Book Review: Rapunzel’s Revenge, by Shannon and Deal Hale, illustrated by Nathan Hale

Will someone please tell me what’s NOT to love about this book? Then again, don’t, because I’d probably poke you in the eye and kick you out of my house!

This is my first foray into the graphic novel genre, an adventure precipitated by two main factors: The Year of Reading Dangerously challenge (see my list in the sidebar on the left), and that fact that I love anything and everything having to do with Shannon Hale. I didn’t exactly know what to expect from a graphic novel. To be honest, I guess I might have expected it to be more “cartoon-y” and lacking a true story. Rapunzel’s Revenge, though, is FULL of story – and a witty, clever, action-packed story at that!

Hale and Hale (and Hale, though the illustrator is of no relation) have taken elements from familiar fairy tales and unexpectedly brought them into the landscape of the wild west. The result is an incredibly fun and charming read. I burned right through the book, and so did each of my daughters, just in the space of two days! They’ve all agreed that this is a book we need to buy for our own library.

I asked my 12 year old daughter to do a guest review here for Rapunzel’s Revenge. She was hesitant at first, and even ended the review in the Word document with a tentative “Is this ok, Mom?” I think she did a great job, and I hope she goes further in convincing you of our enthusiasm for this fantastic graphic novel.

Shannon and Dean Hale’s book, ‘Rapunzels Revenge’, is a twist on the famous tale written by the Grimm Brothers. Rapunzel grew up all her life with Gothel as her mother. One day she finds out that Gothel isn’t her real mother, her real mother was a slave in the slave mines. Rapunzel gets mad and Gothel locks her into a huge hollow tree. Food grows inside the tree and water is provided that always replenishes because Gothel has growth power. Around her sixteenth birthday, she escapes and is determined to rescue her real mother. In order to find out more, you need to read the book.

I really liked this book. It is very adventurous, and the artwork was pretty cool. I liked the personalities of the characters. Rapunzel wasn’t a prim and proper princess who waited in the tower for someone to save her, she found a way out on her own. She is a very independent person that can do things on her own but is not tuned into the outside world. Jack was very witty. He had a unique personality about him and cared very much for Rapunzel. Seeing them bicker reminded me of how brother and sister tease one another. Gothel was a very distinguished villain by her looks to her tone that the book gave her. She was just bound for trouble. Rapunzel’s mother, which we don’t have the pleasure of knowing her name, is very protective over Rapunzel and doesn’t want her to go away. She is very patient though, and waits for her like a good mother would do.

I would recommend this book to anyone who likes adventure, a little romance, and a nice twist on old fairy tales that we all grew up with.

Related Link: Visit Shannon Hale’s blog to read details of a Rapunzel’s Revenge book trailer contest!

Book details:

Publisher: Bloomsbury USA Children’s Books
Format: Paperback
Publish Date: 08/05/08
Pages: 144

You might also enjoy these related posts from Tree, Root, and Twig:

1. Book Review: Princess Academy, by Shannon Hale (a Newbery Honor Book)
2. Book Review: Austenland, by Shannon Hale
3. Book Review: Into the Wild, by Sarah Beth Durst

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