific. Each story was accessible, yet didactic.
October 5, 2023
Unfamiliar Folklores and fairytales are the best. Retellings of those are even better. This, an illustrated retelling of three such amazing stories, is so captivating. Amongst the mainstream fairytales with prince charmings and knights in shining armour, these stories have been tweaked to come across bias free without spoiling the essence. As an added bonus, the author has included the gist of the original folklores. Great read!
Thanks to Netgalley and the publishers for this ARC. Loved the reading experience of this book.
Thanks to Netgalley and the publishers for this ARC. Loved the reading experience of this book.
December 10, 2025
I love a good retelling. I especially love a good feminist retelling. I did not go into this with much background on Indonesian folklore but the premise grabbed me and I am so glad it did. It was lovely to be introduced in this way. If you have any interest in folklore, you will love this one. Thank you to NetGalley for the ARC!
January 1, 2025
This is a fantastic graphic novel that incorporates retellings of classic Indonesian fairy tales. I loved the colorful art style and the thoughtfulness with which these stories were retold. I also thought it was so cool that the author included the traditional tales in the back of the book so you can compare!
Highly recommend. This would be perfect for fans of K O'Neill.
Highly recommend. This would be perfect for fans of K O'Neill.
March 4, 2024
What lovely stories! What lovely feminist retellings/reimaginings of previously unheard of (by me) fairy tales! This time the folklore originates from Indonesia.
There are three of them, told and drawn softly and lovingly in graphic novel form - 'Keong Mas', about an unlikely female friendship (possibly more...?), 'Bawang Merah Bawang Putih', about two (step)sisters, and 'Timun Mas', about a mother and a daughter, albeit adopted, and is no less beautiful.
The subversion to traditional fairy tale conventions and archetypes, particularly in female roles, is strong in this.
The leads in 'Stories of the Islands' are far from damsels in distress, yet none of them have to be the equally typical "strong female character" or action heroine to achieve their happily ever after.
The art is so sweet, colourful, round, comfy, creamy, silky, expressive, with lots of shadow work, and gorgeous - the book truly has the feminine touch all around and about it. The soft, pretty colours! 'Stories of the Islands' really is in the same genetic-no, cosmic, nebulous, Milky Way pool as 'Other Ever Afters' by Melanie Gillman. It is like an aurora, abloom with three rich fairy tales, presented to us as a magical graphic novel.
Themes include redemption, humbleness, kindness, giving, charity, helping others out of the goodness of one's heart, grief, domestic abuse, sisterhood, motherhood, spinsterhood, solitude, witchcraft, learning and passing on skills and putting them to use in life (and in life and death situations), and overcoming adversity and evil. These wonderous, wonderful stories with wonderful, soulful, adorable characters - the darn-near-entirely-female cast of characters - are, in fact, universal, and anyone can relate to them.
There are also fish, snails, plants, flowers, seeds, pumpkins, cucumbers, sarongs, selendangs, and of course, the Indonesian islands from ancient historic times these tales take place in.
'Stories of the Islands' - a passion project that paid off. I adore it, as short and limited in number as the stories are. They will stay with you, along with their important messages.
Hope, and hope for serenity, and an inspiring beauty, that is 'Stories of the Islands', written and drawn by Clar Angkasa. Wholeheartedly created, and guaranteed to whole your heart upon reading it, then embracing it.
From the Author's Note at the end:
'Stories of the Islands is a response to questions I'm constantly asking:
Who are these women beyond the hero's love interests? What are their hopes and dreams outside of what's expected of them? Why are they waiting for their saviors instead of just saving themselves?
[...] I have a strong distaste for narratives that perpetuate the concept that a woman is limited to what society expects of them.
[...] I reimaged these folktales in a way I wish they were told to me when I was growing up. I want young girls to be exposed to a different kind of narrative, and be encouraged to break from stereotypes and the pattern of constantly being looked down on and underappreciated.'
Final Score: 4/5
There are three of them, told and drawn softly and lovingly in graphic novel form - 'Keong Mas', about an unlikely female friendship (possibly more...?), 'Bawang Merah Bawang Putih', about two (step)sisters, and 'Timun Mas', about a mother and a daughter, albeit adopted, and is no less beautiful.
The subversion to traditional fairy tale conventions and archetypes, particularly in female roles, is strong in this.
The leads in 'Stories of the Islands' are far from damsels in distress, yet none of them have to be the equally typical "strong female character" or action heroine to achieve their happily ever after.
The art is so sweet, colourful, round, comfy, creamy, silky, expressive, with lots of shadow work, and gorgeous - the book truly has the feminine touch all around and about it. The soft, pretty colours! 'Stories of the Islands' really is in the same genetic-no, cosmic, nebulous, Milky Way pool as 'Other Ever Afters' by Melanie Gillman. It is like an aurora, abloom with three rich fairy tales, presented to us as a magical graphic novel.
Themes include redemption, humbleness, kindness, giving, charity, helping others out of the goodness of one's heart, grief, domestic abuse, sisterhood, motherhood, spinsterhood, solitude, witchcraft, learning and passing on skills and putting them to use in life (and in life and death situations), and overcoming adversity and evil. These wonderous, wonderful stories with wonderful, soulful, adorable characters - the darn-near-entirely-female cast of characters - are, in fact, universal, and anyone can relate to them.
There are also fish, snails, plants, flowers, seeds, pumpkins, cucumbers, sarongs, selendangs, and of course, the Indonesian islands from ancient historic times these tales take place in.
'Stories of the Islands' - a passion project that paid off. I adore it, as short and limited in number as the stories are. They will stay with you, along with their important messages.
Hope, and hope for serenity, and an inspiring beauty, that is 'Stories of the Islands', written and drawn by Clar Angkasa. Wholeheartedly created, and guaranteed to whole your heart upon reading it, then embracing it.
From the Author's Note at the end:
'Stories of the Islands is a response to questions I'm constantly asking:
Who are these women beyond the hero's love interests? What are their hopes and dreams outside of what's expected of them? Why are they waiting for their saviors instead of just saving themselves?
[...] I have a strong distaste for narratives that perpetuate the concept that a woman is limited to what society expects of them.
[...] I reimaged these folktales in a way I wish they were told to me when I was growing up. I want young girls to be exposed to a different kind of narrative, and be encouraged to break from stereotypes and the pattern of constantly being looked down on and underappreciated.'
Final Score: 4/5
September 19, 2023
Thanks to NetGalley and Holiday House for providing an ARC in exchange for an honest review.
How much I adore graphic novels and comics! When I saw the cover and synopsis of 'Stories of the Islands' by Clar Angkasa, I could not wait to start reading it. Girls who rescue themselves? Girls who think that sisterhood is the most important thing for them? Girls supporting girls? Count me in!
-what is it about-
Tales are usually the same - some girls dream of more, some want to reach the stars, and some are in great danger. But then there comes the brave and handsome prince to rescue the situation. These tales are different. Girls do not need boys. They need themselves. They are ready to forget about the past and understand their mistakes. They are prepared to change their plans. They are willing to show emotions and love. But will they be happy?
-what I loved?-
→ the art. THE ART. It was like travelling back in time to become a kid again. Using a pastel colour palette helped with creating a cosy, dreamy vibe!
→ females and their perspective made this graphic novel a beautiful journey through dreams, sisterhood and motherhood. I loved how stories included different aims - not every character wanted the same fate for themselves.
→ Indonesian folklore created an enchanting vibe. All stories by Clar Angkasa are based on original tales with different tropes. Clar Angkasa changed some elements so readers could see a different version of the original stories (which are later also presented in the graphic novel - it was so helpful to read the original tales!). However, I preferred the retellings created by Clar Angkasa as I felt a more emotional connection with how the adventures of the characters ended.
→ The retellings of all stories were creative yet simple. I think young readers will not have any issues appreciating the storyline and art presented by Clar Angkasa. 'Golden Snail' deals with the sisterhood theme, while 'Timun Mas' covers motherhood and its significance. However, the darkest tale was 'Bawang Merah Bawang Putih' - remember that it shows the violent relationship between father and daughters (delicately).
-what did I not love?-
→ All stories could be a bit longer as some just ended abruptly. I hoped Clar Angkasa would focus more on emotions and relationships between characters because sometimes I could not feel the exact growth and development of the storyline.
rating: 4/5 ✮✮✮✮
genre: middle-grade, graphic novel
themes: retellings, female perspective, sisterhood & motherhood, Indonesian folklore
How much I adore graphic novels and comics! When I saw the cover and synopsis of 'Stories of the Islands' by Clar Angkasa, I could not wait to start reading it. Girls who rescue themselves? Girls who think that sisterhood is the most important thing for them? Girls supporting girls? Count me in!
-what is it about-
Tales are usually the same - some girls dream of more, some want to reach the stars, and some are in great danger. But then there comes the brave and handsome prince to rescue the situation. These tales are different. Girls do not need boys. They need themselves. They are ready to forget about the past and understand their mistakes. They are prepared to change their plans. They are willing to show emotions and love. But will they be happy?
-what I loved?-
→ the art. THE ART. It was like travelling back in time to become a kid again. Using a pastel colour palette helped with creating a cosy, dreamy vibe!
→ females and their perspective made this graphic novel a beautiful journey through dreams, sisterhood and motherhood. I loved how stories included different aims - not every character wanted the same fate for themselves.
→ Indonesian folklore created an enchanting vibe. All stories by Clar Angkasa are based on original tales with different tropes. Clar Angkasa changed some elements so readers could see a different version of the original stories (which are later also presented in the graphic novel - it was so helpful to read the original tales!). However, I preferred the retellings created by Clar Angkasa as I felt a more emotional connection with how the adventures of the characters ended.
→ The retellings of all stories were creative yet simple. I think young readers will not have any issues appreciating the storyline and art presented by Clar Angkasa. 'Golden Snail' deals with the sisterhood theme, while 'Timun Mas' covers motherhood and its significance. However, the darkest tale was 'Bawang Merah Bawang Putih' - remember that it shows the violent relationship between father and daughters (delicately).
-what did I not love?-
→ All stories could be a bit longer as some just ended abruptly. I hoped Clar Angkasa would focus more on emotions and relationships between characters because sometimes I could not feel the exact growth and development of the storyline.
rating: 4/5 ✮✮✮✮
genre: middle-grade, graphic novel
themes: retellings, female perspective, sisterhood & motherhood, Indonesian folklore
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