Zel by Donna Jo Napoli

Napoli, Donna Jo. (1998). Zel.

One of my favorite styles in fiction is the alternating perspectives. In this retelling of the Rapunzel story, the narrative is shared by Zel, her witch mother, and the Duke's son - Zel's love interest. Set in 16th-century Switzerland, this story begins with a pre-adolescent Zel happily on her way into town with her beloved mother. Though Zel is ecstatic to be around the thriving marketplace, the longer they spend in town, the more nervous and edgy her mother gets. When left alone for a short amount of time, Zel meets the aristocrat, Konrad, and both are instantly mesmerized by each other. Eventually, they are separated and Konrad begins a tireless search for the interesting girl with warm brown eyes.

Throughout the story the reader gets a sense of how desperately Zel's mother loves and craves the company of her daughter. She does everything in her (substantial) power to limit Zel's contact with other people. The story quickly becomes a battle of wills between Zel and her mother, Konrad and the witch, and eventually, Zel and herself as she deals with the forced isolation of her tower room.

I have to admit that I have a fondness for retold fairy tales. As a child, I voraciously read the stories of the Brothers Grimm, Hans Christian Anderson, and Charles Perrault. Retold fairy tales are a way for those of us who have read the traditional tales one too many times, to rediscover characters and stories and fall in love again with the stories of our childhood. Donna Jo Napoli is one author who enlivens this new genre. Her prose is lyrical and reminiscent of the patterns and rhythms of the traditional fairy tale. I have big plans to continue reading her versions of these stories, including The Magic Circle - the story of Hansel & Gretal, but in the perspective an unwilling witch; Breath - a tale of the aftermath of the Pied Piper and the curse of Hamelin, and Beast - the story of Beauty & the Beast, set in the beautiful deserts of Persia.