Gary D. Schmidt is the author of the Newbery Honor and Printz Honor book Lizzie Bright and the Buckminster Boy. His most recent novel is The Wednesday Wars. He is a professor of English at Calvin College in Grand Rapids, Michigan.
Richly drawn characters and evocative language enhance a novel
that's tightly constructed and emotionally resonant. The Bulletin
of the Center for Children's Books What would have happened if the
queen failed to guess Rumpelstiltskin's name and the odd little man
had taken her child? Why did he want the young prince? Was his
motivation selfish, or could he have been preotecting the child
from life-threatening danger? Imaginative answers to these
questions skillfully blossom into a fantasy-flavored quest. . . .A
good book to recommend to fans of Lloyd Alexander, Diane Wynne
Jones and J.R.R. Tolkein.
School Library Journal In this touching, dark story Schmidt extends
the tale of Rumpelstiltskin to explore what might have happened if
the queen had not guessed Rumpelstiltskin's name correctly. "What
fills a hand fuller than a skein of gold?" So begins a suspenseful
quest that adds surprising twists and turns to the traditional
fairy tale. Booklist, ALA What if Rumpelstiltskin's motives were
noble?
Answering that question, this novel spins the story of a blind boy
who unexpectedly inherits a kingdom, a weakling who becomes strong,
a common queen who becomes regal, and a kind orphan who tells their
tale. Evil lords and peasants abound, with enough magic to glue
together these scattered pieces.
Horn Book Guide Schmidt does a fine job of weaving the classic tale
of Rumpelstiltskin into something fresh, diverse, and lovely.
VOYA (Voice of Youth Advocates) --
Richly drawn characters and evocative language enhance a novel
that's tightly constructed and emotionally resonant. The Bulletin
of the Center for Children's Books What would have happened if the
queen failed to guess Rumpelstiltskin's name and the odd little man
had taken her child? Why did he want the young prince? Was his
motivation selfish, or could he have been preotecting the child
from life-threatening danger? Imaginative answers to these
questions skillfully blossom into a fantasy-flavored quest. . . .A
good book to recommend to fans of Lloyd Alexander, Diane Wynne
Jones and J.R.R. Tolkein.
School Library Journal In this touching, dark story Schmidt extends
the tale of Rumpelstiltskin to explore what might have happened if
the queen had not guessed Rumpelstiltskin's name correctly. "What
fills a hand fuller than a skein of gold?" So begins a suspenseful
quest that adds surprising twists and turns to the traditional
fairy tale. Booklist, ALA What if Rumpelstiltskin's motives were
noble?
Answering that question, this novel spins the story of a blind boy
who unexpectedly inherits a kingdom, a weakling who becomes strong,
a common queen who becomes regal, and a kind orphan who tells their
tale. Evil lords and peasants abound, with enough magic to glue
together these scattered pieces.
Horn Book Guide Schmidt does a fine job of weaving the classic tale
of Rumpelstiltskin into something fresh, diverse, and lovely.
VOYA (Voice of Youth Advocates) --
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