Rump
Rump: The True Story of Rumpelstiltskin
By: Liesl Shurtliff
I read this book because it is a Golden Sower Nominee this year. My fellow elementary school librarian didn’t care for it—by this I mean she didn’t like it as well as some of the other nominees. I’m always up for a good fairytale retold. We both agreed that I should read it so I could give it a positive review for the students. Now, I should also say here that I like fantasy and (light) science fiction much more than she does—and that’s okay. People have different tastes and interests when reading, and it’s a good thing. If everyone liked the same thing we wouldn’t have such diverse genres.
I am very happy to report that I loved Rump, for several reasons.
At its heart, this book is about overcoming obstacles. In this version of Rumpelstiltskin, Rump is a young boy who is beaten down because he is an orphan since birth and his mother gave him half a name. In this world, a name is very important. A name gives you your destiny. So the fact that his mother only gave him half a name before she died—and a bad half—makes him the butt of a lot of jokes. (See what I did there?)
Rump is a relatable character to young readers—especially middle grade readers. He’s awkward, small for his age, and feels alone, something a lot of kids on the cusp of puberty feel and understand. He gets into all kinds of trouble and doesn’t know exactly how to get out of it. Again, think back to when you were in late elementary. We all have those moments from when we were kids that still make us cringe. I mean, we didn’t compulsively spin the straw of our mattresses into gold … but you know what I mean.
While he’s navigating puberty, he’s also caught up in this web of magic. And the rest of the story evolves around him trying to break what he thinks is a curse. It’s about overcoming obstacles. It's about having hope.
The smooth plot moves quickly. I don’t think anything in the story kicked me out of the reading experience—there weren’t any glaring typos or off-putting shifts in point of view.
It was a quick read, and one I really enjoyed.
A student and I were discussing how much we enjoyed right before Christmas break. He told me that Liesl Shurtliff wrote another book—Jack: The True Story of Jack and the Beanstalk. Don’t worry; I already added it to my “Must Read” list.
Should you read Rump? Yes. If you like stories of magic and hope and overcoming life’s challenges. Yes.
If you have any suggestions of books I should read, be sure to comment below!
