San Souci, Robert D. 1994. Sootface: an Ojibwa cinderella story. Illustrated by Daniel San Souci. New York: Doubleday Book for Young Readers. ISBN: 0-385-31202-4.
Sootface: An Ojibwa Cinderella Story is retold by Robert D. San Souci. It is illustrated by Daniel San Souci. Sootface takes the familiar story of Cinderella and places it into the Native American culture. Like all Cinderella stories, Sootface features the underdog overcoming all obstacles and obtaining happiness. Sootface is one of three sisters, but the only sister to truly work. Instead of everyone being appreciative of all her hard work, the family teases her because of her appearance. Sootface does not become bitter, she remains ever hopeful. She sings herself reassuring songs like, Oh, I am thinking, Oh, I am dreaming, That even as ugly as I am, I will someday find a husband. (5). When a mighty warrior seeks to find a wife with a kind and honest heart, Sootface’s chance for a better life appears (8). After all the women fail the mighty warrior’s test to see him though he is invisible, Sootface takes a chance to find a husband. On the way she faces many obstacles. Her family and the other villagers laugh at her. Sootface passes the warrior’s test and becomes his wife. Her old name and its shame is taken away; he gives her a new name, Dawn-Light. Dawn-light’s song has become, Now, I am happy, Now I am certain, That I have found my husband, My new sister and new home(25).
Sootface features all the elements of the traditional story. It has a young girl whose true worth goes unnoticed by those around her. She is a girl who is more than what she appears. Even though appearances suggest that Sootface is too lowly – too dirty – to ever find a husband, the reality is that she is more deserving of a good husband than the other beautiful women. It is a reassuring tale to readers in that it is the inner beauty of a person that matters in the end. In fact, there are many reassuring features to this traditional tale. The inner beauty of a girl shines through and wins the heart of the man. Unlike the Disney version of Cinderella, Sootface’s beauty is not obvious. Her beauty is not revealed until she has won the heart of the warrior. Disney’s Cinderella was a supermodel dressed as a maid, while Sootface was portrayed as a dirty, ragged, rough individual. For example, on page two, the reader is introduced to Sootface. She is dirty. Her hair is broken, unkempt, shaggy, burnt. Her clothes are literally rags—unlike Disney’s Cinderella where her raggedcondition is shown by a mended apron. I feel that this version is much more comforting than the Disney version. After all, that Cinderella would be a catch for any man – even one above her social class. But it takes true love to see beauty in Sootface. Her sisters are beautiful. They are well dressed. They have everything going for them except a beautiful, kind heart. Their ugliness is shown through their actions. Sometimes her sisters beat her and smeared her face with ashes. Then they made fun of her (1). Another striking quality in Sootface is how instead of magic transforming her into a beauty, Sootface struggles to make herself as beautiful (or as presentable) as she can only relying on her own ability. While her sisters may have the new dresses out of skins, Cinderella is given scraps. To make herself beautiful, Sootface makes herself a dress out of birch. Her hair isn’t long enough to braid, so she puts flowers in her hair to hide its faults. But with all this preparation, she is still ridiculed by those around her. They don’t see anything beautiful about her. They are blind to her true beauty. (Another difference is that instead of a wicked stepmother, this Cinderella is being raised by her own father.)
Sootface is a wonderful variation of Cinderella. Daniel San Souci’s illustrations complement the text well. The setting – an Indian village – is well presented. The illustrations show the daily experiences of life as a Native American. (That is for the time of the story!) For example, on page eight, the reader sees Sootface skin and dry wildlife such as deer. Nature is definitely an important part of the story.