I’m a gargantuan fan of retellings with a sparkly, unique twist.
I read a lot (I can’t help it! Books are so delicious!) and after a while things can all start to taste like gnawing on a cereal box. I will flop onto my knees and beg for uniqueness. I WILL. I’m also a huge fan of retellings — classics, fairy tales, or history — so please just give them all to me now.
If you mix “uniqueness” with “retellings”, I will devour them.
Which is why I’m a huge fan of gender-swaps!
They add such a unique spin to old classic tales. Like if Cinderella is a boy? And Peter Pan a girl? And a fantasy based off Attila the Hun but about a GIRL?! I will literally beg for this stuff.
Now I hadn’t really thought about my love of gender swaps until I was discussing the many adaptions of Sherlock Holmes with you wonderful peoples. A lot of people said they weren’t a fan of gender swaps. WHICH IS FINE! And, honestly, I have to thank you people, because it makes a terrific discussion. (You’re all so inspiring, gawsh, what would I do without you?) And I love a good discussion.
SO! The golden question of today’s post:
DO YOU LIKE GENDER-SWAPS IN LITERATURE??
Grab some tea, cake, a chocolate palace, whatever, and let’s CHAT.
I haven’t stumbled across many in YA books, actually, which makes me sad. I particularly love Every Breath by Ellie Marney, which is another Sherlock adaptation (so of course I’m going to love it) and features a female Watson! Rachel Watts is best friends with her genius next-door-neighbour, James Mycroft. It twists just about everything Sherlock-ish. Plus it’s set in Australia (which is undeniably the best c
ountry in the world, am I right?) and there is plenty of slang and whacking the kettle on for a cuppa this arvo.
I also liked the very (very) loose retelling of Cinderella, Six Impossible Things by Fiona Wood. ALSO AUSTRALIAN!! Clearly we are just more open to mixing up retellings, eh? Cinderella is, in fact, a boy named Dan Cerelli (an anagram of “Cinderella”). I can’t remember if he misplaced his shoes though.
But this is all I’ve discovered?! THE SHAME.
I would happily read a million gender-swaps, and this is why:
- I think it puts a fresh spin on the story because gender can change reactions and emotions and decisions.
- Since a lot of older classic stories/fairy tales are based a lot on guys, it’s refreshing to see women take the lead.
- Although that saying I love reading girls being swapped to boys JUST AS MUCH. Again! It’s just refreshing and interesting to see how a boy-version-of-Alice-in-Wonderland would cope.
- The concept art is. just. awesome. What? You wish me to prove it?! FINE.
\\ pictures link to pinterest //
Here we concept art for The Mad Hatter, Cruella DeVille, Pocahontas and Merida from Brave. I’m pretty much in love with this art.
And how about Atlantis with Milo and Kida, The Little Merman, Hiccup from How To Train Your Dragon, and Esmarelda from The Hunchback of Notre Dame.
Not only is the art incredible (gosh, people with these kinds of talents are sickening, aren’t they? I’m the fan that just sits around crying and eating popcorn instead of, you know, actually drawing/writing fandom things. #uselessfan), but my mind fairly bursts with “WHAT IF” ideas. The writer in me wants to experiment with all the things!
Now, I’m definitely not saying EVERYTHING should be gender bent.
No way! There is room for both, of course. And not everyone has to like this. It’s like any topic of discussion in the universe: everyone can have their own likes and dislikes…and it doesn’t make anyone wrong. Besides this is change and sometimes change sucks and we don’t like it. I, for one, am usually guilty of being a change-hater.
But, honestly? Gender-swapping the old famous stories absolutely floods my brain with ideas and inspiration! I THINK IT’S COOL, OKAY?! It’s fresh and exciting and it already puts a spin on something that might’ve been retold nine million times (hello Cinderella).
So, please, if you see a YA book with a female version of Captain Hook running around slashing and stabbing — I want it. I’ll also take Alister in Wonderland and Aladdinette shhh, I’m trying with the names.
Basically: I’m all for the inspiration of retellings with gender-swaps.
Wow. Aladdinette sounds like a crossover between Aladdin and Piglet! Haha! But I’m totally sold with Alister in Wonderland. Yes, I am. Hmm. I don’t think I’ve ever read a gender-swapped tale before but I’d be glad to be on this bandwagon. Now I’m curious with Rapunzel and Snow White…
I agree with you. Gender-swapped retellings are interesting, in that they twist the emotion construction of the character. A boy and girl, one might argue, are humans just the same BUT we all know we react differently and so, if done properly, this makes for a fascinating reconstruction of a well-loved story.
As always, awesome discussion!
Shelumiel recently posted…Stacking the Shelves #2
Omg, it totally does. PIGLET. **AHEM** And yes, it totally changes the emotional dynamics. Alister in Wonderland is NOT going to handle things the same was as Alice. And I find that endlessly interesting to read about. x)
Ooh, I’ve never actually read a genderbent re-telling before, but, after this post, I want to! They sound really interesting! I also kind of wish I could write any sort of re-telling!
Great post again, as always!
xxx
Aww, thanks, Elly. **flails like a headless cucumber** I would LOVE to read more genderbent retellings, but, omg, where are they?! Why is there this genderbent hole in literature?!
Yes, yes, yes, yes, YEEEESSSSSSSSS to gender-swaps! Especially if it’s with classics and there’s fan art. It just opens up so many possibilities and flips the story a bit. I don’t know why it’s not all the rage these days because freakin’ heck it’s wonderful.
Mawa Mahima recently posted…On Happiness
YES. SOMEBODY GO MAKES THIS A TREND. I DEMAND IT.
I haven’t actually thought about this that much – I think because I haven’t actually read any books where there is a gender swap. But…I’m all for it! If it’s well written, then why not?
I LOVE those pictures! And, I think a female Captain Hook would be awesome!
Captain Hookette is literally my dream now.
Those images are FABULOUS! BUT, I, like you, feel there is room for gender-swaps, but only if they’re done right, you know? Like in Elementary, Watson is a woman, but she’s Sherlocks equal in every way, she’s as talented, if not more in areas, he treats her as his equal and nothing less than the balance and lack of romance between the two is just PERFECT, you know? I’ve got to say, I’d love me some retellings with gender-swaps. I’m open to ideas, but just something that makes me go YES THIS SOUNDS AWESOME GIMME. Such a great post Cait!<3
Amanda @ Beautiful Bookish Butterflies recently posted…Hello and Welcome to BBB: Version 2.0
YES I KNOW. I COMPLETELY KNOW AND AGREE. Girl!Watson is my favourite thing ever (and let's not evne start on Moriarty!Elementary because I was so so happy). Basically I'd read anything YA if it's exceptionally wonderfully written. But I feel like genderbending isn't something that's really explored, despite the fact that retellings boomed recently?!
Come to think of it, I don’t think I’ve stumbled upon many books that do gender swapping actually, so I’m really keen to get this experience in the Every series! Some really interesting pictures you’ve featured, wow at that Little Mermaid one! It would definitely be a positive thing though, seeing a traditionally male in a female character, etc. Interesting discussion Cait!
Jeann @ Happy Indulgence recently posted…Indulgence Insider #26 – Age of Ultron & Fantasy Lootcrate
It would totally change a lot of dynamics in the old classic tales, right?! Even in actual classics…Eli Bennet and Ms Darcy?! XD OMG.
This is a thing? Where have I’ve spending my time? I really need to check one of these books out. And I would totally read about a girl Captain Hook.
I need that in my life. And a guy Merida.
Sa Lopes recently posted…Review | This Shattered World
IT IS A THING. BUT AN UNDERDONE THING.
In all my musings about fairytale retellings (because I love reading AND writing them), I’ve never thought about gender-bending them. WHAT EVEN. I mean, I’ve seen all the cool art on Tumblr but apparently it didn’t click. BUT YES I’D LOVE TO READ MORE OF THESE. Female Peter Pan pleeeeease!
Emily @ Loony Literate recently posted…It’s a Loony Life (10) – Back to School! (yay…)
EMILY. YOU MUST FIX THIS. I have a female Captain Hook in my Peter Pan retelling, but omg, I want to burn that draft because it is so. so. bad. XD
GENDER BENDS ARE LIFE. Dan Cerelli??? Brilliant. I especially love seeing names getting gender-swapped, like Beau and the Beast instead of Beauty, Esmerald instead of Esmeralda. Although names aren’t necessarily gender-specific, it makes the whole thing 10x cooler. Merida in that fan art looks so much like her dad…my brain’s already inventing the plot in which “Meridian” is courted by three princess from three different clans. :’)
(PS Australia is definitely the best country. >:))
Those names are WAY better than my…oh gawsh, what did I even say? Aladdinette? **buries self in corner of shame** haha. But Beau is amazing, I love that.AUSTRALIA IS JUST FANTASTIC IN EVERY WAY. Except for, ya know, the creepy wildlife but every country has their creepy wildlife.
I haven’t actually thought about this. I don’t think I’m for or against. If it’s done well, sure, I’m for. If not, against. Pretty easy! (:
AGREED. It needs to be well done. All the things need to be well done. I DO NOT LIKE RAW BOOKS. Seriously, though. xD
Oh my gosh I love those fan arts <3 <3 <3 <3 hold on… I have to swoon over the beautiful art (THEY ARE SO TALENTED IN DRAWING!!!)
Ok! Done :3 or maybe not but I'm moving on anyways haha. I am a super super super super SUPER fan of fairy tale retellings so Gender-Swapping doesn't bother me at all. I REALLY want to find an awesome Red Riding Hood tale with a boy who kicks werewolf butt, gosh that would make me happy ^_^ or a Peter Pan story where Peter (Petra 😀 😀 ?) is a girl haha, I'd love that, just imagine a sassy Tinkerbell boy, I would enjoy that SO much!
For me though, I tend to love retellings no matter what, gender-swapped or not, I love them passionately 🙂
Although, I have NEVER read a gender-swapped book before, I've read a Manga called Are You Alice where Alice is a boy involved in a game to kill the White Rabbit and it is awesome! I would love to see more unique story retellings though ^___^
Nice poooooost 🙂
Brianna @ Otakutwins Reviews recently posted…The Third Twin Review
I KNOW RIGHT?! ERMAGERD. SO MUCH TALENT. SO MUCH BEAUTY. *drools over arts*Petra Pan. MAKE IT HAPPEN, SOMEONE.
My thoughts on genderswaps? GIVE THEM TO ME, AND LET ME GIVE SOME TO YOU. As a writer, I cut my baby teeth on a genderswapped retelling of Rumplestilskin called Ruthastilskin – and I still have it in my desk somewhere. It was adorable. Currently, I only have one genderswap released (CinderEddy, which actually began as trying to rewrite Cinderella as an adventure for a contest, but I only had a 1,200 words to do it in, and swapping to a boy meant less explanations. Fun fact: when I rewrote it for publication, it expanded to nearly 10,000 words), but I have more planned. I just need to get them written. (In particular a Robin Hood one that’s a prequel 300 years prior to my Bookania Quests, also, I recently got the idea of a nice sorta-kinda genderswapped twist on Beauty and the Beast, which I wish I’d received last year so I could enter it for the 5 Enchanted Roses contest)
I actually haven’t read that many genderswaps though … (the only two I’m readily calling to mind are a Cinderella and a Robin Hood, coincidentally). I need to remedy this.
Kendra E. Ardnek recently posted…CE Rizkaland – Kiona
Ooh, you are so onboard with this! GO YOU. The only gender-swap I've ever written so far, is a female Captain Hook, who I LOVE but the book kind of failed and needs so much work I can't even look at it. xD
I have never read any gender swapping retellings but I am all for it! I love the idea of a fresh spin on old stories. Great post!
Grace @ Rebel Mommy Book Blog recently posted…Weekly Rewind ~ 4.26.15
The freshness would be so so delicious.
I’ve only read Cinder so I’m pretty new to retellings, but I can see how swapping the gender of the main character would change things. As you say, men and women would react to things differently.
As a retelling noob, where do you recommend I start with gender swapping retellings?
Rosie recently posted…6 things that made me happy this week
They do! And it'd be interesting if the same plot line was kept and Princess Charmette came up in shining armour to slay a dragon and wake up Sleeping Handsome. I'm a gender-swap noob too! I'VE ONLY READ TWO. I totally recommend Every Breath though — because Sherlock + girl Watson + Australia = so much awesome.
That art is awesome!
I don’t really mind whether things are gender swapped- so long as it doesn’t feel like they just swapped the name and about one characteristic. I seriously doubt I could write one though!
ponymad2booklover recently posted…6 Word Stories (And Why They’re Cool)
Yesss! It has to be a FULL swap! With all the emotions and reactions adjusted to suit the gender. *nods*
I’ve actually never come across a book with “Gender Swapping”. In some places it sounds cool though, like girl Hiccup or guy Ariel. But in my opinion, Cinderella as a male is just going a little too far. Also, I admit I like the guy-to-girls better than the princesses turning into men. ;P
WHY?! We could have Cinderel riding a pumpkin and losing glass shoes, right?! Although, too true. If it was Princess Charming she'd remember the dude's face. -_-
I love gender-swap art! IT CAUSES AWESOME PLOT BUNNIES. I LOVE PLOT BUNNIES!
Admittedly though, I don’t believe I’ve read any gender-swap books. I must find some…
Katie Nichols recently posted…The Editing Diaries– Author’s Pet, Smooth Sailing, and Influences
PLOT BUNNIES ARE GREAT. FEED THE PLOT BUNNIES. EMBRACE THE PLOT BUNNIES.
I’ve actually never come across a gender swap novel. I’ve seen lots of art, for Disney characters especially, but never a novel. So I don’t really have an opinion on them. Maybe I need to find some.
Aine recently posted…Chimaera and Seraph, Demons and Angels
Well I've only read 2 of them so I'm not too far ahead of you. xD
I am actually currently writing a loosely based on Alice in Wonderland political thriller with a gender swap. It’s kind of disturbing an creepy but also really hopeful and sad. I adore it.
Anne-girl recently posted…Wordplay VII
OH. my. gosh. YOU ARE MY NEW FAVOURITE PERSON. **flails** Do you have a female Mad hatter?!!
I do actually enjoy gender bent ideas every now and again—I recently read this book called “Shadows on Snow” that I rather enjoyed; it’s a Snow White retelling where Snow White is a boy, but the main character is one of the “seven dwarves” characters, and she is more or less in charge of protecting him. I thought it was a cool way for the author to explore a character like Snow White, who would be kind and gentle and that sort of thing, and yet still be distinctively male. I also liked the seven sisters who replaced the dwarves—rather than just being random miners they were an actual family with political goals and scores to settle, and demonstrated that women can show all kinds of power through their actions, their beauty, their weaponry skills, their magical skills, skills with plants, etcetera.
All in all I really liked that book.
So, in the end, gender-swapped stories don’t bug me, especially if the twists included turn out to be awesome.
Heather recently posted…Editing is Like Dissecting a Cat
I'm looking that up like, right now, because IT SOUNDS SO GOOD.
On the surface, the idea is intriguing… but the fact that so many of those fan-made pictures were male versions of female characters made me a little uncomfortable. I know that we have lots of great heroines in fiction now, but in the past, so many books were written about boys (i.e., almost every single one of the books I had to read in school… with the exception of only a few, where the woman was crazy, an adulteress, a rape victim, a murder victim, etc.; geez… what was wrong with my teachers?!). So the idea of turning the few classic female characters we have into male characters… I don’t know. It just doesn’t sit quite right with me. I’d be afraid of a situation where we get a glut of stories where people thought they had to turn all the female characters into males just so that boys would read the books (which, I’m guessing, is probably the reason teachers would give for why we have to read so many sexist books in the first place).
These swaps would have to be done really well for me to enjoy them, I think. It would have to be more than just swapping the gender and names…
La Coccinelle @ The Ladybug Reads… recently posted…New to the TBR Pile (24)
Hmm, I see where you're coming from, and I'm sad you had such a sucky time with literature in school. 🙁 I feel like it wouldn't have to be the case though, because I'm not saying “turn ALL THE GIRLS INTO BOYS!” I want to see boys roles as girls too! I want to see Princess Charming and Cinderel (?! I died at turning Cinderella into a boys name >_<)
CAIT
oh man I’ve had an idea for a Guy!Elsa being the Beast in a B&B//Frozen crossover, AND lately my brain has been trying to make sense of a gender-swapped Rapunzel. I’ll let you know if any mature to the point of being written XD
Lisa Canfield recently posted…So you’re the guy who saved my life?
I think gender swaps could actually be pretty cool! It’s another good way to change the fairytales that have been done thousands of times. Gail Carson Levine has one called Cinderellis and the Glass Hill (part of her Princess Tales series, which are a bunch of shortish retellings). I think that’s the only gender swap I’ve read…
Katie H. recently posted…A Review of Red Queen, Where I’ve Been, and What I’m Doing
I've only read one Gail Levine book, I totally need to read more.
I love genderbent retellings, though I’ve never actually read one. *cough cough*. I do love Elementary though, and how Watson is a girl in that one! I’d love to read more with genderbent protaginists. (Also, Alister is a lovely twist on the name Alice. And I totally want a female Captain Hook and Peter Pan after reading this!)
*oohs and aahs over pretty artwork* Wow.
I liked this discussion!
Emma @ Kittens on Bookshelves recently posted…Dewey’s 24-Hour Read-a-Thon: Wrap-Up
I think it’s an odd trend, but it definitely has potential! The female Hiccup or Milo/Kida–those are stories I would love to read/watch! It adds such a new element to the story. Male Ariel, though? I’m not a fan of that one–for some reason, I just don’t think it works as well. But overall, I’m all for the creativity and unique twist on a classic story!
Emily Seals recently posted…A Definitive and Authoritative Ranking of Emilys
Either way the plot of the Ariel story disturbs me…changing yourself to suit your potential-love-interest?! UM. nO. XD hehe.
I LOVE this post, as I’ve often thought about how awesome gender-swapping in stories would be as well (and I’ve stumbled across those pictures of Disney-swapped villains before, they’re GORGEOUS). I think it could breathe fresh life into a lot of retellings, and as a writer it could be interesting to see where the story would take you if you played around with a retelling and swapped the gender of the protagonist. However, I also think that even swapping the gender of a secondary character (what about a fairy godfather? The Wicked Warlock of the West?) could really change up the dynamic of a retelling in a unique way. Going further, I think it’s interesting too when characters (I notice this the most with villains) exhibit a lot of influence from both genders (there’s a lot of Disney villains who fit this role, such as Dr. Facilier from Princess in the Frog having a lot of female attributes and Ursula having a very masculine appearance in the Little Mermaid). It’s cool to have characters who have traits not constrained by a gender binary!
Cristina @ Girl in the Pages recently posted…Stacking the Shelves [20]
OMG YOU ARE SO SO RIGHT. That would be epic…I want the Wicked Warlock of the West and extraordinary amount now.
This has inspired me to think about WHY villains are so often able to transcend gender boundaries than protagonists! Would you mind if I did a post about that? I’ll be sure to link back and mention how your post inspired me!
Cristina @ Girl in the Pages recently posted…Top Ten Books Which Feature Characters Who Challenge Societal Norms & Expectations
This is a great idea, I have never read anything gender bent. I am so going to write something using this idea though. 🙂
Skye recently posted…Cover Reveal: A Dream Not Imagined
YES DO!! I've written a Girl!Hook before, but the book kind of died and I don't know if I'll ever get back to it. >_< But it's something I want to explore in writing at some point. xD
I love the idea of genderbent retellings. I haven’t read any, but I’d love to – I think it would add such an interesting twist to some stories. Like, imagine a genderbent Rapunzel story. Or The Little Mermaid! I’m dying to read something like that.
Great post! I love the artwork you included. People are so gosh darned talented.
Hannah Mary recently posted…The Cutest Birthday Party Ever
I'd be so tempted for the Little Mermaid! It's kind of a weird plot line (changing yourself for a love-interest? UM NO) but I would love to see it revamped and genderbent. xDDisgustingly talented, seriously.
Oh my goodness … I had never thought of this much before, but now I can see the possibilities. I would love to read some (or write some) just to explore the possibilities (and because I think they could be really, really cool). Also, that fan art is interesting.
WRITE SOME. There are clearly not enough genderbent books out there. XD
That art is amazing!
I can’t remember that many gender swap retellings but I did read Scarlet by A. C. Gaughen recently where Will Scarlet, one of Robin Hood’s Merry Men, is a young woman! I really, really enjoyed the story and her voice, too. The third (and final?) part’s coming out in May, I think, but I still have to read book 2.
Kaja recently posted…A Birthday (and a Giveaway)
I totally want to read that book!! I haven't gotten my grubby paws on it yet but soooon.
I’ve never really thought about it before, because, honestly, the only gender swap I’ve really seen in a retelling has been in the form of a female Watson, as you mentioned. Which I loved. I think I would love a female Sherlock even more. But I can’t think off-hand of any other gender swaps in retellings. Probably because, let’s face it, gender roles haven’t really evolved ALL that much from their roots. I LOVE the idea of a female Peter Pan!
That concept art is AMAZING!!!! My favorites are the Mad Hatter and the Cruella de Ville ones 🙂
Liza Barrett recently posted…Weekend Writing Warriors: April 25 #8sunday
Why isn't there a female Sherlock yet?!! I WANT THAT SO BADLY. Hopefully some epic writer will get inspired for it soon. *crosses fingers*
I’ve never thought much about gender swaps before, but I think it would be really cool to see a male Alice in Wonderland or something of the like. It’s a shame there aren’t more of them in movies and books nowadays! Great post! 🙂
I agree! TOTAL shame! It's a hole that needs filling. xD
So I’ve never really thought about whether or not I like gender swaps. So after reading this post, I did. And I’ve decided I’m a HUMONGOUS FAN. I ADORE all the fan art I see all over the place. So I’m TOTALLY reading those two books you mentioned, because I clearly haven’t read any gender swap books. (And also you’ve just been making me crazy lately to read Every Breath. I WANTS IT.)
Also, I am now pondering possible gender swap retellings for future novels. I’ve got an Arthurian contemporary retelling brewing in my mind (it’s just a plot bunny as yet), so maybe now I’ll do some swapping! *chortles with joy*
P.S. An afterthought: I’m mostly cool with genderbent books if they were retelling an old story. Sherlock, okay, that’s a big name now, so I’ll go with it. But I’d prefer fairy tales and the like.
Sophia recently posted…Am I a Good Parent to my Book Babies?
WE SHALL BE HUMONGOUS FANS TOGETHER, SOPHIA. BECAUSE SERIOUSLY SOMEONE NEEDS TO WRITE MORE OF THESE BEFORE I EXPLODE WITH LONGING. Also: you need Every Breath. Like, why are you even talking to me? Go find yourself a copy. Read it. FAIL WITH ME.Ooh, King Artherette? hehe
Weeeelll I was kinda thinking of Merlina, but Arthurette works too I guess? 😛
Sophia recently posted…Am I a Good Parent to my Book Babies?
I FREAKING LOVE RETELLINGS. And gender bending! 🙂 The fanart is amazing. (And is it just me, or does fem!Mad Hatter look like Emma Stone? *thinks she’d be a fantastic choice for it*) I sadly haven’t read many gender bent fairytales (or any retellings, really), but I want to! I’m so excited to read Lock & Mori and really want to watch “Elementary” at some point. (Can you tell I like Sherlock Holmes?)
Kate @ The Magic Violinist recently posted…Dear OTP (TCWT Blog Chain)
I DON'T KNOW BUT NOW I CAN'T UNSEE THAT. I WANT FEMALE!MAD HATTER TO BE EMMA STONE SO MUCH. Omg, she'd totally pull that off. She so would. FJDKALSDS Lock & Mori? I'M DYING FOR IT. I just hope it's epic and isn't a let down. xD
Hmm…I haven’t read many books with genderswaps, but I think it would be cool to read a few. Let me know if you have any specific recommendations – I’ve already put the two you’ve mentioned (Every Breath and Six Impossible Things) on hold at the library. Thanks for sharing! ♥
Zoe @ Stories on Stage recently posted…The Culprit POV
ZOMG YAY!!! I really hope you like Every Breath. xD Six Impossible Things is a really really loose retelling, trust me, hehe, I never went on to read Wildlife but i've been meaning to, since it's kind of a companion novel?
YES ALL THE GENDER SWAPS. I love them <3
Oh my god that Cruella DeVille gender bend is one of my favorites I’ve seen floating around on the interwebs. The same artist swapped Hades from Hercules and that was pretty incredible!
Kayla @ The Thousand Lives recently posted…Weekly Update #77 || I’ve lost my mind
I was looking at them all on pinterst and dyyyying because I just wanted to post them ALL. XD
I am actually a huge fan of books and comics that feature gender benders! You’re right that it gives a lot of leeway to more varying emotions, discussions, themes, and reactions to particular events. It really gives a lot of room for character development and angles we haven’t seen before in a retelling. I hope there are more with this trope, but it feels like I can only get my fix of it in manga for now as it is so rare in YA :/
Faye le Potato recently posted…ARC Review: Delicate Monsters by Stephanie Kuehn
It just makes everything a bit fresher right?! Not that I'm opposed to traditional retellings, but, yes, ergh, I've read Cinderalla SO MANY TIMES and it'd be nice to see more genderbending in it. It is super rare in YA. 🙁 I wonder if the publishers aren't willing to take a risk on it?
I think I have read one! ::Glances at commentluv:: And I approve! I approve on all counts, and I definitely think those drawings are AMAZING. I just see no reason why there shouldn’t be gender swaps at this point. I mean, you’re changing stuff in the story anyway, so who cares if the gender changes, as long as it makes sense in the story you’re telling? I think there are a LOT of ways that this can be done very well, so I do hope to see more of them in the future.
Shannon @ It Starts At Midnight recently posted…Review: Rook by Sharon Cameron
EXACTLY. Change all the things! HUZZAH.
I LOVE LOVE LOVE LOVE gender-swaps. Who doesn’t!? We get to see a character in a completely different light… but the more I think about it, the more I realize that I haven’t actually read many of them. O.o Maybe there aren’t many around?? Not sure, but there should definitely be more of them. ^_^
Kara @ Diary of a Teen Writer recently posted…The Darkest Part of the Forest || Folk, Fairytales, and Beautiful Writing
I don't really think there are many around?! I've read a truckload of retellings (well, it feels that way XD hhe) but only TWO genderbends?! What even is this.
I LOVE retellings and I love ones that have a unique twist on them. I would read a gender swap in a heartbeat. This does remind me of a quote from Beverly Cleary, “If you don’t see the book you want on the shelves, then write it!” Maybe that should be your next project, hmmm? 🙂
Cynthia recently posted…Musing Mondays – Why I Decided To Quit My Challenges
TRUE. I didn't know Beverly Cleary said that quote though?! Omg. I love her. Hehe, I diiiiid write a Female!Captain Hook once but the book was AWFUL. *sigh*
Well,truth to be told,I don’t have any particular feelings towards gender swaps.But I think they are really cool,if the swap is suitable for the character.One book I’ll recommend for you is Scarlet by A.C.Gaughen,which I am currently reading.It’s a retelling of Robin Hood and the MC is the girl version of Will Scarlet-one of Robin’s Merry Men.It’s really wonderful.You should try it!
And those artworks are beautiful!I wish I can draw like that!All I can draw is stick men in ties:)
Mishma @ Chasing Faerytales recently posted…Why do we need more diverse books?
I DO WANT TO READ THAT ONE. It's on the endless tbr, but, sadly, my library doesn't have it yet so I'm just waaaaiting. (Impatiently. XD)
This is getting my writerly brain churning too! (And that girl Hiccup is actually super adorable.) I can’t recall reading any gender swapped books, but I think I’ve seen a couple… At least one or two?
Another (less underdone) idea is switching the hero/villain roles. I have this one idea about an evil Rapunzel being locked up for the sake of the kingdom’s safety. Mother Gothel is on the good side, and the prince…well, I haven’t decided if he’s good and deluded, or a fellow baddie trying to break Rapunzel out of prison. XD
Tracey recently posted…Things I Learned As a Child – Part 1
Omg, that would be AMAZING. I read lots of books by villains, but that's a totally different spin having the villain actually be good and afjdklsafd PLEASE WRITE IT NOW AND PUBLISH IT AND GIVE IT TO ME.
LOL, your enthusiasm does make me want to go write it this instant. XD One of these days! Ohhh, and could you imagine a whole series like that? Evil Cinderella with good stepsisters? Evil Snow White and a good Queen? :O *runs off to scribble ideas down*
Tracey recently posted…Things I Learned As a Child – Part 1
Holy Batman…that concept art is incredible!!! I love the idea of a well-done gender swap–I’m not against change if it’s good. 🙂
Martha recently posted…Music Monday: Happy
I am so jealous of people's abilities to art so freaking beautifully. xD I LOVE THE MERIDA ONE.
YES!!! I say yes to these, to all of these. But OMG the female Mad Hatter looks fucking epic and that story needs to hurry up and be written already. Can you just go write that already? I need to read it.
Charnell @ Reviews from a Bookworm recently posted…Mini Reviews: The Adult Fiction Edition
WHY IS THERE NO FEMALE MAD HATTER YET??! THAT'S WHAT I WANT TO KNOW. SOMEONE FIX THIS NOW FOR ME.
Ahhh, that fanart is amazing. (Totally agree: “gosh, people with these kinds of talents are sickening, aren’t they? I’m the fan that just sits around crying and eating popcorn instead of, you know, actually drawing/writing fandom things. #uselessfan” <– me)
I loved the gender swapping in Every Breath! (And yes, Australia just might be the best country in the world.) The only other one I can think of off the top of my head is the Scarlet series, which I also like. I'm all for more gender swapping! There have to be more, right?! You should post a list of any suggestions you get from the comments. There are a LOT of comments, and I really don't feel like reading them all, but since you're going to anyways… 😀
We are useless (but still fabulous, naturally) fans together. *nods sadly*AUSTRALIA IS THE BEST COUNTRY. It just totally is. I mean, we have Vegemite and hot cross buns. Not together though. Ew.*whispers* I wouldn't expect anyone to read all these comments!
I LOVE VEGEMITE. Even if it means I have to denounce my U.S. citizenship, haha. I became completely addicted when I was there. And now I’m majorly craving it. I could do with some Vegemite, a package of Tim Tams, and a bag of chocolate covered licorice. Okay, stopping now before I dissolve in a puddle of drool.
Hmm, maybe not useless…someone has to appreciate the fan art, after all!
I LOVE the idea of a gender swap. In fact you just gave me a few brilliant ideas for some stories I might want to write now. You’re wonderful for bringing this to my attention! Thank you so much!! Bloody brilliant is what this is. A FEMALE CAPTAIN HOOK!? How come I never thought of this before! I must explore the possibilities this knowledge supplies me with!! MY MIND IS BURSTING!
Lyndsey @ MusingFiction recently posted…Happenings and Goings-Ons
*bows regally* YES I AM WONDERFUL. hehe. JUUUUUST KIDDING. But yes it is freakishly fantastic. I want that girl!Hook so badly I cannot even right now.
Man, I feel really strange about this.
On one hand, I totally agree with EVERYTHING you say! Why not turn the tables and change the genders. I know people don’t agree with this but I do think gender has to do with someone’s personality to a degree and I would love to see what different/same decisions characters would make as a female brain or a male one.
but as pretty as that fanart is, i cannot stop seeing what i was shown as a kid. in a way, it kind of freaks me out because the Pocahontas and Atlantis ones looks really similar to the originals… like too similar. i have no idea. Cruella and the Mad Hatter, however, look amazing. I want to see a male cruella. That would be so cool!
Nova @ Out of Time recently posted…Monthly Recap [April 2015]: Swaggin’ Collages and Sarcastic Conversations
I know how you feel. 😉 I'm all up for change in the literary world, tho, so it suits me to the ground. And gender does affect personality and things…we all handle things differently right? The dynamics would be so refreshing. I WANT.
1) Are you for or against? I AM FOR! Gender swapping, if done correctly, can be awesome.
2) Do you think gender-swaps can lose the heart of the character? It depends on the writing, and the plot. If it’s just gender swapping for the sake of gender swapping then yes, there’s no heart there. It’s simply a gimmick.
3) Do you think they add a fresh twist to an old over-told tale? Again, it depends. It’s not a fresh twist if it’s a pretty close retelling only with gender swapping. I like retellings to go in new directions and explore crazy possibilities. Then again, I do enjoy a good Beauty and the Beast retelling that stays pretty faithful to the original, but I do like new and original perspectives, and if gender swapping is included, then that’s even better!
Awesome post, Cait! Also, those pictures of gender swapped characters are fabulous. Girl Hiccup FTW!
Mallory @ The Leaning Tower of Tomes recently posted…Review — Life Unaware by Cole Gibsen
ISN'T THE GIRL HICCUP JUST THE MOST AMAZING?! I WANT. There was one of Girl!Hiccup with Boy!Astrid too, which was so so awesome.x)
I’m not sure that I’ve read any gender-swaps in books, but I will say I love what the show Hannibal did — two of the characters in the original books that were men, Freddy Lounds and Alan Bloom, became women in the TV show — Freddie Lounds and Alanna Bloom. I appreciate that, since otherwise there wouldn’t have been like ANY female characters in the main cast! It’s like how they made Starbuck from the original Battlestar Galactica a woman in the reboot. (I guess I definitely *watch* more rebooted TV shows than I read retellings of books.)
I don’t think a gender swap will lose the heart of the original character — the original character’s heart is still there in the original work, the reboot is just something different and refreshing and new! Just so long as they don’t gender swap one character in a same-sex friendship to be the other gender so they can have a romance — that rubs me the wrong way. If the same-sex characters could’ve had a romance with each other, there’s no reason to switch one of their genders to make it happen! Anyway, that’s my only qualm. Otherwise, bring on the gender swaps!
Christina @ Christina Writes recently posted…ten characters I would totally share a library with
I actually don’t think I have read a novel where the main character was gender swapped, although my memory is THE WORST so I can’t trust myself xD I do love all those pictures where the characters are gender swapped though, they all look so cool. I’m definitely not against the idea because I love originality and like you said, it opens up so many more story options. I do love the plotlines where the character *disguises* themselves as the opposite gender though, that is always fun. Not sure that counts though :p
Alise recently posted…Review: The Caller by Juliet Marillier
Arg, yes! I love gender swap (especially all the amazing (fan) art work on the internet!!). I think it would be so interesting to see our favourite characters with a different perspective.
I’ve read Scarlet by A.C. Gaughen with girl!Will Scarlet. And I remember as a kid I watched this awesome cartoon were Cinderella was a guy, it was pretty funny. So yes, there should totally be more gender-swap stuff! I would totally be all over old stories with gender swap!
Great discussion!
Cyn @ Book Munchies recently posted…Review: Crimson Bound by Rosamund Hodge
I really want to read that Scarlet!! It’s been recommend a few times now and I’m soooo curious. xD I LOVE ROBIN HOOD.
That is awesome art. I love the Cruella DeVille one, and the artist did an entire series of genderbent characters, with some cartoon characters in human form. You would love the rest of her work! It’s at Sakimi Chan on Facebook.
Shannelle recently posted…ARC Review: The Fangirl’s Guide to the Galaxy by Sam Maggs
I shall look it up because I LOVE ART.
Oh I would be so up for more books like this! I’m pretty sure I’ve never read any, but I definitely would! That concept art is incredible… I particularly love Merida as a guy :3
I think gender-swaps in well known and loved character would cause a bit of controversy, but I always love when that happens with a book xD
Katie recently posted…Life in April.
Oh my God! YES! I love Gender-Swaps and I absolutely love reading stories of that kind!
Also, I hate you for again inspiring me for thousands of stories! What about the Neverending Story with an Atreya instead of an Atreyu? What about Harriet and Draquesha bitching around at Hogwarts? What about Mary Poppins as the best male Babysitter in Town? What if Jim Button (do you know Jim Button down there in Australia at all?) was a little black girl? What if? What if? Oh my god, the possibilities. I’ve fallen in love with these ideas.
Oh, and I adore that female Hiccup! I identify a lot with Hiccup anyway, and why shouldn’t he be a girl? (Just that I can’t fall in love with him anymore, but that’s okay)
Windsprite recently posted…“Dark Life” and “Rip Tide” -Kat Falls
I LOVE IT. I think it add such an unique and fun twist to some known stories we have. I’m all in for switching things up. It takes a new approach of the story, because boys and girls certainly have different type of emotions. It’s what I liked about Beastkeeper (girl is the beast)
It would be hilarious to make a story where Cinderella is a boy! He could lose his special bow tie :p Rapunzel switched, where the girl has to climb the tower with help of his beard, haha. Or Pinocchio as a girl, I think that would effect the story too.
Mel@thedailyprophecy recently posted…Review 226. Heather Dixon – Illusionarium.
I LOVE GENDER SWAPS! I also love reading books my mom calls brain candy… meaning they are written to be a good story not to challenge your life long beliefs. Recently I’ve been obsessed with Robin Hood. There are two i found that are pretty good… Robyn Hood by KM Shea and Robin Hood: Lady of the Legend by RM ArceJeager. Anoyher great gender bender is King Arthur and her knights by KM Shea. They are all quick reads and super cute novels. I love the twist they make on a classic story 🙂
Ooh, I like the phrase “brain candy”. 😂 Sometimes books are good when they’re just FUN and don’t totally crush your soul or anything. :’) Ohhhh, I feel like I really need to look up those two authors, particularly for a gender bent King Arthur! *dashes for goodreads*