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3rd out of 134 books
—
185 voters
Rump: The True Story of Rumpelstiltskin
by
Liesl Shurtliff (Goodreads Author)
This funny fractured fairytale goesbehind the scenes of Rumpelstiltskin. "A most magical feat," writes Newbery Honor-winner Kirby Larson, "Liesl Shurtliff spins words into gold."
In a magical kingdom where your name is your destiny, 12-year-old Rump is the butt of everyone's joke.But when he finds an old spinning wheel, his luck seems to change. Rump discovers he has a...more
In a magical kingdom where your name is your destiny, 12-year-old Rump is the butt of everyone's joke.But when he finds an old spinning wheel, his luck seems to change. Rump discovers he has a...more
Hardcover, 272 pages
Published
April 9th 2013
by Alfred A. Knopf Books for Young Readers
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Loved it!!!Full review to come...
Children of all ages will enjoy this wonderful retelling of the classic fairy tale Rumpelstiltskin from the perspective of Rump aka Rumpelstiltskin. Probably the best fairy tale retelling I've ever read. If I was going to select a read aloud chapter book for a young readers group, this would be it. There are a number of life's lessons (bullying, greed, friendship, personal loss, bad choices, etc.) presented without being preachy. I loved it.
I received a digital advance readers edition of this bo...more
I received a digital advance readers edition of this bo...more
I found this book to be rather underwhelming. Since I finished it last night, I've spent the day thinking about what was so blah about it, especially considering that the plot was interesting.
When it comes down to it, I think it's because there is no emotional meat to the novel. Everything about it, particularly on an emotional level, is so superficial. I don't think I felt an urgency to the internal drive that Rump was experiencing. Ever.
Perhaps the problem is that the narrative arc was too l...more
When it comes down to it, I think it's because there is no emotional meat to the novel. Everything about it, particularly on an emotional level, is so superficial. I don't think I felt an urgency to the internal drive that Rump was experiencing. Ever.
Perhaps the problem is that the narrative arc was too l...more
NBC’s Grimm is one of my favorite shows. The show is an updated version of the Brothers Grimm. During the first episode the viewers discover that Nick Burkhardt, a Portland detective, is actually a Grimm. For centuries Grimms have battled the evils. As a Grimm, Nick can see what creature is really hidden behind the façade of a human. It is this play on old stories that are so fun to watch and read.
Recently I received an advance reader’s copy of Rump The True Story of Rumpelstilskin by Liesl Shur...more
Recently I received an advance reader’s copy of Rump The True Story of Rumpelstilskin by Liesl Shur...more
I just love a fractured fairy tale and this one is spun gold - literally! Rump is a bit of a runt living with his grandmother in a small mining village near THE KINGDOM. He has one good friend and even Red gives him the whatfor every so often. Everyone in the village must mine the gold mines and in exchange for the gold powder they receive a bit of grain to survive. All Rump really wants to do is figure out what his mother named him as she died and when he finds her spindle everything starts to...more
Just finished this book tonight (was reading it to my kids). I thought it was pretty good, my 6 year old son really enjoyed it (though I had to edit on the fly a few parts so he didn't run around calling people "butt" etc...) but for the most part a quick enjoyable read aloud book for kids. As soon as I finished he asked "How many more books are there?" (we have usually read books in series with more than one book) and he was a little disappointed to find out it only had the one book, so that's...more
I read a Rumpelstiltskin picture book to the third graders last month. Like every time I've ever read or heard this story, I was flooded with questions. Why did the father tell the king that his daughter could spin straw into gold when she obviously couldn't? Why was the king so greedy those three nights that he thought the future queen was spinning, and then just content for the rest of his life with the gold that was spun during those three nights? Wouldn't he ask his wife to start spinning ag...more
What can I say about RUMP: The True Story of Rumpelstiltskin? Well, I suppose the most important endorsement I could offer would be the one that came directly from the mouth of my ten-year-old son just after we'd finished reading: "I love that book." (He made that comment with a thoughtful sigh.)
And we did. RUMP stole our hearts from the very first line. Liesl Shurtliff has woven a fantastic and intricate backstory behind Rumpelstiltskin's presumably abhorrent behavior and precisely how he got h...more
And we did. RUMP stole our hearts from the very first line. Liesl Shurtliff has woven a fantastic and intricate backstory behind Rumpelstiltskin's presumably abhorrent behavior and precisely how he got h...more
It's completely original, I have never read a book that takes the story of Rumplestilskin and gives you a fresh "True" story . It starts with Rump as a young boy who lives with his grandmother because both of his parents have passed. At a young age they work in the mines looking for gold to trade with the Miller for food rations. The Miller wasn’t a far man so it could take a lot of gold to get any good food. Nothing had a name only people because “in the Kingdom your name isn’t just what people...more
Rumpelstiltskin has never been my favorite fairy tale, and yet two books during this year's Fairy Tale Fortnight have made me rethink the tale. The first was YA title RUMPLESTILTSKIN by Jenni James, which I reviewed the other day. Now, with the middle-grade offering of RUMP: The True Story of Rumpelstiltskin, I once again find myself caring about the odd character from the original tale. Unlike in the version from Jenni James, where Rumplestiltskin is the cursed brother of a greedy king and in l...more
I am a huge fan of fairytale re-tellings and Liesl Shurtliff's Rump: The True Story of Rumpelstiltskin is a quirky and delightful tale that introduces readers to a more endearing Rumpelstiltskin than they may be used to.
Twelve year old Rump lives in a place where one's name is one' destiny. So, it isn't easy having a name like Rump. His mother dies before she could give Rump his full name and it seems he is destined for nothing spectacular. Then he finds his mother's old spinning wheel and disc...more
Twelve year old Rump lives in a place where one's name is one' destiny. So, it isn't easy having a name like Rump. His mother dies before she could give Rump his full name and it seems he is destined for nothing spectacular. Then he finds his mother's old spinning wheel and disc...more
As someone who’s always been intrigued by the power of names, I love the story of Rumpelstiltskin. He’s an enigmatic, lonely figure. So I was thrilled that Liesl Shurtliff’s book fractured his fairytale in such a charming way, telling the story of a young Rump in search of his own name and a way to control the gift of magic that is his birthright.
Shurtliff’s writing is engaging, pulling you into the story from the start, when we meet Rump, who is literally the butt of his schoolmates’ jokes. As...more
Shurtliff’s writing is engaging, pulling you into the story from the start, when we meet Rump, who is literally the butt of his schoolmates’ jokes. As...more
While I enjoyed this one, and found it clever and entertaining, I never managed to fully connect. There are definitely some things I loved about it though, most especially the mere fact that Shurtliff managed to make Rumplestiltskin's story (pretty much my least favorite fairy tale ever) interesting and fun, and Rumplestiltskin himself (or "Rump" as he is called for most of the book) a sympathetic character. I'm honestly not sure what kept me from getting fully engaged (lack of emptional depth,...more
I quite enjoyed this book. I read a lot of J fiction to look for books to test out on children. This is definitely one I will test out on the children in my life!
I found, as I was reading this, that I nodded in agreement as I went, "Ah yes, that makes perfect sense!" Liesl Shurtliff fills in the holes that are missing in this fairy tale. I truly enjoyed it!
I found, as I was reading this, that I nodded in agreement as I went, "Ah yes, that makes perfect sense!" Liesl Shurtliff fills in the holes that are missing in this fairy tale. I truly enjoyed it!
4 yummy and sweet double chocolate chips cookies.
Cover Love:
Yes, I love this cover. And I think it will be very attractive on display in my library!
Why I Wanted to Read This:
I adore fairy tale re-tellings and have never seen a re-imaging of a fairy tale from the villains point of view!
My Thoughts:
This is how a retelling should be done! Rump becomes a fulfilled, fleshed out character. He is someone we care about. The other characters are pretty secondary, Red is interesting and I think that if th...more
Cover Love:
Yes, I love this cover. And I think it will be very attractive on display in my library!
Why I Wanted to Read This:
I adore fairy tale re-tellings and have never seen a re-imaging of a fairy tale from the villains point of view!
My Thoughts:
This is how a retelling should be done! Rump becomes a fulfilled, fleshed out character. He is someone we care about. The other characters are pretty secondary, Red is interesting and I think that if th...more
Interesting retelling of the Rumpelstiltskin tale from his point of view. I liked the focus on the power an magic of names but at times that part of the story seemed a little forced. For fans of fairy tale retellings and fractured fairy tales.
Little Red Riding Hood seemed to be another main character, so I'll be on the look-out to see if Liesl Shurtliff tells her story next.
Little Red Riding Hood seemed to be another main character, so I'll be on the look-out to see if Liesl Shurtliff tells her story next.
This book tells the story of Rumpelstiltskin as a child and gives a perspective that portrays him as something other than a villain. I really liked the message of this book - that you have control over your own destiny and the type of person you want to be and are not controlled by what others expect you to be.
Awesome. The author has a wonderful writing style, each chapter smoothly flowing into the next. Not only is this a refreshing take on an old fairy tale, but the story delivers a new voice that shies away from the content that has become so popular in middle grade and YA novels. I highly recommend this book!
Social outcast Rump is certain his deceased mother meant for him to have a longer, less embarrassing name, and he has made it his life's mission to find out just what that name is. One fateful day, Rump stumbles across a discarded spinning wheel and learns that he has the ability to spin straw into gold. Rump's newly discovered magic leads to an exciting adventure that ultimately helps him discover his true name and destiny. Reviewer #8
Rump is a great fairy tale retelling that really puts a lot of depth and believability into the original tale. I don't consider that an easy feat considering the strangeness and awkwardness of the basic story of Rumpelstiltskin, not to mention the fact that he is very clearly supposed to be a villain in the original telling.
But in Rump you not only get a believable young boy to become the hero of the tale, but you also get almost every single aspect of the original tale incorporated and explain...more
But in Rump you not only get a believable young boy to become the hero of the tale, but you also get almost every single aspect of the original tale incorporated and explain...more
A silly, sweet retelling of Rumpelstiltskin that my kids would have loved because of the funny names (Rump - they would have howled with laughter over his many names). Slightly obvious in terms of his name, his history and his destiny, but no less fun.
This is a total rethinking of the story behind Rumplestiltskin, with the remarkable ability to make him a sympathetic hero. The story is a well-developed plot with intriguing characters writ large (or small, as in the case of Rump).
,
,
Jan 10, 2013
Alex Lidell
added it
I drank this book in within 2 days! Love the crisp prose, the way plot pieces come together, the funny little lines sprinkled everywhere ... A fun read that brightened up my week. So glad to have read this one!
My friend's mom wrote this and I think she did a pretty good job. She takes the classic story Rumpelstiltskin to a whole new level. I'm really excited for her next book to come out!
Because you enjoyed Storybound, you make like the new release Rump: The True Story of Rumpelstiltskin. This novel combines classic fairy tale with fun light-hearted adventure
This book was just delightful. Hunter will really enjoy it in a couple of years. This retelling of Rumpelstiltskin is creative and thoroughly enjoyable. A fun, quick read.
I remember seeing this query somewhere... QueryShark, maybe? Anyways, I'm so excited. My brother will love this book. I just know it. ^.^
Based on ARC.
Liesl Shurtliff spins a story that is both fresh and familiar. Anyone familiar with fairy tales will recognize the setting. However, RUMP is more than the backstory of another fairy tale. It's a story of destiny and choice and magic and friendship. The characters, especially Rump, are beyond likable--they're adorable. So cleverly written, the humor is delightful, especially the fresh perspective of pixies. While it reads like a light, fun adventure, Rump's story is full of heart and...more
Liesl Shurtliff spins a story that is both fresh and familiar. Anyone familiar with fairy tales will recognize the setting. However, RUMP is more than the backstory of another fairy tale. It's a story of destiny and choice and magic and friendship. The characters, especially Rump, are beyond likable--they're adorable. So cleverly written, the humor is delightful, especially the fresh perspective of pixies. While it reads like a light, fun adventure, Rump's story is full of heart and...more
Never thought of magic's effect on Rumpelstiltskin. Another fascinating fairytale retelling.
Recommended for fans of: MG Fractured Fairy Tales / Fantasy
I love books in which we see the story told from the “villain's” perspective, and Shurtliff does an amazing job with RUMP. Rump really isn’t a villain at all, just a boy tangled in magic who must gain the confidence he needs to get himself out of his bad situation. Kids will love the humor and adults will enjoy the wit. I can definitely relate to Rump and his anxiety over his strange name. I also like the message that we are each in char...more
I love books in which we see the story told from the “villain's” perspective, and Shurtliff does an amazing job with RUMP. Rump really isn’t a villain at all, just a boy tangled in magic who must gain the confidence he needs to get himself out of his bad situation. Kids will love the humor and adults will enjoy the wit. I can definitely relate to Rump and his anxiety over his strange name. I also like the message that we are each in char...more
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Liesl Shurtliff was born and raised in Salt Lake City, Utah, with the mountains for her playground. Just like Rump, Liesl was shy about her name, growing up. Not only did it rhyme with weasel, she could never find it on any of those personalized key chains in gift shops. But over the years she’s grown to love having an unusual name—and today she wouldn’t change it for the world!
Before she became a...more
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Apr 15, 2013 06:33am