Tales of Fearless Girls: Forgotten Stories from Around the World

In most fairytales, the female characters were portrayed as weak, uninteresting, or complacent. This diverse series of stories rewritten by Isabel Otter stay true to the original plot points while altering events and details to show the power and resilience of each girl. This magical anthology includes twenty unfamiliar tales of brave female characters from around the world. These dynamic stories take place in Germany, Nigeria, China, India, Japan, Mexico, and more.

The collection begins with a story about a princess who is separated from her family and raised by man-eating trolls. When she is much older, Princess Aurora uses her wits and clever nature to escape back to her homeland while rescuing a prince in the process. Aurora forgives the furious trolls and chooses to rule as a leader who extends kindness to all and creatures.

Other stories throughout the anthology display how resourceful and brave girls can be, while retaining positive and uplifting messages appropriate for all genders ages eight and up (due to the mature themes). In addition, these stories can educate children about customs and traditions from other cultures. I am impressed and astonished by the fresh outlook given to antiquated folklore.