From “Cinderella” to “The Three Little Pigs,” there are stories that are so deeply embedded in our literature and culture that we might not recall the first time we heard them.
Certainly, though, these traditional tales are always ripe for a retelling, and in 2020, some adventurous authors achieved fantastic results remixing fairy tales and fables.
Giving a fresh perspective to traditional tales, these 4 books below update the classics, whether by reframing Cinderella as a story of female empowerment or by resetting the Greek myth of Orpheus and Eurydice in the Bronx.
So if you’re looking for a good book to give a young reader for the holidays, start with these.
“Cinderella Is Dead” by Kalynn Bayron (Courtesy of Bloomsbury)
Here’s the story: It’s been 200 years since Cinderella’s death, but the princess’ legacy is embedded deep in her home kingdom. In fact, the myth of Cinderella has been used to repress generations of women. Once a year, teens are required to attend a ball where men may decide to marry them. It’s a fairy-tale fête that will decide their fate. When Sophia rebels, she falls into a chain of events that will bring her closer to the truth behind the Cinderella story, a truth that has the power to change the course of the kingdom.
The debut YA fantasy novel from author Bayron is a fast-paced adventure that illustrates the devastating power of patriarchy, particularly on LGBTQ youth, and the myths produced to maintain that power. Yet, it’s still an incredibly hopeful story with a protagonist whose will to survive and create change is inspirational.
“The Magic Fish” by Trung Le Nguyen (Random House Graphic)
How do you come out to your family when you don’t know the words to do that? That’s the dilemma for Tien in “The Magic Fish,” the debut original graphic novel from Nguyen. Tien is primarily an English speaker, but his mom mainly speaks Vietnamese. The two connect through the fairy tales that they’ve read together. Fiction, including a new take on “The Little Mermaid,” and real life intertwine as Tien searches for, and ultimately finds, a way to express himself. Nguyen (also known by the artist name Trungles) has spent years building up a following for his stunning, fairy tale-inspired illustrations. “The Magic Fish,” which was illustrated using both traditional and digital processes, is a beautiful story that highlights Nguyen’s captivating artistic style.
“Natalie Portman’s Fables” by Natalie Portman (Courtesy of Feiwel & Friends/Macmillan)
“The Tortoise and the Hare,” “The Three Little Pigs” and “Country Mouse and City Mouse” may all be familiar stories to you, but actress Natalie Portman gives them a reboot in this charming picture book illustrated by Janna Mattia. Inspired by the revelation that so many of the children’s books she read her daughter were dominated by male characters, Portman infuses these classics with both male and female characters. Meanwhile, she keeps the tone fun and shows off a delightful sense of humor in these stories.
“Never Look Back” by Lilliam Rivera (Bloomsbury)
In her latest novel, Los Angeles-based author Lilliam Rivera (“Dealing in Dreams,” “The Education of Margot Sanchez”) re-imagines the Greek myth of Orpheus and Eurydice. In “Never Look Back,” Pheus is a young musician who falls for Eury, who is staying with family in the Bronx after surviving Hurricane Maria in Puerto Rico. While the story draws from the tragic romance of Greek mythology (and has some similarities to the 1959 film “Black Orpheus,” which was based on the play “Orfeu da Conceiçāo”), Rivera puts a unique spin on the tale. “Never Look Back” deftly explores race, spirituality and trauma in the story of Pheus and Eury. Rivera’s retelling of the myth is also feminist, empowering Eury in ways that the classic character isn’t typically presented.
