Envisioning Ecofeminism and Youth Activism in Saving Sorya and Saving H'Non
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Abstract
Girl activism takes center stage in Trang Nguyễn and Jeet Zdung's comics Saving Sorya: Chang and the Sun Bear and Saving H'Non: Chang and the Elephant. The narratives follow Chang, a young conservationist, as she rehabilitates an orphaned sun bear and an abused elephant. The series diverts from conventional depictions of exceptional girl eco-heroes by emphasizing the importance of collaboration, grassroots initiatives, and environmental education. Moreover, the comics promote ecofeminist perspectives by highlighting the connections between environmental degradation, gendered violence, and social inequities. I explore how Nguyễn and Zdung use the multimodal comics form to promote ecofeminist values and educate young readers about global environmental issues. I also analyze how the comics invite readers to engage in transnational advocacy by modeling youth activism and providing resources.
Contributor Notes
Brianna Anderson is an Assistant Professor of English at the University of Texas at El Paso. She is currently working on a monograph that explores youth agency and environmental issues in children's comics and graphic novels. Her larger research agenda examines representations of environmental issues and social injustices in children's literature. Her scholarship has appeared in The Lion and the Unicorn (2021), Children's Literature in Education (2022), Gothic Nature (2023), and International Research in Children's Literature (2023). Email: bmanderson2@utep.edu; ORCID: