RAPUNZEL'S REVENGE
BIBLIOGRAPHY
Hale, Shannon & Dean Hale. 2008. RAPUNZEL'S REVENGE. Ill by Nathan Hale. New York, NY: Bloomsbury U.S.A. Children's Books. ISBN 978-1-59990-070-4.
PLOT SUMMARY
Rapunzel is raised in a grand villa by Gothel, the woman she calls mother. But she starts dreaming of a different mother and is compelled to look over the enormous wall surrounding the villa. She discovers a world different from what she could have ever imagined and she goes over the wall to explore. Before she is captured by Gothel, she finds her real mother (who is a slave of Gothel's) and learns that Gothel had stolen her from her real mother when she was a baby because her father had stolen rapunzel lettuce from Gothel's garden. As a punishment for going over the wall, Gothel imprisons Rapunzel in a very tall, magical tree for four years until she escapes by using her hair, that has grown extraordinarily long due to Gothel's growth magic. From there, Rapunzel finds Jack and together they go on all sorts of adventures fighting enemies and helping the people (who are suppressed by Gothel's magic) in the Wild West as they try to get to Rapunzel's real mother and save her from Gothel.
CRITICAL ANALYSIS
Shannon and Deal Hale, put a twist on the original Rapunzel fairy-tale in this exciting and hilarious story. It is a fractured fairy-tale in graphic novel form that breaks tradition in that Rapunzel is the hero (or heroine). She did not need a prince to come save her from the tower, in fact, she saved herself by using her incredibly long hair as a lasso. She then meets Jack after saving his life, once again by using her hair as a lasso and a whip. Jack is a cowboy and an outlaw on the western frontier, but Rapunzel has no friends and she decides to team up with him. She and Jack then go about righting all kinds of wrongs and fighting off evil creatures of all sorts before they eventually save the whole kingdom from Gothel's wicked magic. It is a story of a girl who has come into her own and who has gained self confidence. She says, "There was a time when I might have been scared of those clowns. But since, tussling with a rampaging boar, a pack of outlaw kidnappers, a horde of blood-hungry coyotes and a sea serpent, well. Tina's Terrible Trio just didn't raise my hackles."
The Hale's tell the story in comic strip style with dialogue bubbles and narrations of Rapunzel's. The illustrations by Nathan Hale are superb with vivid colors, emotions and sounds. They definitely enhance the story and even tell the story by themselves in some sections. The evil creatures come alive in the pictures. Without the illustrations, the over-all Western affect of the story could be lost.
The prevailing theme in this graphic novel is that of good vs. evil. Rapunzel is a cowgirl at heart, loyal and honest. She wants only to do what is right and to rid the kingdom of Gothel's evil magic. Rapunzel helps to develop Jack into an admirable character as well. At one point in the story she only agrees to stealing horses, when their lives are in danger, if Jack agrees to return them once they are freed from Gothel. Although, at the end of the story, in true fairy-tale style, there is one thing that she lets him steal!
This is a story that connects with children of all ages, although the humor and language used in some places is geared toward the more mature reader. Who says girls can't save the day, "we're out-womaned, fellas!"
Shannon and Deal Hale, put a twist on the original Rapunzel fairy-tale in this exciting and hilarious story. It is a fractured fairy-tale in graphic novel form that breaks tradition in that Rapunzel is the hero (or heroine). She did not need a prince to come save her from the tower, in fact, she saved herself by using her incredibly long hair as a lasso. She then meets Jack after saving his life, once again by using her hair as a lasso and a whip. Jack is a cowboy and an outlaw on the western frontier, but Rapunzel has no friends and she decides to team up with him. She and Jack then go about righting all kinds of wrongs and fighting off evil creatures of all sorts before they eventually save the whole kingdom from Gothel's wicked magic. It is a story of a girl who has come into her own and who has gained self confidence. She says, "There was a time when I might have been scared of those clowns. But since, tussling with a rampaging boar, a pack of outlaw kidnappers, a horde of blood-hungry coyotes and a sea serpent, well. Tina's Terrible Trio just didn't raise my hackles."
The Hale's tell the story in comic strip style with dialogue bubbles and narrations of Rapunzel's. The illustrations by Nathan Hale are superb with vivid colors, emotions and sounds. They definitely enhance the story and even tell the story by themselves in some sections. The evil creatures come alive in the pictures. Without the illustrations, the over-all Western affect of the story could be lost.
The prevailing theme in this graphic novel is that of good vs. evil. Rapunzel is a cowgirl at heart, loyal and honest. She wants only to do what is right and to rid the kingdom of Gothel's evil magic. Rapunzel helps to develop Jack into an admirable character as well. At one point in the story she only agrees to stealing horses, when their lives are in danger, if Jack agrees to return them once they are freed from Gothel. Although, at the end of the story, in true fairy-tale style, there is one thing that she lets him steal!
This is a story that connects with children of all ages, although the humor and language used in some places is geared toward the more mature reader. Who says girls can't save the day, "we're out-womaned, fellas!"
AWARDS
2009 ALA Notable Children’s Book Award
2009 YALSA Great Graphic Novel for Teens Award
2009 Leah Adezio Award For Most Kid-Friendly Work
Eisner Award nomination.
REVIEW EXCERPTS
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." --Tina Coleman
SCHOOL LIBRARY JOURNAL
"The dialogue is witty, the story is an enticing departure from the original, and
the illustrations are magically fun and expressive."--Cara von Wrangel Kinsey, New York Public Library
CONNECTIONS
Consider these discussion questions:
How is this Rapunzel different than the female characters in many traditional stories?
How would you define the word hero? Are Rapunzel and Jack heroes?
Did you know the story of Rapunzel before you read this book? How was this book similar to or different than the way you remember the Rapunzel story? (Teachers should consider reading a different version of RAPUNZEL and then discuss the differences).
Consider reading these books as well:
CALAMITY JACK by Shannon Hale and Dean HaleJACK AND THE BEANSTALK: THE GRAPHIC NOVEL by B. A. Hoena
PRINCESS ACADEMY by Shannon Hale
INTO THE WILD by Sarah Beth Durst
