White Flower : A Maya Princess

Grade 3-6–A version of the Spanish folktale Blanca Flor. A young prince has lost everything, including his memory. He meets strong-willed White Flower, daughter of the powerful, magical King Witz Ak'al, and the two young people fall in love. When her father opposes the union, White Flower uses magic and trickery, transforming into a thorn hedge, a foaming lake, a maze of seven paths, and more, to aid in the couple's escape. When she is finally discovered and returned to the palace, her parents relent to the marriage with very little resistance. Softened watercolor and graphite pencil illustrations aid in the telling of the story. They convey fantasy, yet maintain an almost flat, hieroglyphic quality that suggests an inscription on a Mayan temple wall. Although the wordy text sometimes seems to drift, the story is still worthy as an example of Mayan folklore.–Kim Harris, Newman Riga Library, Churchville, NY
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K-Gr. 3. This lengthy tale resets a traditional Spanish folktale in an enchanted Maya empire. After an epidemic steals his wealth, his family, and even his memory, a prince wanders in search of work and shelter. He encounters Witz Ak'al, the shape-shifting Lord of the Forest, who offers riches in exchange for human souls. The noble prince refuses, continues on, and encounters a kingdom, where he finds work. The king, however, is Witz Ak'al in disguise, and in another ploy for the young man's soul, he assigns the prince impossible tasks. Luckily, the king's daughter, White Flower, has mystical powers, and in a twist on tradition, she saves the hero, declares her love, and proposes marriage. Montejo's text is long, so younger children may need several readings to get through the story. But the magic, the dramatic setting, and the girl-powered plot will draw children's interest, as will Yockteng's sun-baked watercolors, which borrow Maya symbols and patterns. A personal source note closes this title, which will be a fine addition to Central American folktale collections. Gillian Engberg
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