The GIRL WHO CHANGED HER FATE - Hardcover

Grade 1-3-- Despite the title, fatalism is the principle behind this retelling of a Greek folktale about a girl who spreads bad luck around her. A liability to her family, she leaves home, but chaos dogs her. Offered shelter and assistance, she involuntarily destroys her hosts' goods--compelled by her cruel ``fate.'' Finally she is sent to confront her fate--personified as a wild-haired dervish--in order to change it. Here the story, which has built steadily to this point, loses momentum. Eleni asks her fate to relent, and when she is refused, meekly asks again. While she is not entirely passive, she takes no decisive action. Her fate does change, but only because it gets tired. Change is external and haphazard, too easily won, and anticlimactic. Marshall's oil paintings are bright with the colors and patterns of Greek textiles. The softly painted figures and settings are pleasant, but not powerful enough to compensate for the plot's weakness. This tale may reflect the phenomenon of havoc wreaked by some adolescent girls, but offers little folk wisdom or psychological insight. Cruel or kind, fate still gets all the blame or praise for Eleni's life. --Patricia Dooley, University of Washington, Seattle
Copyright 1992 Reed Business Information, Inc.

In this retelling of a Greek folktale, a young woman deals with the ill fate she was born with in order to change her future. When a widow discovers that the curse on Eleni, her youngest daughter, is holding at bay suitors for her other daughters, it's decided that Eleni must leave the household. The girl travels from town to town, a black cloud of misfortune following her. Luckily, a kind queen recognizes Eleni's problem and sends her to the house of fates, where she can confront the evil one that is ruining her life. Marshall's text stays faithful to the folktale tradition, combining a fantastic challenge with a moral. Though they evoke an agreeable, storybook tone, her oil paintings exhibit a heavy, static quality inherent in the medium. Human figures in decorative native costumes are compositionally superior to her blurry animals and background scenery. This somewhat run-of-the-mill title may have particular appeal for those interested in Greek culture and lore. Ages 5-8.
Copyright 1992 Reed Business Information, Inc.