Monday, March 17, 2014

Book Review: RUMP by Liesl Shurtliff (Whitney Finalist 2013)

Title: RUMP: The True Story of Rumplestiltskin
Author: Liesl Shurtliff
Enjoyment Rating: ****
Source: Library Copy
This book would be rated: PG

In Wicked, Gregory Maguire turns the Wicked Witch of the West into a sympathetic character, and in the upcoming movie Maleficent, I expect that Angelina Jolie will do the same thing for Sleeping Beauty's nemesis. In Liesl Shurtliff's debut novel, Rump, she turns the tables so readers sympathize with Rumpelstiltskin instead of the evil miller's daughter who forces him to turn straw into gold. 
This novel is delightful. When I'm reading 40 books in a couple of months, I often find myself trudging through them. But Rump was one that I would have read quickly regardless. The story is adorable and Rump shows a lot of growth over the course of the novel. There was plenty of action in the story, but it was Rump's ability to grow as a character that kept me entertained and satisfied as I read.