Review by School Library Journal Review
Gr 3-7-This handsome collection of folktales showcases seven empowering females, each with her own unique strengths and abilities. Clayton describes Hippolyta's fatal encounter with Hercules in "Queen of the Amazons," powering the plot with dramatic touches and putting a clever twist on the traditional tale's climax. In a Siberian tale, a maiden straps on her dead brother's dagger and bravely rides off to find the Northern Lights ("twelve shining girls, each lit with a different coloured light") to convince them to restore his life. Other selections feature a Chinese girl who conquers a hungry seven-headed dragon, a Sioux heroine determined to count coup, a demon-slaying goddess from India, an English serving girl who outwits an evil bandit, and a Middle Eastern warrior princess who refuses to marry until she finds an equal. Filled with lively language and fast-paced action, the tales introduce a pleasing range of characters and moods. An author's note and sources are appended. The illustrations employ swirling lines and vibrant color washes to reflect the setting and tone of each tale. The stories are separated by two-page interludes that provide brief facts or activities. Shared aloud or read independently, this upbeat book can stir up interest in courageous women and inspire modern-day heroines.-Joy Fleishhacker, School Library Journal (c) Copyright 2010. Library Journals LLC, a wholly owned subsidiary of Media Source, Inc. No redistribution permitted.
(c) Copyright Library Journals LLC, a wholly owned subsidiary of Media Source, Inc. No redistribution permitted.
Review by Kirkus Book Review
An unfortunate mishmash of trivialized folktale, cutesy self-help and earnest advice. The author and illustrator take "Amazons" as a descriptor for heroic warrior-women from several cultures, and their methodology for encouraging girls to be Amazons includes such deep thoughts as "dare to dream" and "listen to your heart." The tales, which include "Queen of the Amazons," "Dragon Girl" (from China) "Durga Demon-Slayer" and "Hand of Glory" (from England), are written in a breezy style ("Captain Hercules"?) very much at odds with the blood, thunder and mystery of the stories. A page on making "Amazon accessories" includes such tidbits as, "customize a belt using a glue-gun, glitter and sequins." An "Amazon spell" based, it says, on a sixth-century hymn to Durga, is on a page of (unidentified) yoga poses. Herxheimer's illustrations are indeed dramatic and colorful, reveling in the gore of cutting off seven dragon heads as well as the jewels of the Egyptian warrior-princess Al-Datma. The tales are potent, but the package is not. (notes on stories, bibliography, glossary) (Folktales. 7-10) Copyright Kirkus Reviews, used with permission.
Copyright (c) Kirkus Reviews, used with permission.
