Review: Swamp Angel

1.BIBLIOGRAPHY
Isaacs, Anne, 1994. SWAMP ANGEL. Ill. by Paul Zelinsky. New York: Dutton. ISBN 0525452710

2. PLOT SUMMARY
SWAMP ANGEL tells the story of Angelica Longrider, a young girl destined to become a folk hero in the vein of Paul Bunyan and Pecos Bill. A gargantuan bear by the name of Thundering Tarnation is marauding through Tennessee, instilling fear in the hearts of all who come across it. Enter Longrider, also known as Swamp Angel; the greatest (and hugest) woodswoman Tennessee has ever seen. Above the doubts of her fellow citizens, Swamp Angel is determined to take down Thundering Tarnation, and the ensuing battle between the two would shake both heaven and Earth. In the end, and with much collateral damage, Swamp Angel is victorious, throwing Thundering Tarnation up into the night sky, where he can still be seen to this day.


3. CRITICAL ANALYSIS
Anne Isaacs’ SWAMP ANGEL is an engaging and original tale in the vein of classic folk stories of old. In Longrider, the titular character, Isaacs creates a protagonist that is at once endearing and powerful; a positive role model for all female readers. Many recurring folktale themes are present in SWAMP ANGEL, including a larger-than-life hero facing down a larger-than-life adversary, and the inevitable clash of the elements in an epic final showdown. Isaacs’ narration style is full of the wonderful hyperbole one might expect from a folk tale, and Swamp Angel, despite being a relatively modern character, seems right at home with Paul Bunyan, Pecos Bill, and the rest of the greats. Zelinsky’s art, lovingly painted and full of warm colors, helps give the story the feeling of an age bygone, where magic and the surreal effortlessly intermingle with reality.

4. REVIEW EXCERPT(S)
SCHOOL LIBRARY JOURNAL review: "Buy for a great guffaw in small groups or one-on-one.."
PUBLISHERS WEEKLY review: "An impressive picture-book debut."

5. CONNECTIONS
*This book can be a valuable companion piece for a unit on telling and inventing tall tales, perhaps as a template for an assignment on writing tall tales as a class.
*Other tall tales:
Osborne, Mary. AMERICAN TALL TALES. ISBN 0679800891
Kellogg, Steven. PECOS BILL. ISBN 0688099246
Kellogg, Steven. PAUL BUNYAN: 20TH ANNIVERSARY EDITION. ISBN 0688058000