Rapunzel's Revenge by Shannon and Dean Hale

Rapunzel’s Revenge. by Shannon and Dean Hale; illustrated by Nathan Hale. Bloomsbury, 2008. 144 pages.

Plot: This is not your mother’s Rapunzel.  Yes, she is locked away in a high tree and yes, she has incredibly long hair, but that is about the end of the similarities.  This Rapunzel is set in the wild west.  Rapunzel has a privileged life living with her mother Gothel, in a grand villa with beautiful garden courtyards. Rapunzel has never seen beyond the extremely high wall that encircles her home and her curiosity of what lies beyond, although forbidden by her mother, is revealed as she escapes to the outside. There she finds a bleak landscape inhabited by slaves which turn out to be controlled by her mother, who she discovers is not her real mother after all.  So Gothel locks Rapunzel away in the top of a hollowed out tree to live alone as punishment. Rapunzel escapes and begins a quest to find her real mother, set her free and seek revenge on Gothel.  She meets Jack, who joins her in the journey. Together they encounter danger in the forms of bandits, sea monsters and wild animals. Rapunzel uses her long hair as a whip and lasso to save herself and Jack.  There is a beanstalk and a goose that lays a golden egg thrown into the mix.  Will good triumph over evil?  Will Rapunzel and Jack live happily ever after?

Review/Personal thoughts:  This is the first graphic novel I have read and I enjoyed it immensely.  In can see the appeal that a reluctant reader might experience in this genre.  Of course, much of the appeal of graphic novels has to be the illustrations and I don’t have a lot to compare, but the artwork in this book is brilliant.  The reader is swept up in a visual adventure that moves seamlessly between events evoking danger, heroics, suffering and on top of it all, some laugh out loud humor. Rapunzel is a strong feminine character who embarks on a journey of self-discovery and triumphs over life threatening challenges.  There is action, romance, injustice, mystery and more in what appears to be a comic book for tweens. Do yourself a favor and read this one for sheer enjoyment.

Genre: Fantasy, Graphic Novel

Reading Level: 3.7  Interest level: Ages 10 to 13.

Awards:  ALA 2009 Great Graphic Novels for Teens

Pacific Northwest Young Reader's Choice Award 2011: Grades 7-9

Pennsylvania Young Reader's Choice Award Nominees 2011-2012: Grades 3-6