Rump: The True Story of Rumpelstiltskin
(Libby/OverDrive eAudiobook)

Gr 4-8-In a kingdom where names are your destiny, Rump is in the uneviable position of not knowing his full name. Since his mom is dead, he lives with his grandmother and they're barely scraping by-until he realizes he can turn straw into gold. But, as with all magic, there's a price to pay. For him, it means accepting whatever people offer to pay him for his gold, even if it's the miller's pathetic rations as payment. He sets out on a journey to figure out how to deal with the consequences of his magic as well as discover the answer to the age-old question, what's in a name? This is an interesting twist on a classic fairy tale. Shurtliff does a great job of making readers feel sympathetic toward a usually loathed character. The plot starts out a little slow, but is well developed and is complemented by the narrator, Maxwell Glick, whose intonations are unique and ideal for Rump's personality. He truly bring the character to life. An appealing listen for families as well as kids interested in twisted or fractured fairy tales, such as Chris Colfer's "The Land of Stories" series or the "Everafter High" books by Shannon Hale.-Jessica Moody, Olympus Jr. High, Holladay, UT (c) Copyright 2014. Library Journals LLC, a wholly owned subsidiary of Media Source, Inc. No redistribution permitted.

This retelling of the Rumpelstiltskin story follows the title character from his boyhood, when he was a precocious 12-year-old called "Rump." Instead of being the villain of the tale, young Rump is a hero trapped in a magical bargain and struggling to find a way to control the magic that rules him. The boy can spin straw into gold, but he is also bound to accept whatever he is offered in exchange—including the queen's newborn heir. Glick gives Rump a clear and likable voice, though the cadence of Rump's speech gets repetitive. Other characters are well voiced, though the older women do sound alike, whether they are the witch of the woods or the king's friendly cook. Rump's only friend, Red, is a standout voice. One can practically hear Red rolling her eyes at Rump's mistakes. Overall, this is a satisfying telling of an inventive fractured fairy tale. Grades 3-6. Copyright 2019 Booklist Reviews.

Gr 4–8—In a kingdom where names are your destiny, Rump is in the uneviable position of not knowing his full name. Since his mom is dead, he lives with his grandmother and they're barely scraping by—until he realizes he can turn straw into gold. But, as with all magic, there's a price to pay. For him, it means accepting whatever people offer to pay him for his gold, even if it's the miller's pathetic rations as payment. He sets out on a journey to figure out how to deal with the consequences of his magic as well as discover the answer to the age-old question, what's in a name? This is an interesting twist on a classic fairy tale. Shurtliff does a great job of making readers feel sympathetic toward a usually loathed character. The plot starts out a little slow, but is well developed and is complemented by the narrator, Maxwell Glick, whose intonations are unique and ideal for Rump's personality. He truly bring the character to life. An appealing listen for families as well as kids interested in twisted or fractured fairy tales, such as Chris Colfer's "The Land of Stories" series or the "Everafter High" books by Shannon Hale.—Jessica Moody, Olympus Jr. High, Holladay, UT