Calamity Jack by Hale, Hale, and unrelated Hale

It's been a loooong time since I read Rapunzel's Revenge, written by Shannon and Dean Hale, illustrated by Nathan Hale, so I was hoping I could pick up Calamity Jack without needing to remember too much of the first book. And it was fine; Calamity Jack is a complete story with just enough background thrown in to remind you that Jack was Rapunzel's sidekick in the first book, and then it takes off on a new and unrelated adventure.

Jack is bringing Rapunzel back to his home in the city, hoping to show her a good time with his city manners and street know-how. But his past catches up with him quickly, and Rapunzel is bound to find out that he wasn't always the heroic fellow she knows today....

I will say, if you liked the first one, the writing is just as strong, there's a dash of humor, and it's fun to watch the relationship between Punzy and Jack bloom into something a little stronger and deeper. The artwork is colorful and gorgeous--whether or not you've delved into graphic novels, this pair is a good set to try, and you can pretty much start with either one (I'd recommend reading them in order, but if you can't get your hands on RR first, it doesn't hurt to start with the second one.)

Shelley Duvall's Faerie Tale Theatre: Rapunzel

Let me follow up yesterday's Tangled post with a much older, more traditional retelling of Rapunzel.

The Faerie Tale Theatre version follows the original story quite closely, from the stolen veggies to the restorative tears in the desert. This is also one of the first ones where I noticed that Rapunzel's parents were played by the same actors that played Rapunzel and her prince--although I may not have noticed that the first time I watched it, as that was long, long ago....

This is a pretty good story, for Faerie Tale Theatre, because it's not too dependent on special effects, and it's an involved, longer story. The pacing is much better in this one than some of the others I've commented on. Still, it's not my favorite, partly because it feels more like the Shelley Duvall's Shelley Duvall theatre and partly because it fails to address any of the problems with the original story. (Not, as I've said, that we should change things JUST because they bother us....)

Even so, if you haven't seen it, and you like Rapunzel, you should watch this one--particularly if you're a big fan of the early versions of the story.

(I've chosen to review all the Faerie Tale Theatre episodes separately because they vary so much and cover so many different stories. Also: reading/watching the material for this blog takes a lot of time! I hope you enjoy the slightly more in depth reviews this way.)

Disney's Tangled

Oh my goodness, so much hair.

I didn't get to see Tangled on opening weekend, due to my penchant for avoiding opening weekends at all costs. However, I did get over to watch it the other evening, and I have to say, I really enjoyed it.

There's a lot I could say about Disney and Disney versions, but you can find that all over the internet, so I'll just say: My husband said this is his favorite Disney fairy tale. Now I shall return to looking at this in terms of fairy tale adaptations, because, well, that's the point, isn't it?

I liked the element of the flower (although you'd think they might have just called it Rapunzel, otherwise what's the point of her being named Rapunzel?) and having the witch straight-up kidnap the baby. The deal the father makes in the traditional story has always bothered me, and while I'm not saying we should take out everything that ever bothers us in a story, the reasoning here worked for me.

I was impressed that Rapunzel wasn't as much of a "I'm feisty! That makes me original and well rounded!" character as she appeared in the previews. I LOVED the bit where she goes back and forth feeling guilty and exhilarated about leaving the tower.

Overall, I would say this is one of Disney's better adaptations, and I am obviously okay with retellings/rewritings, or we wouldn't be here, so I can't hold their modifications against them. There is some beautiful art involved in this movie, too. Whether you catch it in theaters or wait to watch it at home, I think that you'll like this version of the story.

Glasgow Fairytale by Alastair D. McIver

I am especially excited to tell you about this book because the author, Mr. McIver, has been a long-time member of my fairy tale community on LiveJournal. We've had quite a few talks about fairy tales and folklore, so I am just thrilled to see his storytelling in action here.

The story starts as several fairytales begin to act upon one another, with often hilarious results--as, for example, Reggie King decides to take out Snowy White (in a nicely done gender reversal) to be the bonniest man in Glasgow--and he hires none other than Ella McCinders to get the job done.

I won't give too much away, but I will tell you that this is one of the funniest adaptations I've ever read, mixing stories and rearranging the elements to fit McIver's own Glasgow. I giggled out loud frequently, and the Cinderella ball scene is my favorite every Cinderella dance. Also: Best Frog Prince Ever.

McIver's penchant for telling stories is apparent in his prose, which is excellent for reading aloud. As an American reader, I had to sometimes slow down to read the Scottish dialect, but even then it wasn't so heavy that I had trouble understanding it.

This is only available in America through intermediates on amazon.com marketplace, but it IS available, and for an excellent price for a trade paperback. I highly recommend this for anyone who likes mixed up fairy tales and funny retellings. I hope you'll check it out!

Letters from Rapunzel by Sara Lewis Holmes

I was pleasantly surprised by Letters from Rapunzel. It started out a bit simplistic (aimed at grades 5-8): Cadence finds a ripped up letter from her father to PO Box #5667, declaring that the unknown pen-pal is the only reason he's able to write. Candace takes it upon herself to write to Box #5667, seeking aid for the evil spell (chronic depression) that has captivated her father.

I do hold a certain fondness for epistolary novels, and over the course of the story, Cadence's letters and situation gain complexity, becoming what is a very tightly woven story about a young girl learning to rescue herself. She also writes several of her own versions of fairy tales, which are both funny and touching.

Letters from Rapunzel won the Ursula Nordstrom First Fiction Contest, and with the way the different facets of the story come together, I am not surprised. This was a very impressive book.

Check out Sara's website for more information on Letters from Rapunzel.

Rapunzel's Revenge by Shannon Hale

You may be familiar with Shannon Hale from her Goose Girl story, if you are (as I suspect since you are reading this) a fan of the fairy tale adaptations. More recently Hale turned her skills to Rapunzel's tale, or tails if you like.

What I didn't realize when I ordered Rapunzel's Revenge was that the book is a graphic novel. The story is written by Shannon Hale and her husband, Dean, and illustrated by Nathan Hale (apparently of no relation). It's an excellent retelling, bringing the tale up to more modern sensibilities (Rapunzel is able to rescue herself, for example). The artwork is lovely and sets the scene beautifully, taking the reader right into the tale. I honestly have no complaints at all about this work.

There are some great reviews and descriptions over at Amazon.com, so I'll just point you their way if you want more details. It definitely deserves it's 4.5 star rating and I would go so far as to say that should be a 5. I recommend it to all of you, particularly if you like the retellings that are more creative and flexible. Enjoy!

Also check out Shannon Hale's Official Site.

Out of the Wild by Sarah Beth Durst

This continues the tale of Julie, 11-year-old daughter of Rapunzel, and her "brother," Puss in Boots. Having undone the wish that brought the Wild (a fairy tale forest that forces people to act out stories again and again) into power, Julie thinks that things will go back to normal, until one of the Three Blind Mice accidentally (he's blind, after all) runs into the Wild where it's stored under her bed. But instead of growing, the Wild takes the opportunity to trade -- as the mouse enters, Rapunzel's Prince, Julie's father, is set free, and the consequences take both Julie and Rapunzel by surprise.

Tons of fairy tale characters and events, a race across the country, and a surprising foe keep this story zipping along. I admit I did get a little exasperated with the boneheadedness of one of the characters, but that part of the story doesn't last too long and I enjoyed the rest of the book.

This is aimed at younger kids, probably in the grade school range, but I also recommend the duology (start with the first one!) if you love creative mashups of fairy tales.

More information about Sarah Beth Durst's writing and fairy tale adaptations at her website: http://www.sarahbethdurst.com/

Into the Wild by Sarah Beth Durst

I picked Into the Wild up after hearing about Sarah Beth Durst's newer book, Ice.

Into the Wild is aimed at grade-schoolers, and the language reads like it. I tend to like my fairy tale remixes to be a little more mature, but taking this for what it's intended as, it's very well done. At first I thought the stories/type characters would stick pretty closely to their origins, but Durst managed some nice twists that left me feeling like she wasn't just rehashing the usual material.

The story is about 12-year-old Julie and her mother, Rapunzel, as well as several other friends who escaped "the Wild" and now live in the real world (such as the flighty "Cindy," selfish "Goldy" and Julie's "brother" Puss in Boots). Until someone breaks into the well at the Wishing Well Motel and makes a wish -- which sets the Wild free to grow and shape their lives again.

In the end I thought it was a nice blend of several stories, with some new ideas. I enjoyed the characters and I think Durst has a nice little package of a story here. Nothing too in depth, but perfect if you're just looking for a light read.

There is a sequel, Out of the Wild, which I haven't checked out yet (but I will). This might be slightly misleading, because the story isn't left hanging with characters in dire straights; however, the possibilities for the sequel are fairly clear.