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(Fairly) True Tales Series
Rump: The True Story of Rumpelstiltskin
In a magic kingdom where your name is your destiny, 12-year-old Rump is the butt of everyone's joke.But when he finds an old spinning wheel, his luck seems to change. Rump discovers he has a gift for spinning straw into gold. His best friend, Red Riding Hood, warns him that magic is dangerous, and she’s right. With each thread he spins, he weaves himself deeper into a curse.
To break the spell, Rump must go on a perilous quest, fighting off pixies, trolls, poison apples, and a wickedly foolish queen. The odds are against him, but with courage and friendship—and a cheeky sense of humor—he just might triumph in the end.
To break the spell, Rump must go on a perilous quest, fighting off pixies, trolls, poison apples, and a wickedly foolish queen. The odds are against him, but with courage and friendship—and a cheeky sense of humor—he just might triumph in the end.
272 pages, Hardcover
First published April 9, 2013
854 people are currently reading
13.6k people want to read
About the author
Liesl Shurtliff
15books683followersLiesl Shurtliff is a New York Times bestselling and award-winning author of books for young readers. Her books include RUMP, JACK, RED, and GRUMP, all part of the (Fairly) True Tales series from Knopf/Random House, and the TIME CASTAWAYS trilogy from Katherine Tegen/HarperCollins.
Liesl was born and raised in Salt Lake City, Utah, with the mountains for her playground. Before she became a writer, Liesl graduated from Brigham Young University with a degree in music, dance, and theater. She now lives in Chicago with her husband and four children. Visit her online at and @lieslshurtliff everywhere.
Liesl was born and raised in Salt Lake City, Utah, with the mountains for her playground. Before she became a writer, Liesl graduated from Brigham Young University with a degree in music, dance, and theater. She now lives in Chicago with her husband and four children. Visit her online at and @lieslshurtliff everywhere.
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 2,159 reviews
June 12, 2018
We grew up knowing that Rumpelstiltskin as a greedy monster but in this novel, readers could see a different perspective on who really he is. In the classic tale, Rump was the antagonist, therefore, it's a 180° turn in this book because the king, queen, and Oswald were all portrayed as despicable or mean.
I really enjoyed reading this from beginning till the end because of how good the life story of Rump was written. I didn't expect that this was a page-turner; at first, I thought that there's nothing special with Rump's life, but I was wrong when I've read this.
I really enjoyed reading this from beginning till the end because of how good the life story of Rump was written. I didn't expect that this was a page-turner; at first, I thought that there's nothing special with Rump's life, but I was wrong when I've read this.
April 13, 2013
I read a Rumpelstiltskin picture book to the third graders last month. Like every time I've ever read or heard this story, I was flooded with questions. Why did the father tell the king that his daughter could spin straw into gold when she obviously couldn't? Why was the king so greedy those three nights that he thought the future queen was spinning, and then just content for the rest of his life with the gold that was spun during those three nights? Wouldn't he ask his wife to start spinning again at some point? Rumpelstiltskin wouldn't be around to help, then. What does this crazy goblin-like man want with a baby? This book asks and answers all of my questions in a very satisfying way. I actually believed the Rumpelstiltskin story for the first time.
The bigger question that it tackles is, Do the labels that a person has placed on them (or that they have placed on themselves) determine their fate? Can they break free from these labels? Rump is a character that kids can relate to. He's been given a crappy name. He believes he's destined to live a crappy life. He spends a lot of time in the book feeling sorry for himself, but he learns along the way that a person creates their own fate, and if they don't want to be defined by a label, then they don't have to be.
This book is very good. I don't know if it's the Ivan of 2013, but it's at least the Wonder. I've gotta get this book processed now. There's a waiting list growing.
The bigger question that it tackles is, Do the labels that a person has placed on them (or that they have placed on themselves) determine their fate? Can they break free from these labels? Rump is a character that kids can relate to. He's been given a crappy name. He believes he's destined to live a crappy life. He spends a lot of time in the book feeling sorry for himself, but he learns along the way that a person creates their own fate, and if they don't want to be defined by a label, then they don't have to be.
This book is very good. I don't know if it's the Ivan of 2013, but it's at least the Wonder. I've gotta get this book processed now. There's a waiting list growing.
August 30, 2016
Rumpelstiltskin always seemed creepy and mysterious to me. I always had the Paul O. Zelinsky illustrations in my head, and the voice from the "Reading Rainbow" segment in my head whenever he came to mind. Now, I have a much younger and more sympathetic Rump in mind.
I really enjoyed learning the "true" story behind how Rumpelstiltskin ended up in that castle spinning gold for a queen, demanding her baby whilest she rattled off a bevy of bizarre names. It was nice to root for Rump and watch his adventure unfold as he found the truth within himself. The side characters all served their purpose well, though I felt a few were a bit too cardboard-familiar and we didn't get enough closure with a few. I appreciated that the fairytale references were intelligent and fun without the author being too wink-wink look how clever I am. I really loved a few of the new twists and elements she added to the story, particularly with how magic works and what to do with magic.
Unfortunately, I felt a bit let-down by the ending. The message felt a bit muddled -- I do get what the author was going for, but it just felt a bit conflicted. (I can't say too much without spoiling things, though it's pretty obvious early on that the whole point is whether ones name controls ones destiny.) And I felt that some plot threads were not tied-up completely. I certainly liked Rump much better than the Rumplestiltskin of my childhood and I'm glad to have met him, though I don't think he's destined to be one of my literary BFFs.
I really enjoyed learning the "true" story behind how Rumpelstiltskin ended up in that castle spinning gold for a queen, demanding her baby whilest she rattled off a bevy of bizarre names. It was nice to root for Rump and watch his adventure unfold as he found the truth within himself. The side characters all served their purpose well, though I felt a few were a bit too cardboard-familiar and we didn't get enough closure with a few. I appreciated that the fairytale references were intelligent and fun without the author being too wink-wink look how clever I am. I really loved a few of the new twists and elements she added to the story, particularly with how magic works and what to do with magic.
Unfortunately, I felt a bit let-down by the ending. The message felt a bit muddled -- I do get what the author was going for, but it just felt a bit conflicted. (I can't say too much without spoiling things, though it's pretty obvious early on that the whole point is whether ones name controls ones destiny.) And I felt that some plot threads were not tied-up completely. I certainly liked Rump much better than the Rumplestiltskin of my childhood and I'm glad to have met him, though I don't think he's destined to be one of my literary BFFs.
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October 6, 2015I just read this out loud to my kids (6 and 9) and they loved it. I am always on the lookout for books that will appeal to both of them, regardless of gender or their 2.5 year age difference.
May 11, 2018
Wow, what an interesting take on Rumplestiltskin. I really enjoyed this re-telling. This is my first time reading this author and am happy to have another of her books to read in the future. 4 stars!
Rumplestiltskin is a fairy-tale that most children hear about growing up. It’s about a beautiful peasant who is taken by an evil King. He locks her up in a Tower to spin straw into gold. The poor girl has never been able to do that, but has some how convinced the king of her abilities. The king gives her three days to spin the straw into gold. She bargains with a magical creature who has promised to spin the gold. Each night she gives the creature something off her person. On the third day she pays him in the promise of her first born. Months go by and the new Queen gives birth to a son. The creature magically appears before her to take the baby. The now Queen cries, “is there nothing I can do to keep my baby?� The creature cackles “tell me my true name and you can keep the baby. You have three days!�
In this re-telling, we meet the magical creature. His is but a boy. A human child by the name of Rump. He lives in The Village before The Mountain and is very poor. Day after day he must mine the mountain for gold to pay the Miller. The Miller is in charge of handing out the villages rations. One day Rump comes upon a spinning wheel. His grandmother forbids him to touch it, but Rump is drawn to it, like pixies to gold. Soon Rump learns the horrible truth about his almost name and his destiny.
At one point it got very dark. The Miller Oswald is definitely a frightening villain. It made the fairy-tale more realistic because Rump was truly in danger. It wasn’t too traumatic for younger kids though. My kids didn’t even really notice. Maybe that’s because Mommy loves horror.
Overall a wonderful re-telling. I also have her Jack and the beanstalk. I hope we get some compassion for the giants, like we did for the poor trolls.
Rumplestiltskin is a fairy-tale that most children hear about growing up. It’s about a beautiful peasant who is taken by an evil King. He locks her up in a Tower to spin straw into gold. The poor girl has never been able to do that, but has some how convinced the king of her abilities. The king gives her three days to spin the straw into gold. She bargains with a magical creature who has promised to spin the gold. Each night she gives the creature something off her person. On the third day she pays him in the promise of her first born. Months go by and the new Queen gives birth to a son. The creature magically appears before her to take the baby. The now Queen cries, “is there nothing I can do to keep my baby?� The creature cackles “tell me my true name and you can keep the baby. You have three days!�
In this re-telling, we meet the magical creature. His is but a boy. A human child by the name of Rump. He lives in The Village before The Mountain and is very poor. Day after day he must mine the mountain for gold to pay the Miller. The Miller is in charge of handing out the villages rations. One day Rump comes upon a spinning wheel. His grandmother forbids him to touch it, but Rump is drawn to it, like pixies to gold. Soon Rump learns the horrible truth about his almost name and his destiny.
At one point it got very dark. The Miller Oswald is definitely a frightening villain. It made the fairy-tale more realistic because Rump was truly in danger. It wasn’t too traumatic for younger kids though. My kids didn’t even really notice. Maybe that’s because Mommy loves horror.
Overall a wonderful re-telling. I also have her Jack and the beanstalk. I hope we get some compassion for the giants, like we did for the poor trolls.
April 8, 2014
Rumplestiltskin is a fairy tale that's honestly always creeped me out. Maybe it's because of the Shelly Duvall Faerie Tale Theatre version, which I saw at an impressionable age. So I was reluctant to read this, frankly. But this is a fine little story that I wished had gone into deeper depth. Quite fun for middle readers, who I think often get robbed of retold fairy tales, since they usually end up in the YA department, with lots of romance added in. There's no romance here, but some nice exploration of friendships instead.
June 8, 2013
The concept of this book totally intrigued me. And the cover! But the story itself didn't live up to what I expected. It started off strong. I liked Rump and his Gran and Red, and the setting was interesting.
But the story impressed me less and less as I read. I thought Rump jumped far too quickly and easily to the conclusion that he could spin gold. And a lot of things felt rather contrived.
I found myself beginning to skim the story about half-way through. The plot began to meander, and the voice seemed to subtly change. It started off feeling original and clever, but that got lost somewhere along the line.
That said, the characterization was good throughout. And I really like the pixies and the trolls. I'm sure there will be a lot of kids who enjoy this book because of the adventure and some of the silly and fun things throughout. While I wasn't blown away, I thought it was a decent read and would recommend parents give it a try for older elementary and younger middle school age kids.
But the story impressed me less and less as I read. I thought Rump jumped far too quickly and easily to the conclusion that he could spin gold. And a lot of things felt rather contrived.
I found myself beginning to skim the story about half-way through. The plot began to meander, and the voice seemed to subtly change. It started off feeling original and clever, but that got lost somewhere along the line.
That said, the characterization was good throughout. And I really like the pixies and the trolls. I'm sure there will be a lot of kids who enjoy this book because of the adventure and some of the silly and fun things throughout. While I wasn't blown away, I thought it was a decent read and would recommend parents give it a try for older elementary and younger middle school age kids.
March 28, 2020
Such a fun retelling!
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April 11, 2013Rumpelstiltskin has never been my favorite fairy tale, and yet two books during this year's Fairy Tale Fortnight have made me rethink the tale. The first was YA title RUMPLESTILTSKIN by Jenni James, which I the other day. Now, with the middle-grade offering of RUMP: The True Story of Rumpelstiltskin, I once again find myself caring about the odd character from the original tale. Unlike in the version from Jenni James, where Rumplestiltskin is the cursed brother of a greedy king and in love with the girl himself, this Rumpelstiltskin an ordinary boy. If, of course, having the ability to turn straw into gold is ordinary. He's figuring out the truth behind the magic coursing through his veins and is sucked into happenings beyond his control.
Rump has grown up never knowing his full name. His mother died moments after childbirth, whispering his name in his ear and only uttering its unfortunate beginning, "Rump," aloud. He gets made fun of all the time, too. After all, who wants to be named after a rear end? Names hold power, too, and without his full name, Rump is only half a person, smaller and weaker than the other boys his age. One day, his ailing grandmother throws away his mother's old spinning wheel, which he rescues from the trash. Messing around with it one night against her wishes, he discovers that he can turn straw into gold. Gold is huge in the mountains, and everyone goes out daily to mine for what little the pixies haven't gotten to in order to survive. Being weaker, Rump rarely finds anything, and he and his Gran never have enough to eat. With this gold, he knows he can change their fortunes for the better. Until the Miller cheats him out of a good deal. Until his Gran passes away. Until the greedy King comes to the Mountains to find out the truth behind his new influx of gold.
The just-as-greedy Miller, of course, claims that he has a gifted daughter, and Opal is quickly whisked away to turn straw into gold for the king--with Rump's house. Rump is once again forced into unfair bargains, where he must accept whatever is offered, never able to barter due to the strength of the magic upon him. She offers her gold necklace the first night, her mother's precious ring the second, and on the third, she promises him her unborn child. Rump doesn't even want a baby, but he's forced to accept. After the third night he flees in search of Yonder, where his mother came from. If he can find out the truth behind his name and his family history, maybe he can change the course of his own destiny. If he never hears that the Queen has had a baby, he never needs to return and take it. But he does hear. Compelled to return, the traditional tale of Rumpelstiltskin plays out in a way familiar to readers, yet being seen through Rump's eyes, has a distinctly "new" feel to it.
I really enjoyed seeing Rumpelstiltskin from Rump's perspective. He wants none of what he's forced to endure, and knowing the way the original tale goes, it's intriguing to see everything familiar from the traditional tale knotted up in a new way. We've misunderstood the tale all these centuries, having seen it from the eyes of the Queen, not those of the magical spinner himself. The Miller and his family are greedy, vile characters, as is the King. They care for nothing but gold, gold, gold, and will hurt anyone in order to get more of what they want. Liesl Shurtliff does a great job shining light on these characters even as their greediness remains by-the-book, making readers really sympathize with poor Rump. And Rump! Kids will really relate to him as he journeys to discover himself over the course of the book. His story is bound together in a creative way with Little Red Riding Hood through his relationship with his one and only friend Red. Red is a great female character, and not in the book nearly enough. It would fun to see a book or novella featuring her in the future! I especially loved the way she could somehow form paths in the woods where there were none previously, and would love to see the magic involved beyond that.
With the mix of boy humor that comes from a boy called "Butt," the addition of a gal pal, and the resonating message of self-discovery, RUMP: The True Story of Rumpelstiltskin is perfect for the middle-grade readers it's aimed for as well as fun for older readers.
Rump has grown up never knowing his full name. His mother died moments after childbirth, whispering his name in his ear and only uttering its unfortunate beginning, "Rump," aloud. He gets made fun of all the time, too. After all, who wants to be named after a rear end? Names hold power, too, and without his full name, Rump is only half a person, smaller and weaker than the other boys his age. One day, his ailing grandmother throws away his mother's old spinning wheel, which he rescues from the trash. Messing around with it one night against her wishes, he discovers that he can turn straw into gold. Gold is huge in the mountains, and everyone goes out daily to mine for what little the pixies haven't gotten to in order to survive. Being weaker, Rump rarely finds anything, and he and his Gran never have enough to eat. With this gold, he knows he can change their fortunes for the better. Until the Miller cheats him out of a good deal. Until his Gran passes away. Until the greedy King comes to the Mountains to find out the truth behind his new influx of gold.
The just-as-greedy Miller, of course, claims that he has a gifted daughter, and Opal is quickly whisked away to turn straw into gold for the king--with Rump's house. Rump is once again forced into unfair bargains, where he must accept whatever is offered, never able to barter due to the strength of the magic upon him. She offers her gold necklace the first night, her mother's precious ring the second, and on the third, she promises him her unborn child. Rump doesn't even want a baby, but he's forced to accept. After the third night he flees in search of Yonder, where his mother came from. If he can find out the truth behind his name and his family history, maybe he can change the course of his own destiny. If he never hears that the Queen has had a baby, he never needs to return and take it. But he does hear. Compelled to return, the traditional tale of Rumpelstiltskin plays out in a way familiar to readers, yet being seen through Rump's eyes, has a distinctly "new" feel to it.
I really enjoyed seeing Rumpelstiltskin from Rump's perspective. He wants none of what he's forced to endure, and knowing the way the original tale goes, it's intriguing to see everything familiar from the traditional tale knotted up in a new way. We've misunderstood the tale all these centuries, having seen it from the eyes of the Queen, not those of the magical spinner himself. The Miller and his family are greedy, vile characters, as is the King. They care for nothing but gold, gold, gold, and will hurt anyone in order to get more of what they want. Liesl Shurtliff does a great job shining light on these characters even as their greediness remains by-the-book, making readers really sympathize with poor Rump. And Rump! Kids will really relate to him as he journeys to discover himself over the course of the book. His story is bound together in a creative way with Little Red Riding Hood through his relationship with his one and only friend Red. Red is a great female character, and not in the book nearly enough. It would fun to see a book or novella featuring her in the future! I especially loved the way she could somehow form paths in the woods where there were none previously, and would love to see the magic involved beyond that.
With the mix of boy humor that comes from a boy called "Butt," the addition of a gal pal, and the resonating message of self-discovery, RUMP: The True Story of Rumpelstiltskin is perfect for the middle-grade readers it's aimed for as well as fun for older readers.
May 16, 2016
Rump: The True Story of Rumpelstiltskin is pure fun. Liesl Shurtliff has created a fascinating world with gnomes who run messages and pixies who are attracted to gold (much like the king of the land). I love that Rump’s only friend is Red, whose name is considered as odd as his and that people are the only things named. Rump was a romp and I enjoyed every minute.
Ilove a good re-telling of a tale you think you know -- and this book does not disappoint! It cleverly delivers all the bits and pieces you remember from the original Rumpelstiltskin tale, and mixes it with an empathetic, believable back story that has you cheering for a character that is typically seen as a villain. Adding to the books retelling fun element is how skillfully the author intertwines other fairy tale characters - in this case Red Riding Hood, and possibly, King Midas. All in all, a great read. Can't wait for more re-tellings from this author.
Ilove a good re-telling of a tale you think you know -- and this book does not disappoint! It cleverly delivers all the bits and pieces you remember from the original Rumpelstiltskin tale, and mixes it with an empathetic, believable back story that has you cheering for a character that is typically seen as a villain. Adding to the books retelling fun element is how skillfully the author intertwines other fairy tale characters - in this case Red Riding Hood, and possibly, King Midas. All in all, a great read. Can't wait for more re-tellings from this author.
August 13, 2015
Prava bajka ali fino napisana da mogu i klinci da je citaju ali i stariji pa da opet ne budu zgrozen pricom za decu.
Lako se cita, ima svojih teskih i tuznih momenata, plus par smesnijih. i naravno citava poenta price je i da nas nauci necemu sem da nas zabavi.
Ako treba nesto za opustanje ili nesto sto ce te da citate deci (koja znaju engeski :) ) ne mozete puno pogresiti sa ovim.
Lako se cita, ima svojih teskih i tuznih momenata, plus par smesnijih. i naravno citava poenta price je i da nas nauci necemu sem da nas zabavi.
Ako treba nesto za opustanje ili nesto sto ce te da citate deci (koja znaju engeski :) ) ne mozete puno pogresiti sa ovim.
May 20, 2014
"Mom let me name you after my Barbie doll," my older sister declared when we were little kids. Dippy me believed her well into adulthood before learning that I was named after a friend of my mom's. There is power in names and thinking I had been named after something as frivolous as a doll bothered me growing up. I remember thinking mom and dad had too many kids if they were letting siblings name them after toys. I imagined naming my brothers, "Hasbro" or "Matchbox" or "G.I. Joe." At least I wasn't named, "Rump" as in this tale. Yeek! Talk about having an identity crisis. Rump's mom gasped only part of his name before dying right after giving birth to him. His name is sure to have young readers howling from the first sentence,"My mother named me after a cow's rear end. It's the favorite village joke..." to leaving a breadcrumb trail of butt, poo, and fart jokes. Plot and characterization are driven by this overarching theme that a name is full of meaning and power that determines a person's future. Twelve-year-old Rump, who is smaller than average, agonizes over his name because it is not a whole name and therefore he will not be able to determine his destiny. He believes he won't grow up but will be trapped as half a person. He lets some town boys bully him and doesn't know how to believe in himself, much less imagine a future that leads to a worthwhile occupation.
His best friend, Red helps him seek out his name and answers to his past. Red looks at facts and is not superstitious like Rump. When the two go into the scary Woods, Rump is afraid of being attacked by squirrels like the boy at school, but Red explains that the boy had chicken pox. She's the voice of reason who is more cautious when dealing with magic and reminds Rump there are consequences to those who use it. When Rump finds a spinning wheel he discovers that he can weave straw into gold. Ecstatic, he believes he has found his destiny that will make his problems disappear. Unfortunately, gold makes his life more complicated with greedy people manipulating him and innocent people being threatened with death. He goes on a quest to make things right and discovers what it means to make your own destiny.
The story oozes with references to other fairy tales that made reading it great fun. Red from "Little Red Riding Hood" has a path that appears in the woods just for her. The two sit on wood stumps that the woodcutter made and Red's grandma has terrific senses even though Rump thinks she's a witch that will eat him like in "Hansel and Gretel." Opal has a weird tick where she licks her lips like a frog which made me think of the "The Frog Princess." Rump rescues Opal like a princess and the thorn bushes made me think of "Sleeping Beauty." The magic mirror and poison apples in "Snow White" make an appearance along with the singing harp and magic seeds found in "Jack and the Beanstalk." The author puts her own twist on these items and ties them in with Jack's internal changes as he grows up. I was so into the Brothers Grimm references that when I read, "Gran once said there would be times in my life when I would be trapped, with walls all around me too high to climb and no way out. Then I would need someone from outside and above to throw down a rope and pull me up," that I thought of Rapunzel. That's probably a stretch but I was having a hey-ho time. And did Hadel have a bug eye as a nod toward some of the depictions of Rumpelstiltskin in past folktales? See what I mean? Once I started looking, I couldn't stop.
The plot is predictable in spots but that is pretty normal for fairy tale twists. The skeleton of the fairy tale is usually apparent and this one follows Grimm's, "Rumpelstiltskin," somewhat closely. I did have questions in the plot as to why Gran never told Rump about his mom, why she didn't see her other daughters, and why she didn't burn the spinning wheel. The unpredictability occurs in the character development of Rump who is the opposite of the normal hot-tempered, creepy character in the original fairy tale who is outwitted by the princess. The German word, "rumpelstilzchen," means something similar to a poltergeist or ghost. Rump is a decent kid; he's no nasty goblin. I loved the twist with the trolls and their pet. That was hilarious. Even the ridiculous donkey is used to tie in with the overarching theme of finding a name. Rump realizes that his treatment of the donkey might have been one reason for its obstinate behavior. He reflects that if he had given donkey a name besides "Nothing" and treated him differently, the two might have gotten along better.
On his quest Rump grows physically which shows he's growing internally too. He isn't a good listener and luckily the author uses this ploy for humor such as when Red, whacks Rump on the head so he'll listen. Rump isn't very good at thinking things through and this is important for his actions at the end with the villain. I find the technique some authors' use of having a character withholding information to advance a plot point annoying and was glad Liesl Shurtliff avoided this in her tale. The villain is one-dimensional and we are not privy to his motivations.
I appreciated the kid and adult humor along with the play on words from "King Barf" to "Yonder and beyond." Troll Mard thinks "Rump" is the best human name she has ever heard because it's not romantic or sentimental. Then she hollers to her brothers, "Gorp! Grot! Out of the stream and into the mud!" Rump describes troll farts as a "hundred times smellier than humans" and their snores like thunder; however, the trolls impart more wisdom to Rump than most humans. Humans are prejudiced toward trolls because of their ugly, nontraditional ways and the author does a great job showing how people need to respect each other in spite of their differences.
Rump's search for his name and destiny is really his search to grow up. He must learn to control his magic and exert his will rather than be trapped by it. He learns that growing up means making a choice of how to live up to his name whether that means choosing to be small and weak or choosing to be strong and smart. This struggle to grow into a better, more confident person is universal and one that many can relate to in life. Plop on your rump and enjoy this wonderful story and message.
His best friend, Red helps him seek out his name and answers to his past. Red looks at facts and is not superstitious like Rump. When the two go into the scary Woods, Rump is afraid of being attacked by squirrels like the boy at school, but Red explains that the boy had chicken pox. She's the voice of reason who is more cautious when dealing with magic and reminds Rump there are consequences to those who use it. When Rump finds a spinning wheel he discovers that he can weave straw into gold. Ecstatic, he believes he has found his destiny that will make his problems disappear. Unfortunately, gold makes his life more complicated with greedy people manipulating him and innocent people being threatened with death. He goes on a quest to make things right and discovers what it means to make your own destiny.
The story oozes with references to other fairy tales that made reading it great fun. Red from "Little Red Riding Hood" has a path that appears in the woods just for her. The two sit on wood stumps that the woodcutter made and Red's grandma has terrific senses even though Rump thinks she's a witch that will eat him like in "Hansel and Gretel." Opal has a weird tick where she licks her lips like a frog which made me think of the "The Frog Princess." Rump rescues Opal like a princess and the thorn bushes made me think of "Sleeping Beauty." The magic mirror and poison apples in "Snow White" make an appearance along with the singing harp and magic seeds found in "Jack and the Beanstalk." The author puts her own twist on these items and ties them in with Jack's internal changes as he grows up. I was so into the Brothers Grimm references that when I read, "Gran once said there would be times in my life when I would be trapped, with walls all around me too high to climb and no way out. Then I would need someone from outside and above to throw down a rope and pull me up," that I thought of Rapunzel. That's probably a stretch but I was having a hey-ho time. And did Hadel have a bug eye as a nod toward some of the depictions of Rumpelstiltskin in past folktales? See what I mean? Once I started looking, I couldn't stop.
The plot is predictable in spots but that is pretty normal for fairy tale twists. The skeleton of the fairy tale is usually apparent and this one follows Grimm's, "Rumpelstiltskin," somewhat closely. I did have questions in the plot as to why Gran never told Rump about his mom, why she didn't see her other daughters, and why she didn't burn the spinning wheel. The unpredictability occurs in the character development of Rump who is the opposite of the normal hot-tempered, creepy character in the original fairy tale who is outwitted by the princess. The German word, "rumpelstilzchen," means something similar to a poltergeist or ghost. Rump is a decent kid; he's no nasty goblin. I loved the twist with the trolls and their pet. That was hilarious. Even the ridiculous donkey is used to tie in with the overarching theme of finding a name. Rump realizes that his treatment of the donkey might have been one reason for its obstinate behavior. He reflects that if he had given donkey a name besides "Nothing" and treated him differently, the two might have gotten along better.
On his quest Rump grows physically which shows he's growing internally too. He isn't a good listener and luckily the author uses this ploy for humor such as when Red, whacks Rump on the head so he'll listen. Rump isn't very good at thinking things through and this is important for his actions at the end with the villain. I find the technique some authors' use of having a character withholding information to advance a plot point annoying and was glad Liesl Shurtliff avoided this in her tale. The villain is one-dimensional and we are not privy to his motivations.
I appreciated the kid and adult humor along with the play on words from "King Barf" to "Yonder and beyond." Troll Mard thinks "Rump" is the best human name she has ever heard because it's not romantic or sentimental. Then she hollers to her brothers, "Gorp! Grot! Out of the stream and into the mud!" Rump describes troll farts as a "hundred times smellier than humans" and their snores like thunder; however, the trolls impart more wisdom to Rump than most humans. Humans are prejudiced toward trolls because of their ugly, nontraditional ways and the author does a great job showing how people need to respect each other in spite of their differences.
Rump's search for his name and destiny is really his search to grow up. He must learn to control his magic and exert his will rather than be trapped by it. He learns that growing up means making a choice of how to live up to his name whether that means choosing to be small and weak or choosing to be strong and smart. This struggle to grow into a better, more confident person is universal and one that many can relate to in life. Plop on your rump and enjoy this wonderful story and message.
May 29, 2018
It was alright. I doubt I'd try this author again because I don't think her writing is for me. I wanted it to go darker - it's a little too light for my taste. I'd recommend for children though. It wasn't a bad book, the low rating is just because it wasn't for me at all.
June 5, 2013
I remember laughing at an old The Far Side joke that I saw. It was a picture of a wrinkly old man, with a hook for a hand, telling a group of children who surround him on the floor about some nasty teenagers who drove away with his hook hanging on the side of the door while he innocently screamed for help. The idea of the story turned on its ear is not an old one but always an unexpected treat.
Kids delight in 's charming book , and adults have fallen in love with the book and musical . is the latest great fractured fairytale that will delight readers with another point of view.
has written a wonderful new take on the Rumplestiltskin story. For the first time we can understand why the crazy little man would want a firstborn child, or wouldn’t, why he would want a beautiful maiden to find his name: she needed help. And why on earth would the father tell such a blatant lie to the king knowing that it would put his own daughter at risk? He’s the real villain of the story…maybe he always was. Children can read, laugh and relate as Rump stumbles through his miserable childhood with a strange name. What child can’t relate to his name being placed in an unflattering rhyme? They will cheer him on as Rump saves--yes SAVES!--the damsel in distress by spinning piles of gold. Kids will adore the clever rhymes, characters, and the fantastical “path� that Rump travels in order to straighten out his tangled mess and outwit the real villains.
Shurtliff’s first book is full of charming twists, and excellent storytelling. It deserves a place on every library shelf, bookstore and in the hands of every child who loves not only a great story, but a new twist on a fairy tale they grew up loving. And just maybe they will learn by heart the best advice the story can give: “Watch your step.�
Kids delight in 's charming book , and adults have fallen in love with the book and musical . is the latest great fractured fairytale that will delight readers with another point of view.
has written a wonderful new take on the Rumplestiltskin story. For the first time we can understand why the crazy little man would want a firstborn child, or wouldn’t, why he would want a beautiful maiden to find his name: she needed help. And why on earth would the father tell such a blatant lie to the king knowing that it would put his own daughter at risk? He’s the real villain of the story…maybe he always was. Children can read, laugh and relate as Rump stumbles through his miserable childhood with a strange name. What child can’t relate to his name being placed in an unflattering rhyme? They will cheer him on as Rump saves--yes SAVES!--the damsel in distress by spinning piles of gold. Kids will adore the clever rhymes, characters, and the fantastical “path� that Rump travels in order to straighten out his tangled mess and outwit the real villains.
Shurtliff’s first book is full of charming twists, and excellent storytelling. It deserves a place on every library shelf, bookstore and in the hands of every child who loves not only a great story, but a new twist on a fairy tale they grew up loving. And just maybe they will learn by heart the best advice the story can give: “Watch your step.�
June 11, 2013
NBC’s Grimm is one of my favorite shows. The show is an updated version of the Brothers Grimm. During the first episode the viewers discover that Nick Burkhardt, a Portland detective, is actually a Grimm. For centuries Grimms have battled the evils. As a Grimm, Nick can see what creature is really hidden behind the façade of a human. It is this play on old stories that are so fun to watch and read.
Recently I received an advance reader’s copy of Rump The True Story of Rumpelstilskin by Liesl Shurtliff. Now any play on the word butt is going to get a boys attention. This book definitely does not disappoint. Rump’s mother died during childbirth. Her last partial word was her new babies name�.Rump! I mean how sad? She died before even saying his whole name. In this magical land little gnomes run around announcing the name of newborn babies. It was hard growing up and being the butt of so many jokes. (Sorry I couldn’t help it.) It is a hard life for Rump and his grandmother. He must work in the gold mines all day, there is little food, and he is bullied non-stop.
Rump does have a friend named Red. Her grandmother lives in the forest. See another twist to the old stories. As Rump gets older he discovers that he can spin straw into gold. This of course leads to many bad times for the two friends.
I am not going to give away more about the story because you need to have fun reading it. I am ordering a copy this week for the classroom, so that it gets passed around and read by kids. Rump is filled with humor, no parents, evil people, magic and more humor. It has everything a boy read wants, and needs in a book.
Too often books based on old stories get lost in trying to take themselves too seriously. Ms. Shurtliff has fun, and that is why I REALLY enjoyed Rump The True Story of Rumpelstilskin.
Recently I received an advance reader’s copy of Rump The True Story of Rumpelstilskin by Liesl Shurtliff. Now any play on the word butt is going to get a boys attention. This book definitely does not disappoint. Rump’s mother died during childbirth. Her last partial word was her new babies name�.Rump! I mean how sad? She died before even saying his whole name. In this magical land little gnomes run around announcing the name of newborn babies. It was hard growing up and being the butt of so many jokes. (Sorry I couldn’t help it.) It is a hard life for Rump and his grandmother. He must work in the gold mines all day, there is little food, and he is bullied non-stop.
Rump does have a friend named Red. Her grandmother lives in the forest. See another twist to the old stories. As Rump gets older he discovers that he can spin straw into gold. This of course leads to many bad times for the two friends.
I am not going to give away more about the story because you need to have fun reading it. I am ordering a copy this week for the classroom, so that it gets passed around and read by kids. Rump is filled with humor, no parents, evil people, magic and more humor. It has everything a boy read wants, and needs in a book.
Too often books based on old stories get lost in trying to take themselves too seriously. Ms. Shurtliff has fun, and that is why I REALLY enjoyed Rump The True Story of Rumpelstilskin.
August 28, 2018
I don't know much about the original telling of Rumpelstiltskin, but I can tell that I loved this retelling.
It was so much fun, and I was trying to figure out how they were going to twist this so that way he is all innocent and not bad. And Liesl Shurtliff did such an amazing job! I liked the inspiration about the names, and how it's your destiny. I really liked Rump and Red as a characters and how she tied in some other fairy tales (mainly Red in this first one, but they did mention Snow White in this one as well).
It was such a fun read, and again I don't know much about the original Rumpelstiltskin story, but this one was amazing!
It was so much fun, and I was trying to figure out how they were going to twist this so that way he is all innocent and not bad. And Liesl Shurtliff did such an amazing job! I liked the inspiration about the names, and how it's your destiny. I really liked Rump and Red as a characters and how she tied in some other fairy tales (mainly Red in this first one, but they did mention Snow White in this one as well).
It was such a fun read, and again I don't know much about the original Rumpelstiltskin story, but this one was amazing!
December 19, 2012
What can I say about RUMP: The True Story of Rumpelstiltskin? Well, I suppose the most important endorsement I could offer would be the one that came directly from the mouth of my ten-year-old son just after we'd finished reading: "I love that book." (He made that comment with a thoughtful sigh.)
And we did. RUMP stole our hearts from the very first line. Liesl Shurtliff has woven a fantastic and intricate backstory behind Rumpelstiltskin's presumably abhorrent behavior and precisely how he got his strange name. Interesting (and impressive) indeed!
And we did. RUMP stole our hearts from the very first line. Liesl Shurtliff has woven a fantastic and intricate backstory behind Rumpelstiltskin's presumably abhorrent behavior and precisely how he got his strange name. Interesting (and impressive) indeed!
March 14, 2014
Such a cleaver story! I throughly enjoyed this fractured fairytale. I can't wrap my mind around how Shurtliff thought this whole story through! AMAZING!! I can't wait to own this book and reread!!
July 13, 2013
More reviews at .
WHAT I LIKED: The fairy tale spin. Rump takes readers through the entire story of Rumpelstiltskin, including how Rump discovered his "gift," how he got tangled up with the miller's daughter and the lies that led her to spinning straw into gold for the king. It explores how Rump ended up with the Queen's baby and the final riddle of how the queen "guesses" his true name. Throughout all of this, Rump is the sympathetic character; it is the miller's lies and his daughter's stupidity, not Rump's inherent evil, that rest at the heart of the Rumpelstiltskin story. Though Rump isn't perfect and succumbs to his own greed for a time, it is Rump's story, and he is the victim here.
I always love when fairy tales get tangled up in other fairy tales! Red Riding Hood is Rump's surly best friend, Red's grandma is a witch, the apple in Snow White has become a poisoned apple tree. I loved the gold-obsessed pixies and the drooling trolls.
With a varied cast of fairy tale characters and frequent changes in scenery, Rump would make an excellent elementary or middle school read-aloud. Readers who enjoy doing voices when they read aloud will especially love this one for storytime.
WHAT I DIDN'T LIKE: My only complaint is that parts of the story are a little dull. I thought I would zip right through this book, but it ended up taking me several days because there isn't really a lot of action. Rump wanders from town to town, thinking about his predicament and how his lack of a real name causes him so much trouble. It's not a huge deal, but I wasn't turning the pages as voraciously as I expected.
THE BOTTOM LINE: Cool fairy tale tie-ins make this Rumpelstiltskin spin-off a must for elementary and middle school libraries.
STATUS IN MY LIBRARY: On order. This will be easy to booktalk!
READALIKES: The Grimm Legacy (Shulman), Half Upon A Time (Riley), A Tale Dark & Grimm (Gidwitz)
RATING BREAKDOWN:
Overall: 4/5
Creativity: 5/5
Characters: 4/5
Engrossing: 3/5
Writing: 4/5
Appeal to teens: 5/5
Appropriate length to tell the story: 4/5
CONTENT:
Language: none
Sexuality: none
Violence: mild; fairy tale violence such as threat of being eaten by trolls; the Miller hits Red
Drugs/Alcohol: none
May 23, 2013
An inadequate attempt to tell the backstory of Rumplestiltskin. Shurtliff seems to want to reveal the power of names and naming and to explore the ideas of free will vs. destiny, but the book never gets beyond annoying superficialities. Why does the miller's daughter stick her tongue out and roll it around her mouth all the time? Once we've learned that trolls eat mud and worms, do we need to read about it repeatedly? And how tedious is it to hear about the recalcitrant donkey over and over? The interesting notions get lost in the morass of the half-baked ones.
February 15, 2015
I did not connect to any of the characters, from the first page til I stopped. It was just not that interesting at all, nothing really grabbed my attention. I only read a few fantasies but this one really was not all that captivating, or maybe cause I was not the author target audience. I just could not get into it at all, however it is really good in the beginning.My attention span is short though, usually if it does not pull me initially then I pretty much give up.
March 4, 2013
Awesome. The author has a wonderful writing style, each chapter smoothly flowing into the next. Not only is this a refreshing take on an old fairy tale, but the story delivers a new voice that shies away from the content that has become so popular in middle grade and YA novels. I highly recommend this book!
June 9, 2015
It was good. It was kind of a funny book and the authors note had a great and meaningful purpose to it. You can read it if you want to. You might laugh when your are reading it.
January 7, 2020
Editlendi, dizgiye gönderildi :')
Rumpelstiltskin masalının tamamını okumamıştım hiç, bu yüzden kitapta bir sonraki sayfada okuyacağım her şey benim için sürprizdi. Gerçi Red'den de bildiğiniz üzere bu seride masallara bambaşka bir bakış açısıyla yaklaşıldığı için orijinal masalı bilsem bile çok şey sürpriz olacaktı. Aksiyon ve gerilimi Red'den bir tık az olsa da Rump'ı da çok sevdim, Elsa'lı sezon finalinden sonra bıraktığım Once Upon a Time dizisine devam etmeyi düşünüyorum çünkü bu kitap bana yetmedi, bu karakterleri farklı bakış açılarıyla daha fazla görmem lazım.
Her zaman isimlerin bir büyüsü ve gücü olduğunu düşünmüşümdür; biriyle adıyla seslenmek her daim daha etkilidir, uzaktan gelen seslerin ya da fısıltıların tek kelimesini anlamazken birden adınız geçtiğinde bunu mükemmel bir şekilde duyarsınız. Rump da "ismin senin kaderindir," fikriyle yola çıkmış, "İsmin ne önemi var?" sorusuna yanıt aramış ve kendince cevaplamış, hoş bir kitap.
Rumpelstiltskin masalının tamamını okumamıştım hiç, bu yüzden kitapta bir sonraki sayfada okuyacağım her şey benim için sürprizdi. Gerçi Red'den de bildiğiniz üzere bu seride masallara bambaşka bir bakış açısıyla yaklaşıldığı için orijinal masalı bilsem bile çok şey sürpriz olacaktı. Aksiyon ve gerilimi Red'den bir tık az olsa da Rump'ı da çok sevdim, Elsa'lı sezon finalinden sonra bıraktığım Once Upon a Time dizisine devam etmeyi düşünüyorum çünkü bu kitap bana yetmedi, bu karakterleri farklı bakış açılarıyla daha fazla görmem lazım.
Her zaman isimlerin bir büyüsü ve gücü olduğunu düşünmüşümdür; biriyle adıyla seslenmek her daim daha etkilidir, uzaktan gelen seslerin ya da fısıltıların tek kelimesini anlamazken birden adınız geçtiğinde bunu mükemmel bir şekilde duyarsınız. Rump da "ismin senin kaderindir," fikriyle yola çıkmış, "İsmin ne önemi var?" sorusuna yanıt aramış ve kendince cevaplamış, hoş bir kitap.
July 29, 2015
This is an adorable take on the tale of Rumpelstiltskin and I must say, in a time where fairytale retellings are common, I believe this is my favorite version of the tale yet! Rump is a very easy-to-relate-to character for children (and the inner child in the rest of us!) who makes mistakes and then tries to make things right. Fun and humorous, I think this is one that will keep the kids reading - it certainly kept my attention ;)
November 1, 2012
This book was just delightful. Hunter will really enjoy it in a couple of years. This retelling of Rumpelstiltskin is creative and thoroughly enjoyable. A fun, quick read.
January 28, 2016
Cute! Charlie and I read this together. Perfect for 3-5th grade readers
August 29, 2018
Сериал "Однажды в сказке" � один из моих самых любимых сериалов. Сериал представляет собой интерпретации историй самых знаменитых и любимых сказок детства, и одним из главных злодеев там является как раз Румпельштильцхен. Так что вы сами понимаете, я просто не могла оставить эту книгу в стороне.
Это история юного Румпа, мать которого умерла, так и не сказав ему его настоящего имени. Это приключения мальчика, который запутался в нитях волшебства и отправляется в путешествие, чтобы исправить свои ошибки.
Я очень люблю, когда в одной истории пересекается множество сказок, так например, было не только в выше упомянутом сериале, но и в одной из шикарнейших серий которые я читала "Лунные хроники". В "Румпе" мы так же познакомились с Красной шапочкой, ее бабушкой-ведьмой, мельком услышали истории Белоснежки. Мне понравились необычные декорации истории, такие как одержимые золотом феи и большие, забавные тролли.
Эта история действительно должна понравится детям, но мне она показалась немного скучноватой.
Моя оценка: 6/10
Это история юного Румпа, мать которого умерла, так и не сказав ему его настоящего имени. Это приключения мальчика, который запутался в нитях волшебства и отправляется в путешествие, чтобы исправить свои ошибки.
Я очень люблю, когда в одной истории пересекается множество сказок, так например, было не только в выше упомянутом сериале, но и в одной из шикарнейших серий которые я читала "Лунные хроники". В "Румпе" мы так же познакомились с Красной шапочкой, ее бабушкой-ведьмой, мельком услышали истории Белоснежки. Мне понравились необычные декорации истории, такие как одержимые золотом феи и большие, забавные тролли.
Эта история действительно должна понравится детям, но мне она показалась немного скучноватой.
Моя оценка: 6/10
June 20, 2015
I thought the pixies were a nice touch, though we all know that his name is Rumpelstiltskin.
May 4, 2013
Loved it!!!Full review to come...
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