Fairy Tales with a Twist
by Lília Visser-Oliveira, buyer Children’s section at ABC Den Haag
Fairy tales have always been part of our imaginary and childhood. I remember my mother telling me the story of The Beauty and the Beast and Rapunzel as examples of “You shall not steal” and other such morals. These stories enriched my imagination about a world full of dragons, magicians, good and bad fairies, and taught me about the consequences of your actions.
As the buyer for the Children’s book section in the ABC in Den Haag I take great pleasure in reading those same stories, both in their original and adapted form (we all know Disney changes all the fairy tales!), and when they are presented in a different light. Rapunzel’s Revenge, written by Shannon and Dean Hale and illustrated by Nathan Hale, is one of them, this time in a graphic novel format instead of the usual picture book.
The story already begins differently, with Rapunzel having been raised in a luxurious villa and thinking her captor, Gothel, is actually her mother. She’s a naturally curious child and wants to find out more about what’s hidden behind the great walls of her house. What she discovers is a very nasty reality: the land outside is practically dead, as well as those who work it. She ventures there and finds out Gothel has actually taken her from her parents. After confronting Gothel, Rapunzel ends up locked in a living tower, not a brick one. One almost impossible to escape. This is where her real adventure begins. She has to learn to deal with herself, her rage and her growing hair. Ultimately, it’s her hair and her own determination that saves her.
She begins a quest to find a way to free her mother from Gothel’s clutches, and finds more horrifying things than she ever bargained for. But she also makes friends and learns about her own strengths.
Rapunzel’s Revenge is a nice rite of passage and very good in telling girls they can be strong by themselves. The men in this story aren’t all nasty or weak, but they are definitely not the strongest point of it.
The mix of fairy tales and wild west is a funny and very interesting one, and the art work is quite charming in its simplicity.
A good read for all ages, but best for 8+!
Tags: 8+, Children's Books, Comics & Graphic Novels, hair, lilia, rapunzel, twist