Rapunzel’s Revenge by Shannon, Dean, and Nathan Hale

Hale, Shannon, Dean Hale, and Nathan Hale. Rapunzel’s Revenge. New York, N.Y.: Bloomsbury, 2008.

In this beautifully drawn graphic novel adventure, a classic fairy tale character is out to get even, with only her courage and long, red hair.

AWARDS

2009 Cybil Award For Best Elementary/Middle Grade Graphic Novel
2009 ALA Notable Children’s Book
2009 YALSA “Great Graphic Novel for Teens”

REVIEW

Rapunzel is no longer a waif. She’s lost the tower and gone military with the locks. This is, on the one hand, a smart adventure novel with twists and quips. One the other, it’s got lush panels that are extremely well-done. A lot of the fun of this book is the way the Hales depict the magical settings Rapunzel and Jack (guess where he’s from?) travel through on their way to redemption and revenge. I didn’t love the somewhat typical humor and “go fetch” plot structure, and some might think turning hair braids into a weapons is too far-fetched, but this is truly a story of girl power and beautiful to boot. Remember when all Rapunzel could do was sit in a tower, cry, and maybe let down her hair for a passing cavalier? Forget it.

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