<i>Marwe: Into the Land of the Dead: An East African Legend</i>, and: <i>The Smoking Mountain: The Story of Popocatépetl and Iztaccíhuatl: An Aztec Legend</i> (review)
2009; Johns Hopkins University Press; Volume: 63; Issue: 4 Linguagem: Inglês
10.1353/bcc.0.1329
ISSN1558-6766
Autores Tópico(s)Literature, Magical Realism, García Márquez
ResumoReviewed by: Marwe: Into the Land of the Dead: An East African Legend, and: The Smoking Mountain: The Story of Popocatépetl and Iztaccíhuatl: An Aztec Legend Kate Quealy-Gainer Croall, Marie P. . Marwe: Into the Land of the Dead: An East African Legend; pencils by Ray Lago; inks by Craig Hamilton and Ray Snyder. Graphic Universe/Lerner, 200948p. Paper ed. ISBN 978-0-8225-8514-5$8.95 R Gr. 4-6 Jolley, Dan . The Smoking Mountain: The Story of Popocatépetl and Iztaccíhuatl: An Aztec Legend; illus. by David Witt. Graphic Universe/Lerner, 200948p. Paper ed. ISBN 978-1-58013-826-0$8.95 Ad Gr. 4-6 This new series of folklore in graphic form has a broad reach that includes non-European traditions, as demonstrated by these glossy retellings of an Aztec folktale and an East African legend. Lago's clean lines and striking use of shadows echo the journey of young Marwe, a young woman driven by shame into the land of the dead, while Croall's minimal narration allows the dialogue and the illustrations to effectively convey the girl's story of rebirth and faith. The Smoking Mountain retells the origin story of Mexico's legendary volcanoes: Popocatépetl, a noble and heroic Aztec warrior charged with an impossible task, returns victorious from his quest only to find that his beloved Iztaccíhuatl has died from grief over his rumored death. Unfortunately, by framing the story within a modern family's encounter with a tour guide, the emotional impact of this Shakespearean-style tragedy is negated, and the text seems more like a narrated picture book than a graphic novel. Witt's somewhat mottled art and inappropriately comical expressions similarly lessen the dramatic tension. Marwe is certainly the stronger of the two, but both titles could [End Page 148] be useful introductory or supplementary pieces for a unit on myths and legends. Each title concludes with a brief note about historical accuracy, a list of further resources, a glossary, and a index. Copyright © 2009 The Board of Trustees of the University of Illinois
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