Ravena

by Olivier Dunrea

Miserable Ravena, a banshee who doesn't fit in, leaves home in search of someplace that will suit her better.

Genres: Picture Books

32 pages, Paperback

First published January 1, 1984

About the author

Since his debut in 1983, author and illustrator Olivier Dunrea has created a steady stream of picture books, including concept books, stories of family life—modern and ancient—and stories about artists. Many of Dunrea's picture books testify to his love of animals and his interest in archaeology and folklore of the British Isles, and several—including Ravena, The Trow-Wife's Treasure, and Bear Noel—take place in a similar land of Dunrea's own creation: the mythic island of Moel Eyris. "I don't write books or make pictures for children," Dunrea once told Something About the Author (SATA). "I make them for myself. It just so happens that children like what I do as much as I do!"

Olivier (Jean-Paul Dominique) Dunrea (1953-) Biography - Personal, Career, Member, Writings, Sidelights

Reviews

[Abigail · Rating 3 out of 5]

A little banshee named Ravena finds herself out of step with the rest of her family in this sweetly spooky picture-book from author/illustrator Olivier Dunrea. All of the other Ravenlocks liked to wail, wash their laundry and look at their reflections in the nearby rock pool—none of which appealed to Ravena. So one night she packed her few belongings and set out to find a new home, experiencing a few missteps—trying to enter an occupied trow-wife hole, being grabbed by a bogtrotter while resting against a standing stone—before she finally found what she was looking for, in an abandoned cairn...

Published in 1984, Ravena was (according to the rear dust-jacket blurb) supposed to be the first of four picture-books devoted to the adventures of the eponymous banshee. Unfortunately, it doesn't look like the subsequent three titles were every published, which is rather disappointing, as banshee-focused picture-books are not that common. In any case, I found the story engaging, and the artwork, done in muted and sepia tones, with the occasional colorful flourish, quite cute. I don't know that I was as impressed by this one as I'd hoped to be given the subject matter, but I enjoyed it enough that I regret the other three books about the character were never produced. The author blurb on the rear dust-jacket flap mentions research into Scottish prehistory and folklore, which rather surprised me, as I associate banshees more with Ireland than Scotland, but that is no doubt a limitation of my knowledge. Recommended to picture-book readers looking for stories featuring banshees, and some of the artifacts—stand stones, cairns, fairy mounds—of Celtic prehistory.

[Olga Trueshine · Rating 5 out of 5]

A hidden gem of a book about bullying, staying true to yourself and knowing that you will one day find your tribe.

[Meredith · Rating 3 out of 5]

Ravena does not fit in with the other banshees and sets off to find a new home.

I greatly appreciated the British folklore in this story as well as the standing stones in the illustrations.

[Ken Leonczyk · Rating 5 out of 5]

Wonderful little gem of a book with amazing illustrations. I had these book as a little kid and now I can share with my daughter. It’s a wonderful book and a hit on our house!

[Benji Martin · Rating 2 out of 5]

This author seemed more interested in impressing us with his archeological knowledge than telling a good, complete story. I was so excited when I found a picture book about Banshees in my collection, but I was very disappointed when I actually read it.

[Kimberly · Rating 4 out of 5]

This was a cute book with sensitive material of bullying and running away from home with a moral of friendship and finding where you belong.