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Rapunzel's Revenge is a revisionist take on the classic fairy tale, written by Shannon Hale, her husband Dean Hale, and illustrated by Nathan Hale. (no relation)
Most revisionist takes on the story focus on the relationship between Rapunzel and her "mother", the witch who imprisons her in the iconic tower.
(Into the Woods, Donna Jo Napoli's Zel, etc.)
Here it's more the setting and the personality of the lead character that are revised. Instead of taking place in a fantastical vaguely European medieval type country, we're treated to something a lot like the mythic Old West. Rapunzel herself is more a lasso-twirling heroic vigilante than naive princess. And really, that's all to the good. She's neither a feisty tom boy forced to act like a lady (yawn) nor a pretty china doll who wears lots of dresses. She's herself.
Most of the familiar elements of the tale are there, though with a considerable twist. The prince turns up very briefly. Rapunzel doesn't think much of him. She gets along much better with a trickster named Jack, who owns a mysterious goose obtained under even more mysterious circumstances.
Quite a fun book. The ending leaves things wide open for a sequel. I'm all for seeing more of this unique take on the character.
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