Rapunzel's Revenge

Bibliography

Hale, Shannon. 2008. RAPUNZEL’S REVENGE. Ill. by Nathan Hale. New York: Bloomsbury. ISBN 15999070X.

Plot Summary

Rapunzel’s goal is to free her birth mother and to avenge the wrong-doings she has experienced at the hands of “Mother Gothel” the woman who stole her from her true family, and locked her in a tree for years. Rapunzel makes good use of her extra long hair, utilizing it as a lasso, a whip, an a rope among other things. With the help of her new found friend Jack (of Jack and the beanstalk fame) she is able to free her mother, escape the wicked Gothel, and find love in this Wild West version of a classic tale with a big twist.

Critical Analysis

This Graphic novel ties in traditional folktales with fantasy in a way that is fun, easy to follow, and even easier to look at. The illustrations in this book are fantastic and add an abundance of substance to the written text. The setting is well established both through text and illustrations, and the reader is able to identify the time period, and main personality traits of the characters easily, and to empathize with Rapulzel’s plight. The comic book style of this book is fun and when accompanied with the witty and engaging text, it creates a terrific read.

Review Excerpt

School Library Journal- “This is the tale as you've never seen it before. …While the witch's castle is straight out of a fairy tale, the nearby mining camps and rugged surrounding countryside are a throwback to the Wild West and make sense in the world that the authors and illustrator have crafted. The dialogue is witty, the story is an enticing departure from the original, and the illustrations are magically fun and expressive”

Connections

*Official website of Shannon Hale www.squeetus.com
* Have students adapt other common tales into their own Graphic Novel, utilizing classroom references, Manilla paper, colored pencils and Markers.