A dark, feminist retelling of the Irish fairytale, “The Children of Lir”, told through the voice of Aife. When Aife marries King Lir, he already has four children from his previous wife. Out of jealousy of a father’s love for his children, Aife turns King Lir’s children into swans for 900 years. What will become of them?
Retellings and Remixes (Versions and Variants)
Into the Bright Open: A Secret Garden Remix (Remixed Classics, 8)
In this queer re-imaging of “The Secret Garden,” 15-year-old orphan Mary sets off to live in the Georgian Bay wilds where she discovers family secrets both wonderful and horrifying.
This book is part of the Worlds of Words Global Reading List for 2023/24.
Snark
‘Gabriel Clutch was a thief and a liar but he was right about one thing. He told me he had a great secret in his collection that would shake the literary world to its roots if it ever got out …’ So begins the delightfully dark Snark, a tumultous romp through worlds created by Lewis Carroll and here brought to life through the vivid imaginings and fabulous art of award-winning author and illustrator David Elliot. What exactly did happen to the Snark expedition? Did his dagger-proof coat protect the Beaver from the Butcher? What befell the Boots in the Tulgey Wood? Who fell foul of the Jabberwock? The Bandersnatch? The Jubjub bird? And, finally, the big question: what precisely is a SNARK …?
What Souls Are Made Of
Two lost souls cut off from their heritage find solace in each other in this remix of the gothic novel Wuthering Heights.
Travelers Along The Way
In this reimagination of the legend of Robin Hood, Rahma al-Hud and her older sister Zeena travel to Jerusalem for a final mission, and on their way they assemble a ragtag band of misfits and get swept up Holy Land politics.
The Boneless Mercies
Four female mercenaries known as Boneless Mercies, weary of roaming Vorseland, ignored and forgotten until they are needed for mercy killings, decide to seek glory by going after a legendary monster in this reimagining of Beowulf.
The Mermaid
“Set in the ocean off Japan, this retelling of Goldilocks and the Three Bears stars Kiniro, a mermaid, who finds a baby octopus’s breakfast, chair, and bed just right”
Abukacha’s Shoes
n a Jewish folktale retold in the author’s family, Abukacha, who has the largest feet in the world, has a new pair of shoes and tries to get rid of the old ones, only to find that is not as easy as he expects.
Brave Chicken Little
A retelling of the classic story of Chicken Licken, who has an acorn fall on his head and runs in a panic to his friends Henny Penny, Ducky Lucky, and others, to tell them the sky is falling.
The Story of Little Babaji
A retelling of the well-known tale in which a little Indian boy finally outwits the succession of tigers that want to eat him.