Every woman in the tribe wishes to marry the being who livesby the lake, but it is only the Rough-Face Girl--her face scarredfrom tending fires--who has the knowledge to win him.

一个印第安“灰姑娘”的故事

From Publishers Weekly
In this Algonquin Indian version of the Cinderella story, twodomineering sisters set out to marry the "rich, powerful, andsupposedly handsome" Invisible Being, first having to prove thatthey can see him. They cannot, but their mistreated younger sisterthe Rough-Face Girl--so called because the sparks from the firehave scarred her skin--can, for she sees his "sweet yet awesomeface" all around her. He then appears to her, reveals her truehidden beauty and marries her. Shannon ( How Many Spots Does aLeopard Have? ) paints powerful, stylized figures and stirringlandscapes, heightening their impact with varied use of mist,shadows and darkness. His meticulous research is evident inintricate details of native dress and lodging. In places, though,he struggles with the paradox of illustrating the invisible--aneagle, tree, cloud and rainbow form the face of the Invisible Beingin one disappointingly banal image. For the most part, however, thedrama of these haunting illustrations--and of Martin's ( FoolishRabbit's Big Mistake ) respectful retelling--produce an affectingwork. Ages 4-8.
Copyright 1992 Reed Business Information, Inc.

From School Library Journal
Grade 3 Up-- Simply, in the words of an oral storyteller, Martinretells an Algonquin folktale. The youngest of three sisters isforced by the other two to sit by the fire and feed the flames,which results in the burning and scarring of her hair and skin.Desirous of marriage to an Invisible Being who lives in a hugewigwam across the village, these cruel siblings must prove to hissister that they have seen him, but they fail. The Rough-Face Girl,however, sees the Invisible Being everywhere and can answer hissister's questions correctly. Comparable in presentation toCaroline Cunningham's ``The Little Scarred One'' from The TalkingStone (Knopf, 1939; o.p.; reprinted in Castles and Dragons ,Crowell, 1958; o.p.), but different in detail, this is a splendidread-aloud. It is the only single illustrated version available.Shannon's finely crafted full- and double-page acrylic paintings inthe rich hues of the earth embody the full flavor of the story. Hisstunning cover portrait shows at one glance both the girl's beautyand her frightful scars. Another in the recent succession ofCinderella stories, The Rough-Face Girl begs for comparison withPrincess Furball (Greenwillow, 1989), Tattercoats (Putnam, 1989),Mufaro's Beautiful Daughters (Lothrop, 1987), Moss Gown (Clarion,1987), etc., and will provide both entertainment and a culturallesson.
- Susan Scheps, Shaker Heights Public Library, OH
Copyright 1992 Reed Business Information, Inc.