Rapunzel's Revenge

Rapunzel's Revenge
by Shannon and Dean Hale

Bloomsbury, 2008








Genre:  Graphic Novel, Fairy Tale

Honors:  ALA Notable Children's Book, YALSA Great Graphic Novel for Teens, Eisner Award nominee, Young Readers Choice Award, Junior Library Guild Premiere Selection, Best Book of the Year from kidsread.com and teenreads.com, Cybil Award, Maine Student Book Award Reading List, Utah Book Award for Children's Literature, ALA Popular Paperback, Texas Maverick Graphic Novel, Young Hoosiers Book Award Nominee

Review:  This book begins with a familiar although somewhat different version of how Rapunzel ended up locked away in huge tower by an evil woman who stole her from her parents in return for a special lettuce. In a humorous plot twist, Rapunzel manages to escape by herself only to find herself facing her would-be rescuer on his mission to save 'some' damsel stuck in a towering tree. She pretends not to know Rapunzel and continues onto her own fascinating adventure; learning of the world she never knew, helping strangers along the way, using her wondrously long hair as a weapon, and endeavoring to defeat the woman who ruined her life. To complete her adventure, Rapunzel meets and befriends the daring Jack.

Opinion:  I really loved the book's concept as well as the humor - it made for a really fun read. The fact that the Hales worked together to come up with their own version of Rapunzel, and that they combined some hints of Jack from 'Jack and the Beanstalk', made the story delightful and exciting. There was also a fantastic cowboy twist, perfect for the cowpoke lovers.

Ideas:  This book would work great for older tweens looking for an exciting graphic novel, and I would certainly use it as a part of graphic novel suggestion list. Additionally, this book would be great on a display of fairy tale adaptations.