Rapunzel's Revenge

 

By Shannon and Dean Hale

Illustrated by Nathan Hale

This wonderful graphic novel tells the well-known story of Rapunzel.  The only twist is that it’s Rapunzel’s version of the story, which turns out to be very different from the traditional story that everyone knows.  Rapunzel is a very nontraditional heroine, and it turns out that “Prince Charming” is actually kind of a dummy.  Rapunzel makes a friend named Jack (later revealed to be from Jack and the Beanstalk), and the two of them go on a quest to rid the land of the evil powers of Rapunzel’s “Mother,” who has kidnapped Rapunzel’s true mother and taken over the land.

This would be a great book to use with upper elementary children.  I really enjoyed it because it is a graphic novel (which more commonly appeal to a male audience) which offers us a strong and enjoyable heroine.  Like The True Story of the 3 Little Pigs, Rapunzel's Revenge offers a fresh viewpoint on an old favorite, and would be yet another great example of how the narrator's viewpoint changes the story.