About this title: A version of the story of Rapunzel told from the perspectives of the witch, Rapunzel, and the prince, here a nobleman. In this version, the witch is a tragic figure who longs for a child but is unable to have one. She sells her soul for the power to grow plants and then bullies her neighbors into giving her their newborn daughter. The woman raises the girl she calls Zel, all the while fearing that someday the girl, her only companion, will leave. When Zel meets a handsome nobleman who falls in love with her, the woman takes the girl and locks her in a tower. Zel soon begins to slip into ...
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Binding: Paperback
Publisher: Puffin
Date Published: 1998
ISBN-13:9780141301167ISBN:0141301163
Description: Acceptable. Overall below average used book. May have highlighting, underlining, notes, price sticker on cover, or be an ex-library book. read more
Description: Good. Former Library book. Shows some signs of wear, and may have some markings on the inside. Shipped to over one million happy customers. Your purchase benefits world literacy! read more
Description: Acceptable. Shows definite wear, and perhaps considerable marking on inside. Shipped to over one million happy customers. Your purchase benefits world literacy! read more
Description: Good. Purchasing this book supports the King County Library System Foundation. Thriftbooks and KCLSF have partnered to help raise additional funds for the library system. Ex-Library book-will contain library markings. Light shelf wear and minimal interior marks. Millions of satisfied customers and climbing. Thriftbooks is the name you can trust, guaranteed. Spend Less. Read More. read more
Description: Fair. Purchasing this book supports the King County Library System Foundation. Thriftbooks and KCLSF have partnered to help raise additional funds for the library system. Ex-Library book-will contain library markings. Millions of satisfied customers and climbing. Thriftbooks is the name you can trust, guaranteed. Spend Less. Read More. read more
Description: Good. Purchasing this book supports the King County Library System Foundation. Thriftbooks and KCLSF have partnered to help raise additional funds for the library system. Ex-Library book-will contain library markings. Light shelf wear and minimal interior marks. Millions of satisfied customers and climbing. Thriftbooks is the name you can trust, guaranteed. Spend Less. Read More. read more
Binding: Paperback
Publisher: Puffin
Date Published: 1998
ISBN-13:9780141301167ISBN:0141301163
Description: Good. Standard used condition. May have light reading or storage wear. All orders processed within 2 business days. Ships from Foxboro MA. read more
Description: New. 0141301163 New from the publisher-has remainder mark. Ships within 1 business day. Your 100% satisfaction is our guarantee! read more
Description: Good. 0141301163 Standard used condition-Same quality you would find in your local bookstore. This is a new unread book that received the above wear during its handling. Has remainder mark. read more
"In this slim retelling of the Rapunzel story, the narrative is shared by Zel, her witch mother, and a Duke's son. Set in 16th-century Switzerland, this story begins with a pre-adolescent Zel happily on her way into town with her beloved mother, who typically shirks any contact with the outside world. Left on her own for a few minutes, Zel meets the aristocrat, Konrad, and both instantly feel a strong connection. They are soon separated, and Konrad begins a tireless search for the interesting girl with the warm brown eyes. Because of her mother's desperate attempts to protect Zel from the wicked world outside of their mountain home, the story quickly becomes a battle of wills between Zel and her mother, Konrad and the witch, and eventually, Zel's inner turmoil as she deals with the forced isolation of her tower room. This is a powerful and magical tale of perseverance, love and sacrifice that both young and old will enjoy."
"Though listed for middle and junior high readers, I wouldn't recommend it to immature girls, and it definitely is a girl book. The story is the retold fairy tale of Rapunzel. The tale is told from alternating points of view of Rapunzel, the prince, and the witch who raised Rapunzel. The mature part is Napoli's usual sensuality in the retelling, with lightly veiled sexual references relating to the relationship between Zel and the prince. The parts from the point of view of the witch are disturbingly satanic (she trades her soul for supernatural powers to get Rapunzel), paranoid, definitely witch-like with traces of obsession. Not pleasant, though the ending is "happy." Yuck. There are so many other books of this genre that are more appropriate for light reading for teens, and the issues in this novel aren't worth discussing. The book may be ok for teen book clubs if kids want to talk about spoiled brat princes obsessed with a girl met once, trading one's soul for "love" and paranoid witches bent on keeping a "daughter" isolated and dependent."
"This is a story about a spunky girl named Zel who meets a handsome young boy. After this chance encounter, they can't stop thinking about each other. But Zel's mother will do anything to keep them apart. She'll even go so far as to isolate Zel and drive her near insane, just for her own selfish purposes.
This book had so much potential. It really did. I started reading it and was excited about this interesting story. It was a light, fun read and a twist to the original fairy tale, Rapunzel. I couldn't put it down. But little did I know that this seemingly innocent tale was dark, weird, and left me thinking that it was a rather stupid book.
I wish I could just sit down and rewrite it all to make it 10 times better!
A disappointing story and a waste of time. Please don't read it."
"Zel is the first book I've read by Napoli and it will not be my last. In her unique retelling, Napoli manages to both faithfully keep within most parameters of the original fairy tale and yet at the same time recreate the characters in 16th century Switzerland with their own motivations, personalities and psychological state of minds. Napoli expands on the classic tale, adding twists and turns along the way. Like many fairy tales read in their original form, this story is not completely rosy throughout the book, as it delves into the haunting psychological effects Zel suffers as she's locked in the stone tower for 2 years.
What I found most intriguing was her character of Mother, or the witch from the classic tale. Unlike in the original tale, as with other fairy tales, where the evil characters are strictly evil, Zel's mother in this book truly believed that everything she did to and for Zel was done in her daughter's best interest. Napoli's character has more depth than in the original tale. The chapters alternate from the perspectives of Zel and Konrad (the prince), and first person narrative for the mother. I thought only having the mother speak in first person really added to her scheming and selfish nature.
Filled with humor, romance, angst, and historically rich details, Zel was well worth the read--even for those of us who are past our teen years."
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