Module 13: Rapunzel’s Revenge by Shannon and Dean Hale (SLIS 5420 review)

Summary: Rapunzel has grown up in a luxurious villa with Mother Gothel, but she’s never been completely happy. One day Rapunzel finds out that Mother Gothel is not her real mother at all. Gothel stole her from her real parents, and how her real mother is a slave in Gothel’s mines. When she confronts Gothel about it, she has Rapunzel locked in a tree. For four years, she is a prisoner in that tree (and her hair grows and grows). Rapunzel uses that hair to break out of her prison, and with the help of a new friend named Jack, she exacts her revenge and saves her real mother.

Citation: Hale, S., Hale, D., & Hale, N. (2008). Rapunzel's revenge. New York, N.Y.: Bloomsbury.

Impression: I loved this book from start to finish. The Hales’ take on the take of Rapunzel is fresh and funny and should appeal to both boys and girls. The graphic novel format is the perfect format for this story because the visual elements add so much to the telling of the story. The quasi-Wild West setting lends itself to lots of action and adventure. Also, there is plenty of witty dialog, especially between Rapunzel and Jack. (I loved that Jack calls her Punzie.) Nathan Hale’s illustrations are full of visual humor. He gives the characters especially Rapunzel and Jack, some great facial expressions. I liked this book so much I immediately read its sequel, Calamity Jack, and I enjoyed it as well.

Review:
Booklist:
This graphic novel retelling of the fairy-tale classic, set in a swashbuckling Wild West, puts action first and features some serious girl power in its spunky and strong heroine. Young Rapunzel lives a lonely life, never knowing what lies beyond the high garden walls of her mother’s royal villa until one day she climbs the wall to see what’s on the other side. When she finds that the world outside is a dark place oppressed by her mother’s greed for power and uncovers the real secret of her own birth, she is imprisoned in a magic tree tower. In her years of captivity, she learns a lot about self-reliance and care for her exceptionally long hair, and eventually she is able to escape, vowing to bring down her mother’s cruel empire. Hale’s art matches the story well, yielding expressive characters and lending a wonderful sense of place to the fantasy landscape. Rich with humor and excitement, this is an alternate version of a classic that will become a fast favorite of young readers.

Coleman, T. (2008). [Review of the book Rapunzel's Revenge, by S. Hale and D. Hale]. Booklist, 105(1), 100. Retrieved from http://www.booklistonline.com/

Use in library: Rapunzel’s Revenge could be used as a book for a middle school club. They could discuss the book, draw their own pictures of Rapunzel and Jack, and watch the movie Tangled.