Throughout the world of story, the heroine's journey story pattern has always existed – less common than the hero's journey, perhaps, but just as dramatic and transformative. The great children's classics like Alice in Wonderland and Narnia show young girls redeeming the world with faith and cleverness – not swords and savage battles. Modern teen dystopias see young fighters who wield their bows and throwing knives to defend the helpless and strive for an end to war. Comics today are giving girls greater roles but also twists on the classic superhero with Vixen who transforms into animals, Squirrel Girl who wields the power of compromise, and Harley Quinn, who channels her bad girl energy into occasional heroism. As female chosen ones join even the world of Star Wars, they follow the oldest story patterns of goddesses and heroines…not just male heroes. This book explores the steps of the heroine's journey through all these tales, tracing the chosen one through the heroine's descent into the unconscious and triumphal rebirth. Through this pattern, the young woman grows to understand her purpose in the world as she cuts her chosen path.
