February 1, 2025
Grades 6-8 Ten LGBTQIA+ folktales from across the world are presented in this middle-grade anthology. From a trans African girl who becomes queen to Chinese lovers who are honored for the joy they bring to their town, each tale empowers the characters for the people that they are. While some stories deal with tragic circumstances, each one is ultimately hopeful and spotlights the main character's ability to triumph as themselves. Each tale is illustrated by different artists working in a style befitting the country of origin. Wood meticulously researched each tale and used sensitivity readers to make sure the stories are presented as appropriately as possible, with some small liberties taken to suit a middle-grade audience. Back matter includes information about each tale and information for those who would like to further research a story's origins. A unique offering that gives the LGBTQIA+ community the representation they deserve in folk literature and a nice addition to folk- and fairy-tale collections.
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March 1, 2025
Ten traditional stories from world cultures brought into the present through a queer lens. Royalty, heroes, and simple folk facing momentous odds--these are some of the roles populated by LGBTQ+ characters in this collection of adapted folklore. Within the tales, readers encounter a trans woman in the Dahomey Kingdom who works in a market stall, a Romanian princess who takes on the guise of a boy to honor her father's promise, and two gender-nonconforming Chinese male lovers who seek justice. Drawing upon folkloric research, Wood has created a well-researched and well-adapted collection from a broad variety of locations, including Canada, the Cape Verde Islands, India, Denmark, and more; although three of the five non-Western tales cite old collections gathered by cultural outsiders, Wood "worked with authenticity readers from around the world." By altering the stories' presentations and some of their wording, Wood seeks the "reclamation and reinterpretation" of queer identities. Some of the changes validate characters' moments of honest love, describe euphoria connected to affirming one's gender, or honor chosen pronouns and names; others eliminate discriminatory language or eschew physical transformation in favor of emotional acceptance. Each tale includes a black-and-white centerpiece illustration by an artist whose heritage matches the story's origin; the beautifully varied artwork stylishly evokes the stories' protagonists. A creative and insightful achievement in folktale adaptation. (author's note with sources)(Fiction. 10-14)
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March 1, 2025
Gr 4-8-This anthology spotlights 10 LGBTQIA+ fairy tales from cultures around the globe dating back to written forms in the 18th century and are likely even older in the oral tradition. Wood's introduction teaches readers about storytelling traditions, communicates his methodology in collecting and updating these stories for a modern audience, and shares that each story has been illustrated by an artist from that story's originating culture. These thoughtful steps prime readers to understand the significance of these tales and illustrations, which truly adds to the experience. The tales are short, accessible, and delightfully celebratory, especially for gay and transgender folks. The careful updates made by Wood are briefly explained in the back matter and do not seem to compromise the integrity of any of the tales. Significantly, these tales' reintroduction reclaims an important space in global Queer histories and invites young people to celebrate every ethnic, gender, and sexual identity. However, lesbian, bisexual, and aromantic/asexual representation is notably lacking, giving the anthology an incomplete feel. VERDICT A significant and very sweet collection. Recommended where folklore and short stories are popular.-Kayla Chamberlain
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