The Girl Who Changed Her Fate

In this retelling of a Greek folktale, a young woman deals with the ill fate she was born with in order to change her future. When a widow discovers that the curse on Eleni, her youngest daughter, is holding at bay suitors for her other daughters, it's decided that Eleni must leave the household. The girl travels from town to town, a black cloud of misfortune following her. Luckily, a kind queen recognizes Eleni's problem and sends her to the house of fates, where she can confront the evil one that is ruining her life. Marshall's text stays faithful to the folktale tradition, combining a fantastic challenge with a moral. Though they evoke an agreeable, storybook tone, her oil paintings exhibit a heavy, static quality inherent in the medium. Human figures in decorative native costumes are compositionally superior to her blurry animals and background scenery. This somewhat run-of-the-mill title may have particular appeal for those interested in Greek culture and lore. Ages 5-8. (Sept.)