This compendium of fables in visual form features women negotiating different types of gender-based violence and inequity in various cultures worldwide. Five graphic narratives expose such issues as femicide, child molestation and female genital mutilation without defining the affected women and girls by their unfortunate circumstances.

Highlighting the power of intelligence, humor and decency and the willingness of people to work together to effect social change, these fables—each presented bilingually in English and the protagonist’s native language of Spanish, German, Arabic or Swahili—transcend boundaries of gender, race, language and geography without ignoring differences. Subtle ink washes, brilliant colors and detailed crosshatching distinguish the acclaimed magical realist artwork through which the stories unfold.

An award-winning artist, Maureen Burdock lives in Richmond, California.

Maureen Burdock
Format: softcover (8.5 x 11), graphic novel
Pages: 144
Bibliographic Info: full color illustrations
Copyright Date: 2015
pISBN: 978-0-7864-7423-3
eISBN: 978-1-4766-1294-2
Imprint: McFarland

Acknowledgments vi
Author’s Note ix
Oh, that F Word! A Foreword by Trina Robbins xi
Marta & the Missing (Marta y Las Desaparecidas) 1
Mona & the Little Smile (Mona & Das Leise Lächeln) 33
Maisa & the Most Daring Muslim Women 61
Mumbi & the Long Run (Mumbi Na Mbiyo Za Masafa Marefu) 95
Halima’s Story 125