This post is done in partnership with Peachtree Publishers
“Rapunzel” by Bethan Woollvin
Most of us are familiar with the classic fairy tales and how many of them that are popular feature a “damsel in distress”. There’s Little Red Riding Hood where a little girl and her grandmother get eaten by a wolf and saved by a woodcutter. (Who is the hero? A woodcutter.) There’s Rapunzel where a girl is trapped in a tower by an evil witch and is saved by a prince. (Who is the hero? A prince.) Cinderella, Snow White, the list goes on and on. However, what would happen if you turned some of these tales on their head and change the “damsel in distresses” into heroines that are masters of their own destinies? You get magic. Empowering, magic. One that sends a clear message to everyone (especially little girls) that they are capable of anything.
Bethan Woollvin did just that with her story “Little Red” that was published last year. It was a huge success and now she is back with a follow-up, fractured fairy tale. This time it is Rapunzel who is taking charge. In this retelling she is fearless and brave. She is the one who learns how to escape her tower on her own, destroy the witch, and then proactively pursue a life of continuing to fight evil. No prince is mentioned and Rapunzel is no victim.
This story has a bit of a dark humor to it, as Rapunzel does destroy the witch, but these classic tales are known for a bit of darkness and I think it is done brilliantly in this book. Plus, the illustrations are fabulous! With a limited color pallette Bethan creates a retro feel and the expressions on her characters speak a thousand words. These are books clever not only in story, but design as well. Both are fabulous and I have high hopes of more to come!
Click here to purchase “Rapunzel” *affiliate link
GIVEAWAY!!!
Now for a fun GIVEAWAY! I’ve teamed up with Peachtree Publishers to celebrate the new release of “Rapunzel” by hosting a giveaway for a copy! Pretty neat right?! Enter the giveaway through the Rafflecopter below. Hurry and enter because it is only open a few days. Good luck!
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