There have been so many hit movies and books in the last decade based on myths and fairy tales retold!
And why not? The bones of myths and fairy tales have been around a very long time. Their hardiness and durability make them perfect for adding a new twist, a new coat, or a new perspective. I think there cannot be too many fairy tales retold. Others recently recommended:
Today’s book recommendation is a Grimm Fairy tale retold.
The Flight of Swans, by Sarah McGuire.
Summary:
Elaborates on the tale of young princess Ryn, who must be silent for six years to save her brothers after they are turned into swans by their evil stepmother.
The Truth:
While I remember reading some of Grimm’s Fairy Tales, none of them really stayed with me. Likely because they were written in their own time, with the sensibility and customs of that time. Grimm’s Fairy Tales were first published in 1812.
Of course there are human commonalities that make those tales every bit as applicable now as they were two hundred years ago. But by modernizing language, deepening character relationships, and clarifying specific motivations, fairy tales can be brought into a much sharper, more sympathetic focus. This is precisely what Sarah McGuire has done in The Flight of Swans.
Here’s what I loved:
First of all, Ryn is a great girl hero. No simpering princess here! The six years of silence Ryn must agree to aren’t spent in subservient acquiescence. She is living rough on the land during those years. For all but one day per month, Ryn must look out for the six black swans who are her transformed brothers (while struggling for her own survival.). She lives for the one night per month when they change back into themselves—but only until dawn. It’s only in those short hours that Ryn has the protection, brawn, and ingenuity of her beloved six brothers.
I admired Ryn’s ingenuity and tough persistence. She recognizes the risk of her brothers being left to live out their lives as swans, even after the six years are done. Ryn goes through first seeking the secret of how to protect her brothers, then how to make the impossible seeming task actually doable.
Accidental Companion
I absolutely adored Ryn’s accidental companion: a chicken who she names after her twin brother, Owain. This chicken is an immense comfort to the young, terrified girl. Completely aside from providing a near-starving girl with eggs for nutrition. The empathetic bird senses Ryn’s obvious distress, and deals with it by roosting on Ryn’s chest at night. I find the image of a chicken calming a girl’s heart with her own utterly charming!
Of the many books I’ve read recently, The Flight of Swans by Sarah McGuire was a stand-out and great example of fairy tales retold. I recommend it for read-aloud or read-alone. Your library awaits!