LS 5603 Book Review: SOOTFACE

Cinderella Variant

Bibliography
San Souci, Robert. 1994. SOOTFACE. Ill. by Daniel San Souci. New York, NY: Bantam Dell Publishing Group, Inc. ISBN 038531202

Summary
Sootface, the main character in the story, is mistreated by her mean and lazy older sisters. Sootface has to do all the chores and is left with only scraps to dress herself, and her hair is burnt short from the cooking fires. Across the lake lives a hunter, who is invisible, he tells his sister whatever maiden can see him "has a kind and honest heart," and this is the woman who will be his bride. All the women from the village try to see the invisible hunter. The only one who can verify that the warrior has a bow made from rainbow that is strung with white fire is Sootface. The hunter's sister then helps Sootface wash, dress, and combs her hair with a magic comb. A beautiful maiden, Sootface, joins the hunter and they are married. The hunter tells Sootface her new name is Dawn-Light.

Critical Analysis
Robert San Souci working with his brother Daniel for the retelling of this tale, consulted "more than two dozen versions" found the tale called THE INVISIBLE ONE the most helpful. The illustrations in this picture book represent mid-eighteenth century Ojibwa life. San Souci weaves together other tales to give us the retelling of a Native American version of Cinderella.

Most of the stock characters in the Cinderella tale are present in the story however, there is no evil stepmother and Sootface's sisters are not step sisters. There is also no fairy godmother present in this tale. There are only two magical elements: a magic comb that turns Sootface's hair "long and thick and shiny as a blackbird's wing", and the hunter or warrior is invisible to everyone but his sister and Sootface. Similar to some other Cinderella tales the"prince" character has no name; sometimes he is referred to as a great hunter and sometimes as a great warrior but, he never has a name.

This book's choice of language lends itself to read aloud with pictures that tell more of the story. When Sootface tells how she can see the great hunter she says, "With white fire, like the Milky Way, the Path of Souls." This sentence sounds so much better aloud. On this page of the book the reader can enjoy the picture of the great hunter standing among the birch trees. The language also captures the culture of the tale; for example, "Claim the wife's place by the door flap.", and "But Sootface walked on as though they were no more than chattering birds in the trees."

The familiar theme of a hard working abused girl triumphing in the end over her mean and lazy sisters will delight children with it's similarities to the age old tale of Cinderella. Furthermore, this story can be enjoyed and compared because of it's differences.

Review Excerpts
Review in SCHOOL LIBRARY JOURNAL: "The full-page watercolors dramatically convey the natural woodland setting, the jeers of Sootface's sisters and fellow villagers, and the serenity and kindness of the warrior and his sister."

Review in BOOKLIST: "A satisfying picture book for reading aloud or alone, and a good choice for classes studying Native Americans or comparative folklore."

Connections
* Complete a Venn diagram using SOOTFACE and ROUGH FACED GIRL
Martin, Rafe. THE ROUGH FACED GIRL. ISBN 0698116267
*Have children retell Cinderella orally and then discuss similarities and differences.