Rapunzel (Library Binding)

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Editorial Reviews

From Publishers Weekly

Sidestepping the Brothers Grimm and eschewing the sugary fripperies of many versions of Rapunzel, Berenzy (A Frog Prince) takes the original German story as her basis for this potent retelling. The happy ending is even harder won, and the obstacles to true love far harsher: here, Mother Gothel (the fairy who confines Rapunzel to the tower) discovers Rapunzel's plan to elope with the prince, cuts Rapunzel's tresses and casts her into the desert, then sees to it that the prince is blinded. Mother Gothel, with her knife-edged features and fortress-like stance, is no less than terrifying in Berenzy's depictions?it's also worth noting that Mother Gothel escapes all punishment. The illustrations, rendered on black paper with colored pencils and gouaches, emphasize the movement between darkness and light, reflecting the tensions in the text. She hauntingly recreates the shadowy interior of Rapunzel's tower and nighttime in Mother Gothel's garden. The prince, in an emerald tunic, represents a splash of spring in Rapunzel's somber surroundings. Strong meat, this is perhaps better suited to readers slightly older than those in the target range. Ages 3-7.
Copyright 1995 Reed Business Information, Inc.

From School Library Journal

Grade 1-3?Berenzy retells the traditional German tale in which a woman must give up her baby daughter in exchange for the rapunzel greens she desires so much. In this version, Mother Gothel is a fairy instead of a witch, but she is nonetheless quite malevolent looking. After the prince discovers the princess and the way into the tower, they meet every evening until they are caught. Rapunzel is banished to a barren land, and in despair, the prince jumps from the tower, blinding himself on thorns. He wanders for years until one day, he hears Rapunzel's singing. Her tears heal his eyes, and they, along with their twins born while Rapunzel was in exile, return to the prince's kingdom. Children might ask where the twins came from and why a fairy who is pictured with wings in one scene needs to climb up Rapunzel's hair. The illustrations are rendered in colored pencil and gouache on black paper, a technique that results in lots of texture and an overall dark mood. The style, colors, and detail are similar to Paul O. Zelinsky's work, though not as crisp. The success of the illustrations is mixed; some seem to lack energy or emotion, while others are too sweet. The depictions of the evil fairy are wonderfully detailed, and Berenzy effectively creates light and shadows. The text is faithful to the Grimm brothers, though Berenzy claims a source predating them, but it lacks some of the magic of Barbara Rogasky's retelling (Holiday, 1982). Trina Schart Hyman's illustrations for that edition are more intricate and mature.?Cheri Estes, Detroit Country Day School Middle School, Beverly Hills, MI
Copyright 1995 Reed Business Information, Inc.

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Product Details

• Reading level: Ages 4-8
  
• Library Binding: 1 pages
• Publisher: Henry Holt & Company; Library edition edition (October 1995)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 0805012834
• ISBN-13: 978-0805012835
• Product Dimensions: 11.2 x 9.2 x 0.2 inches
• Shipping Weight: 1 pounds
• Average Customer Review: 5.0 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (2 customer reviews)
• Amazon.com Sales Rank: #2,252,369 in Books (See Bestsellers in Books)

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Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

2 of 2 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars GREAT RETELLING OF AN OLD TALE. ART WORK IS STUNNING., November 10, 2007

By	D. Blankenship (The Ozarks) - See all my reviews (TOP 100 REVIEWER)    (REAL NAME)

This is a retelling of one of the most famous of the stories by the Brothers Grimm. The story is retold and illustrated by Alix Berenzy. As much as I hate to admit it, Berenzy has probably out-done the famous brothers with their own story. Of all the versions of this particular work I have seen over the years, this is beyond a doubt the best. The art work is absolutely stunning and almost flawless. This is truly a beautiful edition, almost a piece of art within itself. The illustrations fit the story perfectly.

The story sticks to the original pretty well, although there are some variations. This variation has not, as so many modern versions of the Brothers Grimm tales have been, "cleaned up" to make it politically correct. There is still some pretty grim stuff here, reality so to speak and the rewording and mild twisting of the story has not been hurt one bit. The purest need not worry too much in this area. On the other hand, the story is still one that the parent might want to read with the child first, particularly if the child is a younger reader, as there are aspects of the story that probably need some explanation. Some of the more graphic details of the story have been "smoothed over" just a bit, but really, not all that much.

All in all, I recommend this version/edition quite highly. If you like the stories of the Brothers Grimm, then I am quite certain you will enjoy this one.

5.0 out of 5 stars Beautiful, April 15, 2009

By	Carol H. Jones "Caremom" (Seattle, WA USA) - See all my reviews (REAL NAME)

My 7 year old daughter checked this book out at the library and fell in love with it. I surprised her with it and she's read it at least a dozen times since. This is one she wants to keep for when she has girls. (she's already decided she's Nott having boys) LOL.