FICTION

Gender Swapped Fairy Tales

by Karrie Fransman & Jonathan Plackett
Faber & Faber. Oct. 2021. 208p. Tr $25. ISBN 9780571360185.
COPY ISBN
Gr 7 Up–Fransman and Plackett alter the gender markers in classic fairy tales for this collection, including “Handsome and the Beast,” “Gretel and Hansel,” and “Thumbelin.” Each story is accompanied by illustrations that are vibrant and inviting, which greatly assists the implementation of the authors’ intention to present these tales as authentic alternatives to the originals. Although these changes are an interesting exercise in theory, the authors’ decision to only change gender markers and leave the remainder of the text untouched creates situations that jar the continuity of the stories. The context-less inclusion of archaic language that has since changed in meaning is disruptive to the overall storytelling.
VERDICT A candidate for inclusion in a collection catering to academic analysis, but unlikely to be a worthwhile selection for a less formal setting.
Reviewed by Austin ­Ferraro, Brambleton Lib./Loudoun County P.L., Brambleton, VA , Oct 01, 2021

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