The Rumpelstiltskin Problem

by Vivian Vande Velde

Book Overview

Have you ever wondered just what was going on when that odd little man with the long name stepped up and volunteered to spin straw into gold for the miller's daughter? If you stop and think about it,... This description may be from another edition of this product.

• Format: Hardcover
• Language: English
• ISBN: 0618055231
• ISBN13: 9780618055234
• Release Date: August 2000
• Publisher: Houghton Mifflin
• Length: 128 Pages
• Weight: 0.58 lbs.
• Dimensions: 0.6" x 5.0" x 7.0"
• Age Range: 10 to 12 years
• Grade Range: Grades 5 to 7

Customer Reviews

The Rumpelstiltskin Problem

This book will keep you on your toes as you read the various variations of the tale of Rumpelstiltskin. I really enjoyed watching the same story unfold in many new directions!

Excellent Concept, Excellent Stories

I purchased the hardcover version sight unseen after merely hearing the book's premise, and it was well worth the price. Velde presents a series of stories to address the suprisingly many problems inherent to the old Rumplestiltskin tale. Each story contains a unique twist, and every story makes a good deal more sense than the original. The first of these stories was a little shocking for my taste, involving a nasty troll who plots to eat the miller's daughter's baby. But then, I've read the fairy tale collections of the Brothers Grimm (for those of you who don't already know, there are many many many very much more gruesome stories in those) and Velde's variation is comparatively tame. I figure if I can handle the old dark fairy tales, I can handle a dark new one, too. It is the only version of the tale that comes close to being objectionable, and it might be rather hard on children to make it the very first one they'll read upon opening the book. Then again, today's children are made of much sturdier stuff than we former children like to think. I doubt if it will be terribly traumatic for them. That being said, my real favorites are the sunnier variations, where good wins out and every one lives happily ever after, and no babies lives are threatened (oh, come on, you don't really think that's a spoiler, do you?). "Straw Into Gold" is real genius, with one particularly smart character pointedly remarking on the ridiculousness of the whole setup. This is normally a bad move - revealing the story's flaws mid-tale, I mean - but here it works for the story, and I love that Van Velde went for it. (Interested readers may like to know that this story also appears in Tales from the Brothers Grimm and the Sisters Weird, Van Velde's other 'fairy-tale-twist' collection.) Every character involved in the original story gets a chance in at least one variation to be the one who outsmarts the bad guy. And every character involved in the original story also gets a shot at being portrayed as the bad guy. Well, except for the baby. All of this makes for one fun book, and earns my copy a place on my bookshelves. Van Velde, I salute you, and your fabulous imagination!

Droll delight

Vivian Vande Velde has already proved herself a master of fantasy. Now she proves that she is a master of logic also! Having noted the numerous and often laughable flaws in the fairy tale "Rumplestiltskin," Ms. Vande Velde entertains with her wry observations -- and droll retellings. For instance, how could a person with his foot caught "tear himself in two"? Is that physically possible? Why did Rumplestiltskin want the girl's gold ring if he can spin gold himself? Why the heck would he want a baby?Well, VVV has the answer. She produces multiple retellings of the story: the miller's daughter is chasing the king. Rumplestiltskin is a woman. Rumplestiltskin is not just a repulsive little troll -- and has a secret identity. Surprise endings and weird twists (and very good questions) are presented, all in VVV's unique style and peppered with her sense of humor.Though twelve bucks may seem like a lot for a small book, don't let the size deter you. In laughs per page, it more than pays off...

Droll troll tales made me laugh!

You don't have to be a certain age to appreciate creativity, and these remakes of the old Rumpelstiltskin fable are certainly original. The wonder is the author comes through time after time, six times in all, with a fresh way of framing the timeworn characters. And characters they are -- each one different, each one oozing vanity, or avarice, or foolishness, or sometimes sweetness. I'd recommend reading this if you want to unleash your own creativity, no matter what kind of writing you do.

You think you know Rumpelstiltskin?

OK, it a fairy tale and middle school students are too old for such things. But wait, you haven't been pulled into the complexity of the tale and what the ture story is. These six short well crafted stories will draw in the most jaded student.