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Hyena in Petticoats: The Story of Suffragette Nellie McClung. Willow Dawson. Toronto, ON: Puffin Canada, 2011. 95 pp., pbk., $15.00. ISBN 978-0-14-317779-1.
Subject Headings:
McClung, Nellie L., 1973-1951-Juvenile literature-Comic books, strips, etc.
Suffragists-Canada-Biography-Juvenile literature-Comic books, strips, etc.
Feminists-Canada-Biography-Juvenile literature-Comic books, strips, etc.
Authors, Canadian (English)-20th century-Biography-Juvenile literature-Comic books, strips, etc.
Women politicians-Canada-Biography-Juvenile literature-Comic books, strips, etc.
Grades 4-7 / Ages 9-12.
excerpt:
"I don't want a hyena in petticoats talking politics at me. I want a nice, gentle creature to bring me my slippers. Now, I can see you're a fine, smart young woman. Take it from me, nice women don't want the vote!"
Willow Dawson's graphic novel, Hyena in Petticoats: The Story of Suffragette Nellie McClung, is a congenial partnership of image and text. Its unusual title echoes the disparaging epithet with which Premier Rodmond Roblin dismissed Nellie McClung after she pressed him on the topic of women's suffrage. However, Dawson playfully subverts Roblin's metaphor by emphasizing McClung's hyena-like doggedness and vocality as positive traits. Although this McClung is as nice as pie-she is "never rude," preferring instead to pair "wit" with "courteousness" in her speech (p. 60)-there is never any doubt that she covets the vote. In fact, Hyena in Petticoats frames McClung's whole life within the context of her quest for the fair and equitable treatment of women.
The book is pleasing to the sight and touch, although the ink used emits an odor reminiscent of railway ties. The title on its smooth, matte cover rests on a diagonal banner that begins three-quarters of the way down the right-hand side of the front cover. The scalloped edging and the serifed font channel a bit of old-fashioned feminine charm. In a close-up of McClung's face, as drawn by Dawson in the top left-hand corner, the eyes gaze out at the reader. The warmth of McClung's wheat-coloured face,...