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molang_madrigal's review against another edition
I quite enjoyed this book the first time I read it, but this time round I found it quite dark and depressing. Put it this way: Rumaysa’s tower is nothing like some adaptations of Rapunzel where she has lots of activities to do in the tower and it’s quite a nice place other than not being able to leave. Rumaysa’s tower is grey and dingy and hopeless and has nothing remotely nice in it except some books (which get promptly destroyed by the witch as a punishment) and is surrounded by a dark scary forest with poisonous rivers. And Rumaysa has to spin literally all day, and doesn’t get to eat anything except oats. It’s a bit more heartening when she escapes of course, but then the Cinder-ayla story starts off all about Ayla’s grief for her parents and once again, just general hopelessness. But some elements of the book are good - I really like the Islamic twists on the stories, and how Rumaysa and the other fairytale characters all help each other throughout the stories, and it was really great that none of the girls’ stories end with a relationship (Cinder-ayla was proposed to by the Prince but she turned him down because he was rude to her. Rumaysa and Sleeping Sara don’t have any romantic storylines, which is very refreshing.)
Content Warnings
Graphic: Confinement, Death of parent, Domestic abuse, Child abuse, Death, Grief, and Kidnapping
Moderate: Pregnancy
Minor: Injury/Injury detail
Povertyareadingstan's review against another edition
adventurous
funny
hopeful
inspiring
lighthearted
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
3.75
This was such a lovely book! As an adult who loves children’s books it was so refreshing to read Hafiza’s debut, which retells three classic fairy tales we know and centres Muslim girls as the main characters.
This kind of book is so needed as people who have similar backgrounds to the characters will see themselves reflected in the stories, rather than just white people like in the classics. It is not just race that Hafiza focuses on, but female empowerment, and the importance of following your own path.
Rumaysa is very witty and questions a lot of the tropes that fairy tale characters traditionally have, showing that curiosity should be encouraged in young people and they don’t have to fit in a certain box.
Great messages to children and anyone who chooses to read it!
This kind of book is so needed as people who have similar backgrounds to the characters will see themselves reflected in the stories, rather than just white people like in the classics. It is not just race that Hafiza focuses on, but female empowerment, and the importance of following your own path.
Rumaysa is very witty and questions a lot of the tropes that fairy tale characters traditionally have, showing that curiosity should be encouraged in young people and they don’t have to fit in a certain box.
Great messages to children and anyone who chooses to read it!
Content Warnings
Minor: Confinement, Death of parent, and Grief
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