Grounded: The Adventures of Rapunzel

March 2, 2015
Those expecting a Disneyesque Rapunzel in Morrison’s debut, first in the Tyme series, will be pleasantly surprised by the novel’s emotional depth and inventiveness. Lulled into forgetting her past—including several princely attempts to free her—Rapunzel escapes the tower where she’s been kept complacent and happy to save the woman she knows as Witch from supposed murderous fairies. With Jack (of beanstalk fame) by her side, and a grumpy fairy watching from the woods, Rapunzel is bidden to travel through the lands of Tyme. As she passes through its color-coded territories, Rapunzel discovers the truth about herself, the family she never knew existed, and the reason for Jack’s helpfulness. Morrison turns the idea of a naïve, sheltered princess on its head, and when Witch’s cruel actions are revealed, Rapunzel’s brave decision offers a final act of kindness that adds to the story’s already potent mythology and symbolism. The slow, circular dialogue at the beginning of the novel gives way to a full-bodied world worth revisiting. Ages 10–14. Agent: Ammi-Joan Paquette, Erin Murphy Literary Agency

Starred review from February 1, 2015
"Stop calling her that witch. She's Witch," Rapunzel insists; she enjoys her easy life in a tower-and Witch's frequent, apparently loving, visits-until Jack Beanstalker tricks Rapunzel into leaving. Rapunzel knows that she possesses something called "innocence" that is important to Witch, and the text deftly translates that into naivete, keeping things middle-grade-appropriate. Rapunzel's love for Witch is Jack's leverage for involving the braid-laden teen in what becomes an intricate quest. Orchestrated by the fairy Glyph, Jack and Rapunzel find themselves on a joint journey, with multiple goals. The novel does not miss a beat in creating Tyme, a beautifully described world with a seamless fusion of magical and nonmagical beings, scenery and objects. Although there are dark, suspenseful moments and some acts of violence, there is also plenty of humor, including a frog's wine-influenced exploits and Jack's clumsy attempts to explain pregnancy to Rapunzel. The playful use of Ubiquitous products-acorns that temporarily change into whatever one has paid for-is a pleasing nod to the author's stated admiration of Harry Potter. The characters are refreshingly three-dimensional, helping readers empathize with Rapunzel as she wrestles with universal feelings of love and betrayal-and priming readers of fairy tales to anticipate such novels as Wicked. Readers will be eager for more episodes of the intrepid team of Rapunzel and Jack. (map) (Fantasy. 10-14)

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March 1, 2015

Gr 6 Up-The traditional fairy tale of Rapunzel gets a new treatment in the land of Tyme, a mythical continent on the Tranquil Sea. Readers meet Rapunzel as a happy girl, delighted with her home and the woman she calls Witch, who tends to her every need. Princes have come and gone, vowing their love for her, but since "ground people are liars," she rebukes them and lives contentedly in her tower. That situation quickly changes with the arrival of Jack, a young boy who ascends the tower seeking a cure for a badly injured fairy. Remembering nothing of his previous visit, Rapunzel casts him out of the tower, but he returns the next day with more stories about fairies and their powerful magic that will bring harm to Witch. Concerned for Witch's safety, Rapunzel climbs out of the tower and hence becomes "grounded" with only Jack to guide her through foreign lands. The fairies capture Rapunzel and agree to spare her life only if she follows Jack on a journey to locate the Woodmother and learns the truth about her sheltered life. The story line moves swiftly as Jack and Rapunzel face evil Stalkers, thieving bandits, biting cold, and an uncertain food supply. The relationship between the characters develops in a predictable but realistic way and is woven into a story that has plenty of suspense and intrigue. The conclusion neatly ties up the major plotlines, while leaving sufficient room for a sequel. VERDICT Fans of traditional and fractured fairy tales will thoroughly enjoy this new twist on an old story.-Anne Jung-Mathews, Plymouth State University, NH

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April 15, 2015
Grades 5-8 Fairy tale meets funny in this fresh take on Rapunzel, the first of a planned series. Here Rapunzel is a perfect princess, kept in a tower by a witch for her own safety. Bolstered by stories of stupid, cowardly, and rude peasants and princes, she is happy to stay away from the rabble, but when thief Jack comes calling, she is delightfully surprised and more than happy to trade sharp wits with him. Rapunzel chases after Jackjust to chastise himbut she gets drawn in by the quick, playful boy and his quest to help the Red Fairies. She is soon in the thick of Tyme, a place she has never set foot before, and here she will find adventure and the courage to face anything, even her once-beloved Witch. The realm of Tyme fits in well with the current modern-fairy-tale trend, and Morrison's cuttingly clever take on classic tales will please readers and keep them hungry for more. Finding out the truth behind the tale has never been so snarky.(Reprinted with permission of Booklist, copyright 2015, American Library Association.)