Vasilisa the Wise & Other Tales of Brave Young Women

Seven tales center on young women facing magic, adventure, and difficult trials. The stories reflect a tradition in which mothers, grandmothers, and other wise women shared tales with younger women as they moved toward adulthood. Their heroines travel hard paths in search of their destinies; marriage to a prince is not presented as their only purpose. The collection emphasizes strength, bravery, kindness, self-trust, and the possibility of making change. Haunting black-and-white photographic collages accompany the stories, along with notes and source material.