Bookshelf Must-Have:
Rump: The (Fairly) True Story of Rumpelstiltskin

by the Brightly Editors

Illustration: popmarleo, iStock

We’ve all heard the story of Rumpelstiltskin, a greedy little man who spun straw into gold for the miller’s daughter in exchange for her firstborn child. But is that the real story? Adventure, humor, and magic abound in our latest Bookshelf Must-Have pick, a fun twist on a classic fairy tale for middle grade readers.

  • Why You'll Want: Rump: The (Fairly) True Story of Rumpelstiltskin

  • Rump: The (Fairly) True Story of Rumpelstiltskin

    by Liesl Shurtliff

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    It’s no secret that kids love fairy tales. Take those familiar stories and transform it into something new, add a pinch of humor and a dash of sophistication, and you’ve got yourself a magical story tweens can’t wait to dive into. Such is the case with Liesel Shurtliff‘s Rump: The (Fairly) True Story of Rumpelstiltskin. In this story, Rumpelstiltskin is not the villainous character from the classic tale. Instead, he’s Rump — a 12-year-old boy whose mother died when he was born and left him with only half a name. In a world where your name defines your destiny, Rump agonizes over spending his life as the butt of everyone’s jokes (pun intended). Then he discovers he can spin straw into gold and thinks things might be looking up. But all magic comes with a price and Rump’s newfound talent becomes more of a curse than a blessing. With plenty of charm, whimsy, and humor, this book will have kids rooting for Rump as he sets out to break the hold magic has over him. The first of a number of fractured fairy tales by Shurtliff, kids who enjoy Rump will also love her take on “Jack and the Beanstalk” (Jack), “Little Red Riding Hood” (Red), and the story of Snow White’s crankiest dwarf (Grump).

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