Rump: The True Story of Rumpelstiltskin

Twelve-year-old Rump lives in a magic-filled kingdom where names determine destiny. When he discovers he has the power to spin straw into gold, he begins a quest to find out his full name and true identity. The story recasts the classic Rumpelstiltskin fairy tale from the perspective of the mysterious character himself. Through encounters with pixies, magic, and hostile villagers, Rump must navigate difficult choices while uncovering secrets about his family history. In this kingdom of gnomes, witches, and spells, names hold immense power - and having only part of a name means having only part of oneself. This reimagining explores themes of identity, self-determination, and whether our destinies are fixed or can be changed through our choices.

Readers found this reimagining of Rumpelstiltskin offers a fresh perspective on the classic villain. Parents and teachers report it resonates with 8-12 year olds while remaining engaging for adults. Likes: - Complex portrayal of moral choices and consequences - Humor throughout, especially in character interactions - World-building details around magic and spinning - Messages about identity and self-worth - Appropriate for young readers while tackling mature themes Dislikes: - Some found the pacing slow in the middle sections - A few readers wanted more development of secondary characters - The ending felt rushed to some Ratings: Goodreads: 4.0/5 (13,000+ ratings) Amazon: 4.7/5 (380+ ratings) Common Sense Media: 4/5 "Perfect balance of funny and meaningful" - Goodreads reviewer "My reluctant reader couldn't put it down" - Amazon parent review "The magic system is unique and well-thought-out" - School Library Journal reader review

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🌟 Author Liesl Shurtliff wrote this book after wondering why Rumpelstiltskin wanted a baby in the original fairy tale, leading her to explore his backstory and motivations 🌟 The novel reimagines Rumpelstiltskin as a 12-year-old boy who discovers his magical ability to spin straw into gold, rather than portraying him as the traditional villain 🌟 In the original Brothers Grimm version of Rumpelstiltskin, the character's name varies by region and translation, including "Titeliture," "Rumpelstilzchen," and "Tom Tit Tot" 🌟 The book won multiple awards, including the Utah Beehive Book Award and was named to the Illinois Reads List for 2014 🌟 Rump is the first book in Shurtliff's (True) Fairy Tales series, which includes retellings of Jack and the Beanstalk, Red Riding Hood, and Snow White