This is a wonderful graphic novel (a story with pictures – kind of a book length comic book) that modernizes the tale of Rapunzel. Rapunzel lives with her mother Gothel in a house with an enormous garden walled off from the world. One day Rapunzel adventures over the wall to see a world that is in slavery to Gothel. Gothel has growth magic, the power to made things grow or to stop things growing. To keep her subjects in line Gothel has made the surrounding lands barren. . During her escape Rapunzel has a chance meeting with her real mother who works as a slave for Gothel in her mines. Rapunzel decides that all this has to stop but before she can take action she is captured by Gothel's guards. When she refuses to be a part of Gothel's empire she is taken far away into a tree tower. Here she remains until her hair grows and she escapes. She is very naive in the ways of the world and is befriended by Jack (of the beanstalk fame). He becomes her partner in crime and social justice. Rapunzel becomes a hero, righting wrongs and saving the innocent, as she heads towards Gothel's Reach to free her mother.
The story is set in the Wild West with horses, guns and bandits. Rapunzel fits right in using her hair like a lasso. The dialogue is fun and witty and is complemented with illustrations by Nathan Hale (who is no relation to the authors)
An exciting and adventurous tale that retains the magic and romance of the original fairytale. 8/10
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