This is an adaptation of the Pandora’s box myth which is set in the North Pole and written in rhyme.

Pandora is a young female Penguin who finds a box in the midst of the ocean. She brings it back to the shore and while her family and friends try to persuade her not to open it, they ultimately help her uncover the box. What they find inside is a glimmering rainbow which creates the northern lights.

From the summary the uniqueness of this adaptation is clearly evident. Pandora’s box is transferred from a human setting to an animal kingdom. Instead of humans the story is populated with Penguins, Humpback whales, seals and other marine life from the pole (probably the North pole).

In this rendition, Pandora keeps her individuality which oftentimes characterizes her persona (especially since she was the first woman). She is described as doing things her own way.

When she finds a golden box at the bottom of the ocean she decides to open it regardless of the others’ warnings. While in the myth Pandora was at times sole responsible for opening the box or aided by Epimetheus, in this story the friends come together to help Pandora, in spite of their initial concerns, thus showing the strength of friendship.

Perhaps their friendship is the reason that the box contains a miraculous rainbow rather than anything harrowing. The story could have easily gone the other way and made a strong statement about the environment with a climate-related evil escaping the box. Yet the author kept the story surrealistically happy and rewarded the Penguin and her friends with the northern lights.

By doing so, Pandora turns from the curious girl (or Penguin), to a strong and unique individual, who follows her own rules and does not succumb to society- to the benefit of all in the end. The story hence celebrates individuality. Pandora’s decisiveness, in contrast to the cautiousness and worry of her peers, led to the miracle. Although it could have brought about a great disaster as well with her carelessness, the author emphasizes her behavior and says that “her playful prying brought delights” p. 18. She was just playing, no harm has been done, and she was not deliberately trying to cause any damage. 

The mythical Pandora unleashed evils, but also hope to the world; her Penguin counterpart brings only happiness and delight, keeping the tone of the story light and humorous. 

The review refers to the second edition ebook