Cover Image: EXTRACT: Fierce, Fearless and Free

EXTRACT: Fierce, Fearless and Free

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Member Reviews

Great extract, seems like a really inspiring book for kids and young people. I would definitely get a copy for the school library.

Thanks to Netgalley and the publishers for letting me access an extract of this book in exchange for my feedback.

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These tales feature clever quick-witted girls familiar to anyone who has read myths and legends from around the world. They include a tale from the epic Greek myth of Jason and the Argonauts, the Italian version of Rapunzel and the Mexican myth of the discovery of fire. Told in simple English, with plenty of dialogue and familiar vocabulary, these stories make an ideal introduction to myths and legends around the world for readers of 7 and above. Due to the lyrical vocabulary, brevity of telling and sensitive handling of the content in each story they would also be a perfect read-aloud story to share from a younger age.

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I definitely enjoyed the extract story from this book. It seems like a book that will serve well to young children and give them some life lessons in a fun ans enjoyable way. I will definitely be recommending this book to young readers, both girls and boys.

Thanks Netgalley and the publisher for this sample.

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This extract included the tale of Kandek and the Wolf. This was an Armenian fairy tale about a girl who is captured by an old lady in the woods who happens to be a werewolf. The tale follows Kandek's attempts at escaping from the werewolf by using her wits, and ends with a moral about being careful of strangers. I like the idea of this book including fairy tales from around the world that are centered around brave female characters. While a lot of fairy tales can be quite similar (such as this one being reminiscent of Western tales of Red Riding Hood), it's quite interesting how they can still vary and how they infuse interesting details from the culture they originate from. I would be interested in reading more fairy tales from this book in the future and would definitely recommend it as a book for young readers.

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Middle grade books are my absolute favourite next to Young Adult. They give me such ease while reading them. They make me happy. This one is no different.

Full of different stories of fierce and fabulous girls this book is a must need for anyone bookshelves doesnt matter your gender. Each story filled me with pride and love for my gender. These stories reminded me that us women are fierce, fearless and free.

Kate Crackernuts was my favourite character and I read her story twice. Middle grade books like these are definitely worth getting. Lari Don has reminded me that I too can be like these characters 😍

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Such an incredible collection of traditional tales featuring amazing women and girls. I have read few of them to my daughter and she is hooked. She is asking for a story every night before bed and during the day we talk about the story and how brave girls are.

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I thoroughly enjoyed this short story and now plan to purchase the book- my Year 3 class need to hear these! Perfect for children from about 6 to 9, this is a fairy tale with a twist. I love the fact that thinking wins the day, rather than brawn, and that Kandek doesn't just sit back and wait to be rescued from the old woman that captures her.

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a sneek peek to this enjoyable title left me wanting more a great beginning to a adventure a intriguing story that holds your attention

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The tale that's included in the extract is called "Kanden and the Wolf" and it evokes the story of Little Red Riding Hood. Due to her generosity, Kanden gets kidnapped by an old woman/werewolf who wants to eat her. But the young girl is smart and won't give up without trying to escape...

I really like the concept of the book, a collection of rewritten folk tales of different nations.

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Fierce, Fearless and Free by Lari Don
Published by Bloomsbury
Pub Date: 5 Mar 2020

I love reading short stories to my class as they can feel a short gap very well. They are also great for assemblies. This collection is packed full of fast paced, action packed tales of heroines that the children will thoroughly enjoy listening too!

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The extract I read was a retelling of little red riding hood, I would say it would be good for children who are
maturing from picture books to story books but might be a little immature for those who are bit further on in their reading journey.

The tale was fun and moved at a fast pace and I would buy this as a gift for a child.

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From this short extract, this seems like a wonderful book with an excellent mix of short tales from all over the world. So often collection of stories focus on the typical stories that every child will know, and forget that there's a whole world of folklore to be explored. From the first story, I'm definitely intrigued enough to find a copy of the book and keep on reading!

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It’s difficult to rate and review this sufficiently, having only read one of the myths and legends within this book.

The first story in this collection is Kandek and the World; an Armenian folk tale with some similarities to Little Red Riding Hood, and Hansel and Gretel.

If the tales in this anthology follow on in similar fashion, I believe it’ll be a great book for any young girl to read - one full of strong and independent female leads.

With these inspired from tales from different cultures from around the world, this is bound to provide a different twist on some of the stories they are already so familiar with.

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Fierce, Fearless and Free by Lari Don & illustrated by Eilidh Muldoon

Fierce, Fearless and Free is a wonderful collection of powerful girls in myths and legends from around the world. From Armenia to Lithuania to Scotland to Mexico to China to Siberia, heroines in thirteen tales from across the globe will inspire children with their strength and wit. There is something for everyone and plenty to support a wonderful class topic. It is reminiscent of Sophie Anderson’s The Girl Who Speak Bear in its celebration of girls’ ability to be true to themselves and find out just what they are capable of.

Kandek and the Wolf: an Armenian folktale
In this traditional “Once upon a time” story, Kandek is travelling through the forest to take her father some lunch. Along the way, she meets an old woman who tricks her into coming close and giving her some food. Kandek is polite and generous but, as the woman transforms into a werewolf, she is captured. Kandek uses all of her intellect to outwit the wolf and try to escape. This story is a wonderful mix of Little Red Riding Hood and Hansel & Gretel.

As they read the wonderful stories contained in this book, children will love spotting similarities and making comparisons to other traditional stories with which they are already so comfortable. The values contained in these stories are universal and the lessons learned are for everyone. This book will be a valuable contribution to both classrooms and homes for children and adults to share together.

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From the extract of this book that I read, this seems to be a fantastic collection of short traditional tales from around the with strong, smart female leads.

Readers might feel at home with the first story in this collection, "Kandek and the Wolf", an Armenian folk tale which feels similar to Little Red Riding Hood but so, so much cooler!

A fantastic book for anyone looking for tales with female protagonists that children can look up to. Perfectly suited to be read to younger children or for slightly older children to read independently.

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Fortunately, this extract was a complete story, otherwise I would have been bitterly disappointed to not find up what happened to quick witted Kandek.
Once lapse in judgment, saw this independent girl in a quandary and fighting for her life. However, ingenuity saw Kandek save herself from a predator without waiting for if/when the hero might turn up to save the day, enhance his reputation and by the way rescue her. Kandek and the Wolf was a neat tale with not many surprises but entertaining, nevertheless.

If the rest of the stories in this anthology follow on in this fashion - with a twist in the tale, strong leads, etc - then I shall very much look forward to reading them.

3 Stars - Liked It

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Eildih Muldoon's illustrations in this book are charming and immersive, perfectly encapsulating the spirit of the tales. I sincerely appreciate the variety in different cultures from which the folk tales are derived - from Ecuador to the Solomon Islands to Lithuania. This would be a valuable book for any young girl to read.

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I really love the concept of this book, and the extract I read was fantastic, I can't wait to read more and I know I'll be reading these stories and tales to my daughter as she grows up.

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As this is an extract, I cannot comment on the book as a whole although the first story, Kandek and the Wolf gives a promising start. If I as an adult enjoyed it I am sure a child will enjoy it too. I loved how Lari Don retold this story, as it is engaging and straightforward at the same time anticipatory and adventurous. I loved the illustration by Elidih Muldoon.

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If the rest of the book lives up to this extract, then this will be a very interesting read... I would definitely have bought this for my daughter when she was younger. I'm tempted to buy it for myself now.

Three stars because I'm wary of rating too high when I haven't read the entire book.

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