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Feminist Folk Tales from Around the World
Sea Girl: Feminist Folktales from Around the World
In legends spanning China to Canada, Sea Girl lays out a new mythology in which women and girls prove they’re more than capable of saving the day. The feminist folktales collected in Sea Girl upend any notion that women are doomed to be sentimental, meek, or submissive. In these classic tales, heroines unflinchingly wade monstrous rivers, escape ogres' nests, and outsmart desperate sharks and hungry tigers. And while defending their families and villages, they always determine their own fate. Feminist Folktales is a four-volume series of folklore showcasing traditional stories from around the world with courageous and heroic girls at the center of every tale. Often having existed only as oral histories, Ethel Johnston Phelps collected and anthologized these tales into two volumes, Tatterhood and The Maid of the North . This series features Phelps’s stories set against new illustrations, with introductions reflecting the enduring cultural significance of these folktales in the present day.
168 pages, Hardcover
First published July 17, 2017
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Displaying 1 - 16 of 16 reviews
September 12, 2017
Book 3 of the feminist folktales books from Feminist Press, these tales are retellings of strong women in folklore from all over the world. I picked this volume to read from hoopla beause it has my favorite folktale - East of the Sun and West of the Moon. I also loved Gawain and the Lady Ragnell, which seems to have a moral of let women have autonomy! Yes!
My only bone to pick is that I find the illustrations unappealing, but these are simply yet well told, and appropriate for all ages.
My only bone to pick is that I find the illustrations unappealing, but these are simply yet well told, and appropriate for all ages.
November 13, 2017
In his introduction to Sea Girl, author Daniel José Older writes that we need a new mythology, a new mythology that catches all the myths, folktales, and other narratives of women’s empowerment that have fallen through the cracks of history or just weren’t “marketable” enough for Disney. Older should know what he’s talking about. After all, he’s given us Sierra Santiago, hero of Older’s books Shadowshaper and Shadowhouse Fall. And now, the Feminist Press has reissued its series of feminist folktales from around the world in four volumes.
Edited by the late Ethel Johnston Phelps, who held a master’s degree in Medieval literature, Sea Girl is volume III in the series and it includes 10 fairy and folktales based on stories that have been handed down for generations.
For instance, there is a changeling tale from Ireland about a single mother whose healthy child is taken by the fairy folk and replaced with a sickly child of theirs. Determined to get her own child back, she cares for the sickly child and brings it back to health and on May Eve, she confronts the Queen of the fairy folk, who had taken her son. The single mother is resourceful and brave in this tale, and confronting the fairy Queen takes a certain kind of courage, even the Queen admits that. But now that her own son is a healthy, robust little boy, will the fairy Queen be willing to exchange babies, so each goes with its own mother, or will be decide to keep both?
I’m a medievalist at heart, so naturally I found the English tale about Sir Gawain and the Lady Ragnell very appealing. Older that even Geoffrey Chaucer’s Canterbury Tales (published in1476). In this story, Sir Gawain is given one year to answer a question posed by Sir Gromer, who is looking to avenge the loss of his lands to Arthur. The question: What is it that women most desire, above all else? The answer and end of the tale will really surprise you.
In the Norwegian tale, “East of the Sun, West of the Moon,” a large white bear falls in love with a woodcutter’s daughter. Though the woodcutter refuses to let his daughter go live with the bear in his castle, the daughter isn’t afraid and agrees to go with him. She notices that night after night, someone comes into her room and lays down next to her. Curious, she discovers a handsome young man, who it turns out has been cursed by trolls. By day, he is a large bear, by night, a handsome man. The man and castle immediately disappear, and the lass finds herself sitting in the forest. Determined to break the enchantment, she decides to travel to the Land of the Trolls and find the young man. But first she must get to the castle that lay East of the Sun and West of the Moon with the help of the North Wind. But will she arrive in time to save him from his fate in the Land of the Trolls?
There are also tales from China (“Wild Goose Lake” - a wonderful tale about the titular Sea Girl), Finland (“The Maid of the North”), and a Punjabi tale (“he Tiger and the Jackal”), as well as an ancient Swahili fairy tale (“The Monkey’s Heart”), and one from Germany (“The Twelve Huntsmen”). And though the tales vary greatly, they have one thing in common - here are women who, through their own wits and common sense, determine their own fate, one way or the other.
The beauty of folktales is that they root us not just in our own culture, but in the world at large, providing examples of women's courage and resourcefulness in the face of great odds. And they can be enjoyed again and again.
If Sea Girl sounds like a book you would like to read, you might want to check out the other three companion volumes of Feminist Folktales from Around the World:
Tatterhood - introduced by Gayle Forman
Kamala - introduced by Kate Schatz
The Hunter Maiden - introduced by Renée Watson
This book is recommended for readers age 9+
This book was sent to me by the publisher, Feminist Press of the City University of New York
Edited by the late Ethel Johnston Phelps, who held a master’s degree in Medieval literature, Sea Girl is volume III in the series and it includes 10 fairy and folktales based on stories that have been handed down for generations.
For instance, there is a changeling tale from Ireland about a single mother whose healthy child is taken by the fairy folk and replaced with a sickly child of theirs. Determined to get her own child back, she cares for the sickly child and brings it back to health and on May Eve, she confronts the Queen of the fairy folk, who had taken her son. The single mother is resourceful and brave in this tale, and confronting the fairy Queen takes a certain kind of courage, even the Queen admits that. But now that her own son is a healthy, robust little boy, will the fairy Queen be willing to exchange babies, so each goes with its own mother, or will be decide to keep both?
I’m a medievalist at heart, so naturally I found the English tale about Sir Gawain and the Lady Ragnell very appealing. Older that even Geoffrey Chaucer’s Canterbury Tales (published in1476). In this story, Sir Gawain is given one year to answer a question posed by Sir Gromer, who is looking to avenge the loss of his lands to Arthur. The question: What is it that women most desire, above all else? The answer and end of the tale will really surprise you.
In the Norwegian tale, “East of the Sun, West of the Moon,” a large white bear falls in love with a woodcutter’s daughter. Though the woodcutter refuses to let his daughter go live with the bear in his castle, the daughter isn’t afraid and agrees to go with him. She notices that night after night, someone comes into her room and lays down next to her. Curious, she discovers a handsome young man, who it turns out has been cursed by trolls. By day, he is a large bear, by night, a handsome man. The man and castle immediately disappear, and the lass finds herself sitting in the forest. Determined to break the enchantment, she decides to travel to the Land of the Trolls and find the young man. But first she must get to the castle that lay East of the Sun and West of the Moon with the help of the North Wind. But will she arrive in time to save him from his fate in the Land of the Trolls?
There are also tales from China (“Wild Goose Lake” - a wonderful tale about the titular Sea Girl), Finland (“The Maid of the North”), and a Punjabi tale (“he Tiger and the Jackal”), as well as an ancient Swahili fairy tale (“The Monkey’s Heart”), and one from Germany (“The Twelve Huntsmen”). And though the tales vary greatly, they have one thing in common - here are women who, through their own wits and common sense, determine their own fate, one way or the other.
The beauty of folktales is that they root us not just in our own culture, but in the world at large, providing examples of women's courage and resourcefulness in the face of great odds. And they can be enjoyed again and again.
If Sea Girl sounds like a book you would like to read, you might want to check out the other three companion volumes of Feminist Folktales from Around the World:
Tatterhood - introduced by Gayle Forman
Kamala - introduced by Kate Schatz
The Hunter Maiden - introduced by Renée Watson
This book is recommended for readers age 9+
This book was sent to me by the publisher, Feminist Press of the City University of New York
May 7, 2018
interesting collection of folktales. I loved the last one the summer queen most of all. review to come later. solid 4 stars. 🌟 🌟 🌟 🌟
April 21, 2018
I love mythology and folktales, but women don't always fare too well in them. Consider the story of Odysseus and the sirens: mysterious women of the sea sing out to lone sailors, only to lead them to their death. Like the sirens themselves, it is a beguiling story. However, it's also pretty misogynistic if you read as an allegory of men's fear of (later converted to hatred of) women, due to women wanting to trap them or lead them astray from marital vows. Look, I like the story too, but let's face it: it's just one perspective of the human experience.
Which, in my opinion, is the danger of mythology. I look to mythology to try understand the human psyche, my own psyche, the "stuff that dreams are made of" so to speak--how can one do that while reconciling the problem of gender?
"Sea Girl" doesn't get into those larger questions, but that's fine. Instead, it is a collection of stories based on myths and folktales in which the female characters aren't evil or damsels, and then it rewrites them slightly to move the lens away from the male protagonist to the female one. Basically, these stories adjust the perspective slightly. They're fun and they have an empowering message for young readers.
My favorite story was the story of the Lady Ragnell, which was more or less unchanged from the original. It simply is a wonderful story, surprisingly progressive for the Middle Ages. Ever hear the expression "a free woman needs a free man"? (I forget who said it, but it dates back to 1970s second wave feminism.) This story exemplifies that idea.
I'd love to read more of this series.
Which, in my opinion, is the danger of mythology. I look to mythology to try understand the human psyche, my own psyche, the "stuff that dreams are made of" so to speak--how can one do that while reconciling the problem of gender?
"Sea Girl" doesn't get into those larger questions, but that's fine. Instead, it is a collection of stories based on myths and folktales in which the female characters aren't evil or damsels, and then it rewrites them slightly to move the lens away from the male protagonist to the female one. Basically, these stories adjust the perspective slightly. They're fun and they have an empowering message for young readers.
My favorite story was the story of the Lady Ragnell, which was more or less unchanged from the original. It simply is a wonderful story, surprisingly progressive for the Middle Ages. Ever hear the expression "a free woman needs a free man"? (I forget who said it, but it dates back to 1970s second wave feminism.) This story exemplifies that idea.
I'd love to read more of this series.
May 11, 2018
So, I am of two minds on this collection of folk tales. On the one hand, I can't tell you the thrill I had reading tales of women - WHOLE women, good and bad - and girls. It is a narrative that I often don't realize the lack of in my upbringing, but whenever I encounter it, my whole being resonates. I feel the need to curate these narratives and pass them onto my children, both girl and boys.
On the other hand, I think my thrill in being presented with these narratives might eclipse some faults in the writing. I can't quite put my finger on it, but the tales often felt belabored and I found myself counting the pages left in the tale/chapter. Still, I want to allow for the fact that I've never been one for folk tales of any sort, even as a child, so maybe this genre's just not quite for me.
On the other hand, I think my thrill in being presented with these narratives might eclipse some faults in the writing. I can't quite put my finger on it, but the tales often felt belabored and I found myself counting the pages left in the tale/chapter. Still, I want to allow for the fact that I've never been one for folk tales of any sort, even as a child, so maybe this genre's just not quite for me.
January 2, 2018
A solid anthology, and a worthy addition to anyone's collection of fairy tales and folktales. (I have added this to my children-and-YA shelf, but I want to note that I don't think fairy/folktales are just for kids; adults can and should read them too. This particular anthology is very accessible to young readers, though.)
Lost a star for some fatphobic stuff (Oh thank GOODNESS our heroine isn't FAT anymore, that was just TERRIBLE, let's make sure to point out how she's thin now, being slender is a sign of a broken curse donchaknow). Also, the illustrations are not great.
Lost a star for some fatphobic stuff (Oh thank GOODNESS our heroine isn't FAT anymore, that was just TERRIBLE, let's make sure to point out how she's thin now, being slender is a sign of a broken curse donchaknow). Also, the illustrations are not great.
August 24, 2018
This book was really disappointing. i didn't find it especially feminist in its stories and the overall voice of the book was dry. I would have given it 2 stars, but the super fatphobic story lost it another star.
September 28, 2022
Fantastic! Wish this had been published when I was a kid and still hardcore in my folktale phase. It would have been wonderful to have access to an entire book of stories where the girl is the main character. I'll definitely be checking out the rest of Phelps's works.
February 28, 2018
Really well done book and a fast read.
April 28, 2020
Lovely stories. Some I recognized and others were new to me.
November 22, 2021
A lovely set of folktales
March 19, 2024
I really enjoyed this book. The first story is the least engaging in my opinion, once I got through that reading this was pure joy!
December 4, 2024
I loved these stories so much! I definitely think little girls should be hearing these female-focused tales!
October 28, 2017
This is a great collection of truly feminist folktales.
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August 15, 2017Lovely present from Emily!
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
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December 22, 2017398.2082 S4381 2017
Displaying 1 - 16 of 16 reviews