Citation:  Rapunzel's Revenge by Shannon and Dean Hale, Nathan Hale, ill.  New York:  Bloomsbury, 2008.

ISBN: 978-1-59990-070-4

Annotation: This retelling of Rapunzel takes place in the Wild West. Rapunzel escapes her evil step-mother by using her long hair as a whip. She rescues her real mother, kills the evil witch, and gets the guy not by her beauty but by her ability to lasso.

Media: Graphic novel format done in comic style with pastel color and cross-hatching detail

Personal Rating: 4Q/5P

Curricular Connections:  This would make a fun addition to a unit on fairy tales. Students could read the traditional story of Rapunzel and compare it to Hale’s version. Hale definitely has made Rapunzel spunkier and her idea to make her use her hair as a lasso is inventive. For older readers, students could compare other updated versions of fairy tales like The Paper Bag Princess by Robert Munsch to discuss gender roles.

Grade Level or Age Range: Grades 5-8

By: Joanne Maher July 24th, 2009

TOP TEN Rapunzel's Revenge by Shannon and Dean Hale, ill. Nathan Hale. Bloomsbury, New York, 2008.

Summary: The Rapunzel story takes a sharp turn to the left when she escapes from the tower on her own and turns into a sort of combination between Pippi Longstocking and Annie Oakley.

Analysis: From the front cover and inside-flap blurb, this looked like one of those books that was either going to be painfully stupid or completely awesome. Verdict: completely awesome. Fairy tales and Wild West tropes combine with a touch of steampunk feel for a funny, spunky, feminist Rapunzel. Also bonus points for a remarkably multicolored cast (it's not really multicultural, per se, since none of the cultures are ever really fleshed out).

Illustrations: Digital fairly realistic comics-style, with some beautiful landscapes and other scenery.

Rating: 5Q/5P

Curricular Connections: 6-8th grade language arts unit on fairy tales.