Very different from her usual style of writing, A L Kennedy has written a feminist novella for adults based on St Exupery’s well-loved children’s picture book, The Little Prince.
The Little Snake is a fable that gently reminds us that life is more than building great cities and fighting over resources; life can be lived in a small, simple way accepting loss and embracing love. If you take tiny steps across a small garden it makes it appear so much bigger. This is a beautifully-told story, sometimes tongue-in-cheek, that quickly gets its point across and, if you’re familiar with this type of fable it won’t really work for you. I would pitch it more for a YA audience, or for very stressed out adults.
But it’s still a timely nudge to all of us to slow down and to remember that simple activities like flying a kite, being kind to our friends and sharing food is all we need to be happy in life.
Ali Thurm 