Customer Reviews

The Rough-Face Girl (Turtleback School & Library Binding Edition)

5 star:		(33)
4 star:		(4)
3 star:		(2)
2 star:		(1)
1 star:		(1)

 

 

I first read a version of the Algonquin Cinderella story in the collected folktale book, "World Tales", compilated by Idries Shah. The version repeated in that book and then retold in "The Rough-Face Girl" is almost perfectly identical. In a way, this proves the entrancing nature of this tale, and its capacity for retellings. With Rafe Martin's book, one of the best Cinderella stories from around the globe (if not THE best) is accompanied by David Shannon's fabulous illustrations. The combination is incredible.

In this tale, once an Algonquin girl lived with her father and cruel older sisters. These girls forced their younger sibling to feed their fires, causing her arms and face to become burnt and scarred. Her hair became charred and lifeless as well. Also in this village was an invisible man who was rumored to be rich and powerful. One day the sisters decide to wed the Invisible Being (I guess they both figured on sharing him). When confronted by his sister, the girls are asked to describe his bow and the runner of his sled. Unable to do so, they are sent away. The next day the rough faced girl goes to do the same and she too meets with the sister of the Invisible Being. You can probably guess the rest.

As Cinderella tales go, this one gives its heroine more of an active role than the European Cinderella ever had. Where Cinderella relies on a magical fairy godmother and a prince to track her down, the rough faced girl fashions her own clothing and sets out to meet the Invisible Being despite the taunts of the villagers that doubt her. True, this is a fairy tale and therefore subject to the idea that for women, fulfillment comes with a good marriage. But honestly, most tales rely on this conceit. This tale has elements of the Cupid/Psyche stories, Beauty and the Beast, and many others, while at the same time remaining a true and accomplished original.

Shannon's accompanying illustrations are very interesting. Most artists that depict Native Americans in storybook form (like, say, "A Boy Called Slow") don't draw characters that display much in the way of emotion. Call it a different kind of racism, if you will. Shannon, however, seems to have taken heart from the fact that this is a fantasy and not a piece of non-fiction. His evil sisters sneer and flounce. As they parade through the village in their new clothes their noses are held quite high. His rough faced girl is never viewed directly, so long as she remains scarred and unhappy. The closest moment we get is when she is crouched beside the fire, the shadows playing on her face and bandaged arms. When at last she bathes in a lake and is revealed to be beautiful the moment, while nice, is accompanied by an odd illustration that conjures up the word "pin-up" more than anything else. In my favorite illustration, we see the Invisible Being towering over his new betrothed, obviously a really good looking dude. Shannon has a way of playing with light and shadow in this book that conceals as much as it reveals. I was particularly taken with the clever picture that displayed the Invisible Being astride the milky way, his waist made up the three stars that represent Orion's Belt.

Truthfully, I am not well acquainted with the Algonquin way of life. I therefore cannot vouch that this book is perfectly faithful to the mode of dress and lives of its people. What I can ascertain is that the book is respectful to its subjects as well as its subject matter. It's a fabulous looking and sounding creation that every child, teen, and adult should be well-acquainted with. Worth a gander.

"Wretched" might be the biggest difference between the Algonquin Indian Cinderella and European Cinderellas. Over 1500 versions have been collected throughout the world. They have in common the themes that justice will prevail and evil will be punished. These are the common denominators, no matter where the story may be set.

"The Rough-Face Girl" takes place along the shores of Lake Ontario. She wasn't born with a rough face--her older sisters make her sit beside the fire and feed the flames. When the burning branches pop, sparks hit the girl, scarring her arms, her legs, her clothes, her face and her hair. She is a mess and is too embarrassed to go outside her wigwam. It is a wretched situation.

One day the the two sisters ask their father for all manner of dressy clothes because they plan to propose to the Invisible Being who lives in a giant wigwam across the village. Their father gives all he has and the two strut through the village, certain they will marry the Invisible Being. His sister awaits them at the door. The only requirement to marry him is to see him first.

His sister quizzes them and learns immediately that they have not seen her brother. No, we don't know what his bow is made of. And, no, we don't what his sled runner is made of? After foolishly strutting TO the wigwam, they have to drag themselves home, carrying shame and disappointment.

The Rough-Face Girl wakes up one day and says she is going to marry the invisible Being. She has seen him. Her father has little left to give her, so she makes some things out of bark and reeds. People laugh at her as she walks to the giant wigwam. She describes the IB's bow and his sled runner. When the IB claims her, she has bathed in the lake, rejoicing when her scars wash off. "They live together in great gladness and were never parted."

Evil is punished and justice triumphs. It's a happy-ever-after story, one of the "most magical, mysterious, and beautiful of all Cinderellas,"(Author's note).

As a footnote, I must comment on David Shannon's glowing, romantic artwork. He is the same illustrator of the David series. Click on one of these titles to see a difference in style just on the covers alone.
No, David!
David Gets in Trouble
Alice The Fairy

I highly recommend the book Rough Faced Girl. I liked the book because the pictures are wonderfully detailed and expressive. The words are very descriptive and quickly paint a picture in my mind. For example, "...and truly she alone, saw in these things the sweet yet awesome face..." Or when her father describes his moccasins: "... my own old, worn , cracked, and stretched-out pair..." I liked the book also because of the message. The message says have courage to believe in yourself - even if no one else does. It stresses inner beauty not outer beauty or material things. I really enjoyed the imagery in this book.

This beautiful story mesmerizes audiences from age 5 up. This Cinderella believes in herself, actively pursues what she deserves, and possesses a soul that divines the true nature of things.

Martin's language coupled with Shannon's compelling, rich illustrations becomes a tale to return to many times. I have gifted friends with this book and highly recommend it.

i first heard of this book while watching reading rainbow on pbs...i had to have this book being of cherokee indian blood
i am a mom and this book...once again was for myself...the art
work/illustrations are so compellingly beautiful that i tore three
pages out and put them on my wall...the depicition of the american indian 'cinderalla' emerging from the water hangs in my
bathroom...and the gossiping sisters hang in my foyer/hall by front door of my home...books like these make you feel so glad to
be alive to experience little invaluable treasures such as these...this particular version of the classic european story of cinderalla is also an award winning book...it is hard to find positive stories especially for the children/family like 'the rough-face girl' i let my mother read it and she loved also...

As a principal of an elementary school, I cannot say enough for the impact Rafe and all of his books have on our children and their teachers and families. My personal favorite is Dear As Salt, and if you have a chance to purchase it anytime or anywhere, you must!!! Rafe is the most amazing storytelling and children's author of our time. The content of Rough Faced Girl is not only a Cinderella story at it's finest, but can be used by 4th grade teachers throughout New York State as part of their curriculum. I always wait for Rafe's next great work!

I recommend the story of the Rough-Faced Girl because of the sensitive aspect. People should be judged by their inner beauty not what they look like on the out side.Many children can identify with is type of behavior This theme can be compared to modern times. The author wrote with sensitive vocabulary, the illustrations were exquisitely displayed using light with dark shadows

This is a story about a girl who is not beautiful on her outside, but is beautiful on her inside. The story takes place on the shores of Lake Ontario. She and her hard-hearted sisters are three of many women who want to marry an invisible being. But only someone who can see him, can marry him. The lesson is on the importance of having a good heart more than beautiful clothes or looks. I would recommend this book to anyone interested in Native American culture and people who need to learn the importance of having a good heart.

The Rough Face Girl is a beutiful book. It had alot of description and many morals hidden in the words of the book. The young girl was despised by everyone in her village but she always stayed true to herself and others and she ended up with the best person that every girl wanted to marry. I learned that true beauty comes from inside and if you are honest then good things will happen to you. I also learned to be yourself because sooner or later people will start to accept who you are. And I learned to remember that there is always room for improvment. So in conclusion, I feel that this story can be enjoyed by young and old people!

I came across this book in the library when I was working on a paper for a lit class. Of the collection of fairy tales that we have as a required book, this tale is left out of the Cinderella section, yet is an important story not to miss out on. On top of the pictures being beautiful, and the story sharing many of the same qualities as Disney's Cinderella, this story shows many of the values shared by the people of the culture. It should be included in any collection of Cinderella's.