Mala: A Women's Folktale

Steve Pitt is a Toronto-based freelance writer and an award-winning journalist. He has written many young adult and children's books, including Day of the Flying Fox: The True Story of World War II Pilot Charley Fox.

Mala is a young girl living in a country where only men are allowed to
perform brave and interesting deeds. When an evil demon steals the
kingdom’s magic rain seed, drought comes to Mala’s land. The king
offers half his realm to anyone who can bring back the rain seed. Many
men try, but all are turned to stone. While drawing water from a well,
Mala meets her three fairy godmothers, who urge her to fight the demon
herself. She agrees, but only if the Godmothers will first turn her into
a boy. It is only after Mala becomes a boy that she discovers that it is
her knowledge and experience as a female that make it possible for her
to defeat the demon.

The text of this tale was adapted by Gita Wolf from an Indian folk
legend. The illustration plates by Annouchka Galouchko combine a rich
folk art style with modern surrealism. The story is absorbing and well
written, but marred by the unrelenting message that all men are ignorant
and cruel. If readers can accept evil demons and fairy godmothers,
perhaps they could also accept at least one male character who does not
insult old women or throw sticks at stray dogs. Recommended with
reservations.