Most girls are fascinated by fairy tales, well the Disney version, where everything turns out beautifully. If you really think about it though, most fairy tales are dark, full of evil and wicked people. Murder is common, as is death, in general, and that says nothing about all of the nasty "mothers" that inhabit most of the stories.
So it is with Bennett's modern retelling of the Rapunzel story. Rapunzel is locked in a tower for her own safety. She has an immune deficiency that has kept her in her apartment like room for seventeen years. Thankfully, her mother who is technologically illiterate herself, gets Rapunzel a computer. One Facebook post later, Fane has entered her life awakening her curiosity about the world beyond her room.
While the concept should be a stretch, unfortunately, it is not in a real world where children are kidnapped and held against their will for decades. Bennett successfully captures the horror of the situation while infusing the story with hope. Rapunzel has been naïve and continues to be innocent throughout the novel, but she grows. She faces her fears and discovers a better world.
I seriously liked this retelling. Do NOT skip the author's note, it will help with the suspension of disbelief that the story requires.
Originally Published 12/9/2014
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