The Adventures of Molly Whuppie and Other Appalachian Folktales

November 1, 2007
Gr 4-8-Molly Whuppie, "being herself and no one else," has adventures previously reserved for male heroes. Way back in the woods and way back in time, Molly must protect the Queen from wicked giants and rescue her sisters with a silver needle and golden thread. She has a slingshot that can't miss and a magic fiddle that makes everyone dance. While working for a giant, she saves a boy named Jack, and they escape on the giant's own horse. She marries Jack, who trades away the cow (but not for magic beans), and sets out to find three men as foolish as her husband. Molly Whuppie grows up and grows old with bravery, cleverness, and compassion. While other folktales are included, the "Molly Whuppie" stories are the heart of the collection. Shelby has captured the language of Appalachia with "those surprising turns of phrase, so old they sound fresh again" and demonstrated the enduring strength of the oral tradition. Her adaptations are true to the traditional folktales while avoiding stereotypes, cultural prejudices, and some gory details. Young readers and listeners will make these stories their own and enjoy retelling them for a long time to come."Mary Jean Smith, Southside Elementary School, Lebanon, TN"

Copyright 2007 School Library Journal, LLC Used with permission.