Stories of the Islands

A beautiful, powerful addition to the pantheon of feminist folktale reimaginings.

Angkasa skillfully breathes new life into these narratives, providing a fresh look from the perspective of the female characters. . . . While targeted at a middle-grade audience, older readers who love folktales will also cherish these old stories presented in fresh, dynamic new ways.

Gr 6 Up--Three Indonesian folktales--"Keong Mas," "Bawang Merah Bawang Putih," and "Timun Mas"--are reimagined in this anthology, which seeks to give power and autonomy to traditionally passive female characters. A selfish older sister, finding herself cursed by her younger sister, must seek to help someone other than herself before her curse can be lifted; a widower turns his anger, rooted in grief, on his daughters, who must stop taking responsibility for their father's happiness in order to find their own; and a happily unpartnered woman finds herself a caregiver of a young girl after she misguidedly agrees to an inadvisable deal and has to use her intellect to escape from it. The stories read quickly, and their wispy, rounded, and paradisaical illustrations are further romanticized in appearance through the use of lush, tropical, and forested settings colored in bejeweled hues of violets, golds, and teals. While some pages make ample use of white space, others use fluid spreads, panel-breaking art, and irregularly shaped, polygonal panels that add interest while leading up to unconventional happily-ever-afters. Characters have various skin tones, ranging from pale to dark, and diverse body types are included, as is blended family representation. The front matter includes a table of contents, while among the back matter is an author's note and a prose version of each of the original folktales. VERDICT A beautiful collection of folktales that succeeds in depicting strengthened female agency while promoting a healthy consideration for others.--Alea Perez

Copyright 2023 School Library Journal, LLC Used with permission.

Debut graphic novelist Angkasa retells three Indonesian folktales and reimagines the female protagonists beyond "superficial tropes like the damsel in distress... the wicked and jealous stepmother... the spinster wishing for a child." In "Keong Mas," a fisherwoman's generosity models compassion for a former princess, whose selfishness begot her transformation into a snail. "Bawang Merah Bawang Putih" highlights the relationship between two stepsisters who, devoted to each other, endure their grieving father's physical abuse and must decide whether to approach their future with or without him. The final tale, "Timun Mas," follows green-thumbed Old Mbok Srini and her adopted daughter as they use their horticultural knowledge (and a little bit of magic) to outsmart a giant. This accessible collection's plethora of protagonists, portrayed with varying skin tones, embody traditional folktale gumption in stories with settings and perspectives that realistically mirror the creator's native Indonesia. Innovative paneling offers complexity to the storytelling, and eye-catching patterns add cultural specificity to sometimes formulaic tales. Concludes with texts of the original tales and an author's note wherein Angkasa describes her mother's influence in creating this feminist remix. Ages 8-12. (Oct.)

Copyright 2023 Publishers Weekly, LLC Used with permission.

"Clar Angkasa makes her debut as an author and artist with the exhilarating Stories of the Islands, in which she subverts three traditional folktales from her native Indonesia, beautifully, boldly demanding agency for women and girls. Her vibrant, inviting panels and spreads appear with and without borders, as if subtly reminding readers that borders are fluid and often unnecessary."—Shelf Awareness

"A marvelous example of bringing the old and the new together to create something that contains the best of both worlds. A beautiful potential future for folktales worldwide."—A Fuse #8 Production

"Brimming with spirit, this is a book all about connection and empowerment. Angkasa's gorgeous rendering and vivid storytelling will pull you right in."—Tillie Walden, author of On a Sunbeam