RAPUNZEL'S REVENGE by Shannon Hale

Bibliography

Hale, Dean and Shannon Hale. 2008. Rapunzel's Revenge. Ill by Nathan Hale. New York: Bloomsbury. ISBN 1599900704

Summary

Rapunzel takes matters into her own hands, freeing herself from the tower and teaming up with Jack to save her family and the kingdom from the evil witch that had imprisoned her. Rapuzel uses her whip-like braids to help others as she and Jack find adventure and friendship.

Critical Analysis

Rapunzel is a strong character who doesn’t rely on others to save her from her problems. She is the heroine who is set to rescue the kingdom from Gothel’s oppression. She does befriend Jack, the outlaw whose past adds its own set of problems to face and they work together to right the wrongs that they encounter.

True to graphic novel form, this story is full of action and fast paced, but still rich with the fairy tale themes of friendship and fighting evil. The illustrations create a wonderful world and the facial expressions of the characters add to the depth of the story.

Review Excerpts

2009 ALA Notable Books for Children award winner

2011 Young Reader’s Choice Award winner

Booklist – “Rich with humor and excitement, this is an alternate version of a classic that will become a fast favorite of young readers.” – Tina Coleman

Publisher’s Weekly – “With its can-do heroine, witty dialogue and romantic ending, this graphic novel has something for nearly everybody.”

Connections

This is a great novel to get kids interested in reading!

I think it would be great to compare this Rapunzel to the traditional fairy tale version.

It could also be compared to Jack’s traditional tale and discuss how these stories are woven together, yet maintain a portion of their original form.