Tired of the typical fairy tales? You know the ones with the fair maiden in distress and the charming prince who comes and saves her after risking life and limb in a fight with an evil doer? Well, look no further than Rapunzel’s Revenge for a twist on the classic fairy tale of the girl with the super long hair.
An unconventional twist on a conventional story line, Rapunzel’s Revenge is a story about a girl who is tired of being lied to and wants to make a change in a world where everything isn’t exactly as it seems. Rapunzel has spent many years with a woman she thought was her mother, to only find out that the woman is an evil witch who forces everyone one to work for her as she sucks the world dry of water so no one can have any plants. It comes as no surprise that Rapunzel gets locked up (in a tree this time), but this time, Rapunzel decides to fight back. She meets up with a young boy named Jack, and from there on, their adventures hardly resemble a fairy tale as they fight their way back to the evil witch to try and make things right.
Well-known young adult writer, Shannon Hale, takes a break from writing a typical novel and teams up with her husband to pen her first ever graphic novel. Simply put, a graphic novel is a book length comic book, but don’t let “comic book” be a deterrent to teaching this novel in your classroom. A book certainly appropriate for middle schoolers, its format is likely to be a huge selling point in convincing students to read. It can also be used in a high school classroom (feasibly at all levels), as part of a unit that deals with classical texts and modern interpretations of those texts. Another possible avenue for using this book is to discuss authors’ abilities to switch genres, and how some authors succeed and others do not.
An unconventional twist on a conventional story line, Rapunzel’s Revenge is a story about a girl who is tired of being lied to and wants to make a change in a world where everything isn’t exactly as it seems. Rapunzel has spent many years with a woman she thought was her mother, to only find out that the woman is an evil witch who forces everyone one to work for her as she sucks the world dry of water so no one can have any plants. It comes as no surprise that Rapunzel gets locked up (in a tree this time), but this time, Rapunzel decides to fight back. She meets up with a young boy named Jack, and from there on, their adventures hardly resemble a fairy tale as they fight their way back to the evil witch to try and make things right.
Well-known young adult writer, Shannon Hale, takes a break from writing a typical novel and teams up with her husband to pen her first ever graphic novel. Simply put, a graphic novel is a book length comic book, but don’t let “comic book” be a deterrent to teaching this novel in your classroom. A book certainly appropriate for middle schoolers, its format is likely to be a huge selling point in convincing students to read. It can also be used in a high school classroom (feasibly at all levels), as part of a unit that deals with classical texts and modern interpretations of those texts. Another possible avenue for using this book is to discuss authors’ abilities to switch genres, and how some authors succeed and others do not.
Shannon Hale was unsure of the response her first attempt at a graphic novel would have, but according to reviews and the critics, her style switching was a fine choice. There are plans for another segment (if not two more), so this book can be used to keep readers reading :)
3 comments:
This book sounds really interesting. I think it's pretty cool that the Shannon Hale took the chance to switch genres and write a graphic novel. It sounds as if she did so with a great degree of success! Has anyone read any of her other books?
I haven't read any other books by her, but after reading Rapunzel's Revenge, I am more than wanting to!
I have never been a huge fan of graphic novels, but I am impatiently waiting for the second book because of how well done this one was.
Because of how much I liked her "graphic" novel, I can't wait to read her "novel" novels!
Hi Val and Kate--I have read one other book by Hale, its called Princess Academy, and is another twist on traditional fairy tales, though maybe not quite as obviously so....it was a newbery honor book, I would think it more appropriate for the late elementary set (I read it with my daughter when she was in first grade, and it was a challenge, but the princess focus kept her interested).
I believe River Secrets was a teen top ten list selection last year.
Cheers,
TP (PS: great reviews, Val!)
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