The Rough-Face Girl in Into the Forest

Sep 20, 2011 Ronyell rated it it was amazing

Shelves: fairy-tales-folktales, david-shannon, read-in-2010, native-american

I have read many versions of this classic Native American “Cinderella” story, but never have I read a version with such dramatic illustrations. “The Rough-Face Girl” is a Native American tale retold by Rafe Martin along with illustrations by David Shannon and it details about how a young miserable girl realizes that having a pure heart can set her free. “The Rough-Face Girl” is a truly brilliant tale for children to enjoy for many years!

In a village near Lake Ontario, there lived a poor man who I have read many versions of this classic Native American “Cinderella” story, but never have I read a version with such dramatic illustrations. “The Rough-Face Girl” is a Native American tale retold by Rafe Martin along with illustrations by David Shannon and it details about how a young miserable girl realizes that having a pure heart can set her free. “The Rough-Face Girl” is a truly brilliant tale for children to enjoy for many years!

In a village near Lake Ontario, there lived a poor man who had three daughters. The two older daughters were vain and cruel and they treated their youngest sister cruelly by making her do all the housework to the point where the younger sister was charred and looked hideous. One day, the invisible being who was a rich and powerful man wanted to have a wife and he would only marry the woman who could see him.

Before I have read this book, I had read another version of the popular “Cinderella” Native American tale called “Sootface” which was written by Robert D. San Souci. Well by this time, I have already known this story and it was no surprise that it was once again about a young girl who was mistreated by her sisters, however her pure heart wins her the man of her dreams. Rafe Martin’s writing is extremely dramatic and uplifting and I loved the way that the youngest daughter did everything she could to win the prince’s heart including making her own clothes despite being ridiculed by her village and her sisters. It was also nice how Rafe Martin showed the sisters’ cruelness to their youngest sister as something so undesirable and how their wicked ways caused their undoing towards the end. David Shannon’s illustrations are extremely marvelous in this book as all the characters look extremely beautiful, especially of the artwork of the blue skies and I really loved the image of the invisible man being shown as some kind of symbol in the sky as his eyes are shown as birds and a rainbow expresses his nose and it blends so well with the sky that I did not recognize this image until I look closer. Probably my favorite image of the invisible being was when he was riding through the Milky Way that was made of stars. I also loved the Native American clothing the characters wear as they all look so stunning, especially of the cruel sisters’ clothing as they have beaded moccasins and gorgeous necklaces that make them sparkle through the illustrations.

Parents should know that there are some scary images in this book such as how some characters are shown in shadows and their faces are darken and look a little menacing. While these images might scare smaller children, the images that might scare smaller children the most would be when the youngest daughter meets the invisible man and his large appearance in the dark might look a bit frightening. Parents might want to read this book first before they read it to their child to see if they do not mind scary images.

Overall, “The Rough-Face Girl” is a truly memorizing book for children who are interested in Native American folktales and who love “Cinderella” styled tales. I would recommend this book to children ages five and up since there are some images that might scare smaller children.

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Jul 15, 2018 Melki rated it really liked it · review of another edition

Shelves: folk-fairy-tales, cinderella-stories

This Algonquin folktale offers a twist on the usual Cinderella story. This would-be Cinderella's outward beauty has been ruined by years of tending the family's fire, though her heart is beautiful and kind. Her older sisters are lovely, but vain and cruel. All the girls hope to marry the Invisible Being, but first . . . they must pass his wise sister's test. David Shannon's lovely and atmospheric paintings really add to the mood. ...more

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Jul 13, 2018 Margaret rated it liked it

Shelves: childrens, fairytale-myth-inspired

I've always liked this Algonquin Cinderella, where the rough-faced girl can see the Invisible Being where her selfish stepsisters cannot. But now that I re-read with a little more cultural awareness, I have some reservations. First, the author is not native, and looking at his bibliography, he frequently writes from other cultural perspectives than his own. And because of this, I have reservations of the story, which does have some possible Western religious influence. I'd feel more comfortable ...more

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Jul 22, 2012 Kristina Wojtaszek rated it really liked it

Shelves: retold-fairy-tales, native-american, children-s-books

A Native American Cinderella that puts a beautiful twist on the tale.
Though I found myself wishing she hadn't magically become (physically) beautiful in the end. It would have been more powerful had the Invisible Being continued to love her as she was. ...more

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