Cameron Dokey
Simon & Schuster Children's Publishing
Copyright 2007
Page Number: 179
Reading Level: 12-14
Genre: Fiction
Summary:
This books starts out with the same beginning of Rapunzel as we've all heard. A husband and a wife want a child and when the wife is pregnant, she craves some rapunzel. The husband goes to their neighbor's yard, who is a witch, and steals some of her rapunzel and is caught. This is where it changes. The witch makes the mother promise that if she does not love her daughter as she is when she is born, that she will give her daughter to the witch to raise as her own. The mother promises, seeing as she can have all the rapunzel she wants until her child is born. When her daughter is born, she has no hair and the mother thinks she is hideous. The witch takes her promising the father that he may see his child again, depending solely on him, not the witch.
Rapunzel grows up happily in the witches care, but never grows any hair. She learns to only ask questions she wants to hear the answer to, because the witch answers every question honestly. When Rapunzel is six, they go into town and there is a fiasco while Rapunzel is playing with other kids in the market place. Melisande looks into everyone's eyes one at a time until they all look down, unable to accept the truth she makes them see with her magic. She looks into Rapunzel's eyes and Rapunzel looks back unflinchingly, proving her courage. A tinker comes by their home for the first time when Rapunzel is about nine. She meets Harry, the tinker's boy and they become friends.
A sickness comes into the town that Melisande and Rapunzel live by and they have to leave before a mob comes blaming them for the illness. Before they go, Harry kisses Rapunzel and they promise to meet up at a tower six days journey from the town. Rapunzel and Melisande and Mr. Jones travel together and on the fifth night, Melisande told Rapunzel of her daughter, Rue, who was locked in a tower by a wizard. Rue needs someone, other than Melisande, to open her heart again to love. Rapunzel takes this challenge on herself and in the morning meets Melisande's daughter. Rue and Rapunzel don't get along at first, but they agree to work together to break the curse. That evening Harry gets to the tower and is mad that Rapunzel is locked at the top of a tower.
Later, Rapunzel is talking to herself when Prince Alexander shows up. He thinks he falls in love with Rapunzel, but Rapunzel knows better. She makes him promise to stay hidden that day and come back the next night. Harry over hears their conversation and gets mad at Rapunzel thinking that she is going to run away from her friends and marry this stranger. Rapunzel's true plan is revealed the next night, when she has Rue show herself to the prince as Rapunzel. They fall in love and the curse is broken. Alexander and Rapunzel (the name Rue has now taken upon herself) are to be married and live happily ever after.
The girl who once was called Rapunzel must pick a name for herself, and she chooses Susan, after her favorite flowers (black eyed Susans). Susan and Harry have fallen in love and decide to marry. Mr. Jones, the tinker, is actually Susan's dad. Everyone lives happily ever after.
Recommendations and Conflicts:
I recommend this book to middle and high schoolers who like to see a different point of view. I didn't see any conflicts that might arise from this book.
Reaction:
I really enjoy this book. Cameron Dokey has me convinced that this is the true story of Rapunzel, and not the one I've been told all my life.
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