A review by rainbowrocky
The Girl Who Married a Skull: and Other African Stories by Kel McDonald, C. Spike Trotman, Kate Ashwin

adventurous funny lighthearted reflective medium-paced
  • Plot- or character-driven? Plot
  • Strong character development? It's complicated
  • Loveable characters? It's complicated
  • Diverse cast of characters? It's complicated
  • Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

4.0

When I picked this book up at the library, I was expecting African tales told by African writers and artists. I was surprised to find the creators were overwhelmingly white and from Canada. Jarrett Williams is the only Black author in this entire anthology and his story gets 6 pages of a 200+ page graphic novel. So make of that what you will.

The stories themselves are cute and all the art styles are creative and fun. I especially loved The Lion’s Whiskers story and the art style in The Disobedient Daughter Who Married A Skull. I can’t speak to their authenticity to African folklore but they ooze that life lesson, imparting-wisdom-to-children vibe you expect from fables, which I love.

I plan to continue the series and hope that the creators match the stories they’re telling in the future.
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