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Golden
Before Rapunzel's birth, her mother made a dangerous deal with the sorceress Melisande: If she could not love newborn Rapunzel just as she appeared, she would surrender the child to Melisande. When Rapunzel was born completely bald and without hope of ever growing hair, her horrified mother sent her away with the sorceress to an uncertain future.
After sixteen years of raising Rapunzel as her own child, Melisande reveals that she has another daughter, Rue, who was cursed by a wizard years ago and needs Rapunzel's help. Rue and Rapunzel have precisely "two nights and the day that falls between" to break the enchantment. But bitterness and envy come between the girls, and if they fail to work together, Rue will remain cursed...forever.
After sixteen years of raising Rapunzel as her own child, Melisande reveals that she has another daughter, Rue, who was cursed by a wizard years ago and needs Rapunzel's help. Rue and Rapunzel have precisely "two nights and the day that falls between" to break the enchantment. But bitterness and envy come between the girls, and if they fail to work together, Rue will remain cursed...forever.
179 pages, Paperback
First published February 28, 2006
40 people are currently reading
8,000 people want to read
About the author
Cameron Dokey
58books939followersCameron Dokey is an American author living in Seattle, Washington. She has a collection of over 50 old sci-fi and horror films. Cameron was born in the Central Valley of California. Cameron grew up reading classical literature and mythology, perhaps due to her father, Richard, being a teacher of Philosophy, Creative Writing, and Western Literature.
Cameron has one husband and three cats, and is the author of over a dozen young adult novels. Her favorite read is J.R.R. Tolkien's trilogy, "The Lord of the Rings." Her favorite TV show is "Buffy the Vampire Slayer."
When she's not writing, Cameron likes to work in the garden and is learning to quilt.
Cameron has one husband and three cats, and is the author of over a dozen young adult novels. Her favorite read is J.R.R. Tolkien's trilogy, "The Lord of the Rings." Her favorite TV show is "Buffy the Vampire Slayer."
When she's not writing, Cameron likes to work in the garden and is learning to quilt.
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 702 reviews
June 7, 2014
I wanted to hug this book literally when I was done. Perfect . Exactly what a true fairy tale should be. I'm seriously thinking about reading ALL Rapunzel retellings to see if there is one out there that can do it better than Dokey.
Rapunzel is bald. What? Yeah I didn't think I could get on board with this but it worked. The sorceress isn't evil and Rapunzel doesn't end up with a prince per say. So some major changes. Unlike last time (with )the length didn't hurt the book.
Rapunzel is spunky and her relationship with Harry is what really shines in this story. There is of course the sappy message, but you know it made sense in a real life level. The author supplied the best "love at first sight" explanation I've encountered in a book. I won't attempt to explain, it's done better in the book.
If you love fairy tales a definite must read, if you despise them steer clear. But who really hates fairy tales? Can't say more that would convey correctly how much gladness I felt after reading this. You'll just have to experience it yourself:)
Rapunzel is bald. What? Yeah I didn't think I could get on board with this but it worked. The sorceress isn't evil and Rapunzel doesn't end up with a prince per say. So some major changes. Unlike last time (with )the length didn't hurt the book.
Rapunzel is spunky and her relationship with Harry is what really shines in this story. There is of course the sappy message, but you know it made sense in a real life level. The author supplied the best "love at first sight" explanation I've encountered in a book. I won't attempt to explain, it's done better in the book.
If you love fairy tales a definite must read, if you despise them steer clear. But who really hates fairy tales? Can't say more that would convey correctly how much gladness I felt after reading this. You'll just have to experience it yourself:)
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
February 10, 2017
This is an amazing retelling of the classic fairy tale, Rapunzel. For you see, in this story the roles are reversed. Rapunzel is bald and lives with her stepmother who is actually a nice person, and her stepmother also has the gift to see into other people's hearts. I personally can not call her a witch, because she never seemed to be one to me. Anyhow, I do not want to give too many spoilers for this enchanting book. You will just have to see how the role of Rapunzel is reversed when you read this wonderful book. :)
April 20, 2019
This short, lovely adaptation just leapt to the top of my list in this series. It’s an original, well-developed twist on the classic tale and the ending is fantastic! The heroine is not the princess in the tower, but rather, a strong, intelligent woman who isn’t afraid to let her voice be heard. Admittedly, there isn’t much Grimm here and no real villains per say but I honestly feel that the heroine’s personality and strength redeem the bubble-gum sweet story that I otherwise would have scoffed at. Nicely played! 🧙🏻♀�
September 9, 2016
I have no real complaints about this book. It is the most satisfying book I've read of the series so far (I've read 3 of them just so you know).
Rapunzel starts off by telling us that the tale we have grown up with about her is inaccurate and she precedes to tell us the real story. The story sure has its differences: Rapunzel is bald, the sorceress is good, a prince is involved but isn't the only one to take credit in saving Rapuzel, and Rapunzel doesn't get stuck in a tower until near the last quarter of the book.
Like the other Dokey books you hear a lot about the "heart" but it didn't bother me like it did in the other one. Plus the whole love-at first-sight thing was sort of clarified. I'd never been a none believer of love-at-first-sight but I never really thought about it in deapth till now. Dokey described it in a way that made sense to me.
I enjoyed Rapunzel's character. For being so distant from people, she wasn't strange(if you don't count that she's bald)and she had a backbone. I liked that she didn't think of herself as ugly just because she was bald (although she did want hair).
This book gives me lots of hope for the others in the series. Its a great fast, light-hearted read.
Rapunzel starts off by telling us that the tale we have grown up with about her is inaccurate and she precedes to tell us the real story. The story sure has its differences: Rapunzel is bald, the sorceress is good, a prince is involved but isn't the only one to take credit in saving Rapuzel, and Rapunzel doesn't get stuck in a tower until near the last quarter of the book.
Like the other Dokey books you hear a lot about the "heart" but it didn't bother me like it did in the other one. Plus the whole love-at first-sight thing was sort of clarified. I'd never been a none believer of love-at-first-sight but I never really thought about it in deapth till now. Dokey described it in a way that made sense to me.
I enjoyed Rapunzel's character. For being so distant from people, she wasn't strange(if you don't count that she's bald)and she had a backbone. I liked that she didn't think of herself as ugly just because she was bald (although she did want hair).
This book gives me lots of hope for the others in the series. Its a great fast, light-hearted read.
May 4, 2009
I would really give this 2 1/2 stars if I could. I was really enjoying the first half. I liked the depth that the Rapunzel story had been given and loved the character of Rapunzel. However, once it got the second half with the enchanted tower and the witch's daughter, Rue, it started to fall apart for me.
****SPOILER ALERT*
Rue was supposedly locked in the tower until someone, besides her mother, came along that truly loved her. The witch has always thought Rapunzel would be the one to break the spell and so she brings her to the tower. Rapunzel and Rue don't get along at first and I was assuming that they would learn to love each other and that would break the spell. However, the prince rides up, and in a Cyrano de Bergerac type move, falls in love with the beauty of Rue while he's actually talking to Rapunzel and the next day asks her to marry him, without ever climbing up the tower and really getting to know her, and voila, the spell is broken!? For the climactic event it certainly didn't carry much moral or emotional depth.
****SPOILER ALERT*
Rue was supposedly locked in the tower until someone, besides her mother, came along that truly loved her. The witch has always thought Rapunzel would be the one to break the spell and so she brings her to the tower. Rapunzel and Rue don't get along at first and I was assuming that they would learn to love each other and that would break the spell. However, the prince rides up, and in a Cyrano de Bergerac type move, falls in love with the beauty of Rue while he's actually talking to Rapunzel and the next day asks her to marry him, without ever climbing up the tower and really getting to know her, and voila, the spell is broken!? For the climactic event it certainly didn't carry much moral or emotional depth.
September 23, 2014
Rapunzel is my favorite fairy-tale, so you can imagine my skepticism learning the Rapunzel in this version has no hair. Absolutely none at all. But I was charmed by the author’s way with words, and by the end, she had me with her version of this story (even if I loved it for very different reasons than I love the original tale). I read the whole thing in about an hour and a half. It’s not very long, but it packs a nice little punch. Well worth the effort.
There are other changes to the tale, both of the superficial nature and a bit more significant. Rapunzel’s mother does crave an herb from a witch’s garden, and her father does steal that herb for her, but in this version the witch is not evil, although she does take Rapunzel from her parents. In this case, it’s because she believes the vain mother (who herself possesses vast quantities of beautiful golden hair) will not be capable of loving her daughter, who has aforementioned zero hair. The witch takes Rapunzel and raises her as her own child. When Rapunzel has grown up, however, the story takes a left turn, involving a tinker, witch-hunting, and a spell placed on the witch’s daughter.
In Dokey’s hands, the story of Rapunzel becomes one about different kinds of love, especially the love between a parent and a child. Dokey is also really good at taking fairy-tale constructs and turning them into fleshed out characters. I knew exactly who all of these characters were by the end of the book. I did check this book out originally as part of a fairy-tale retelling anthology called Once, featuring two other stories Dokey had written, re-telling Cinderella and Mulan. I didn’t have time to read them before I returned the book to the library, but I enjoyed this story enough that I am very likely to check out more of her stuff in the future.
There are other changes to the tale, both of the superficial nature and a bit more significant. Rapunzel’s mother does crave an herb from a witch’s garden, and her father does steal that herb for her, but in this version the witch is not evil, although she does take Rapunzel from her parents. In this case, it’s because she believes the vain mother (who herself possesses vast quantities of beautiful golden hair) will not be capable of loving her daughter, who has aforementioned zero hair. The witch takes Rapunzel and raises her as her own child. When Rapunzel has grown up, however, the story takes a left turn, involving a tinker, witch-hunting, and a spell placed on the witch’s daughter.
In Dokey’s hands, the story of Rapunzel becomes one about different kinds of love, especially the love between a parent and a child. Dokey is also really good at taking fairy-tale constructs and turning them into fleshed out characters. I knew exactly who all of these characters were by the end of the book. I did check this book out originally as part of a fairy-tale retelling anthology called Once, featuring two other stories Dokey had written, re-telling Cinderella and Mulan. I didn’t have time to read them before I returned the book to the library, but I enjoyed this story enough that I am very likely to check out more of her stuff in the future.
August 2, 2010
I liked the idea of this book, but I didn't really like the book itself. Mostly, my problem came from the writing style which was overly complicated to no end. It basically felt to me that the author took a story of no more than 50 pages and whipped it up into a longer tale by making the sentences more convoluted and long winded than necessary. AS for the story itself, I liked the original premise, but I felt it wasn't developed correctly...the first half and the second half felt like entirely different stories, with the first showing a great deal of promise until it was suddenly mashed into the second, more rapunzel-themed part. I thought it was very unclear why rapunzel needed to be the one saving the girl, and how she went about it was equally random. Finally, the wizard who set the curse in the first place reacted completely out of proportion, and in doing so ruined many lives...and no one seems to think that he should be hunted down and made to answer which I find suspect. Might appeal to teens as a remake of rapunzel, but i don;t see what sets it apart from other retold tales that would make me recommend this one in particular.
October 31, 2010
Rapunzel is, well, perhaps not what you’d expect. As bald as an egg, raised by a sorceress, and actually not the most polite young lady ever to pull all the carrots out of a garden. But she does have the ability to see the truth. And into the hearts of almost everyone.
Except herself.
And maybe that of the tinker’s boy who insists upon calling her Parsley.
Quite a bit of fun and a surprisingly radical tale for one so often stuck up in a tower.
Except herself.
And maybe that of the tinker’s boy who insists upon calling her Parsley.
Quite a bit of fun and a surprisingly radical tale for one so often stuck up in a tower.
March 30, 2017
A perfect retelling of a story. I loved the alternate twist and the reason for it.
Everyone knows the girl in the tower with the long, long golden hair, but no one knows the Rapunzel of this story. Why? Because there is another girl.
Everyone knows the girl in the tower with the long, long golden hair, but no one knows the Rapunzel of this story. Why? Because there is another girl.
March 27, 2016
3.5 stars. I'm giving this an extra 0.5 star on ŷ, however, because this novel is quite dear to me. I don't know how many times I've read this ever since I got hold of it way back in 2010 (the purchase of it was utterly random, though; who would have thought that I would love it this much?).
Have you ever read a book wherein, once you dissect its elements, you realize how, to say the least, awful it is on many levels? How it sometimes doesn't seem to make the slightest sense, how the plot sometimes seems . . . off and even ludicrous? And yet, despite all these, you find yourself unable to hate this accursed novel completely, even going so far as to proclaim that you like it? Well, dear reader, that is precisely how I feel about this one.
When I was younger, what really appealed to me was the tone of the story, and the very spunky character of Rapunzel. I even aspired to be like her, then. Her bravery was really admirable. Maybe that's the reason why I still love this--my perception of it is already colored by the intensity of my feelings then. Or perhaps I found a thread of connection between Rapunzel and me. I would never know.
Golden is a retelling of Rapunzel, but, as with every retelling, there's a twist. Scratch the image of the Rapunzel you know--the one with the lustrous golden mane, flowing down the length of the rustic tower she's entrapped in. This Rapunzel is bald as an egg, and she's not your typical damsel in distress either. In fact, she's the one who does the saving in the story. She is, in the truest sense of the word, the heroine of this tale.
Seems quite promising. I perfectly understand why my younger self was really in love with this book. Upon reading it again after quite a while, however, I was finally able to see some things in it that I had not noticed before (or, perhaps, deliberately ignored). Here are some issues that I came across:
Have you ever read a book wherein, once you dissect its elements, you realize how, to say the least, awful it is on many levels? How it sometimes doesn't seem to make the slightest sense, how the plot sometimes seems . . . off and even ludicrous? And yet, despite all these, you find yourself unable to hate this accursed novel completely, even going so far as to proclaim that you like it? Well, dear reader, that is precisely how I feel about this one.
When I was younger, what really appealed to me was the tone of the story, and the very spunky character of Rapunzel. I even aspired to be like her, then. Her bravery was really admirable. Maybe that's the reason why I still love this--my perception of it is already colored by the intensity of my feelings then. Or perhaps I found a thread of connection between Rapunzel and me. I would never know.
Golden is a retelling of Rapunzel, but, as with every retelling, there's a twist. Scratch the image of the Rapunzel you know--the one with the lustrous golden mane, flowing down the length of the rustic tower she's entrapped in. This Rapunzel is bald as an egg, and she's not your typical damsel in distress either. In fact, she's the one who does the saving in the story. She is, in the truest sense of the word, the heroine of this tale.
Seems quite promising. I perfectly understand why my younger self was really in love with this book. Upon reading it again after quite a while, however, I was finally able to see some things in it that I had not noticed before (or, perhaps, deliberately ignored). Here are some issues that I came across:
February 17, 2018
This was my first try at reading a book based on an old fairy tail, in this case, Rapunzel. I am most definitely hooked, and it won't be my last. I would have read this book in one sitting had life not gotten in the way (don't you hate when that happens!).
Melisande is a very powerful sorceress deep in the forest. Before Rapunzel was born, her mother made a pact with Melisande that if she had a baby she just couldn't love, Melisande would raise her. When Rapunzel was born, her mother looked down at her bald child, and realized there was no way she could ever love her, and so the infant Rapunzel was taken to Melisande.
Rapunzel absolutely adores Melisande, the only mother she has ever know. However, things begin to change when Rapunzel reaches the age of 16. Melisande has some very big secrets, ones that change Rapunzel's life forever - more than just the fact that she is not the biological child of her mother.
I found the book to be well written with language that drew me into Rapunzel's world.
Melisande is a very powerful sorceress deep in the forest. Before Rapunzel was born, her mother made a pact with Melisande that if she had a baby she just couldn't love, Melisande would raise her. When Rapunzel was born, her mother looked down at her bald child, and realized there was no way she could ever love her, and so the infant Rapunzel was taken to Melisande.
Rapunzel absolutely adores Melisande, the only mother she has ever know. However, things begin to change when Rapunzel reaches the age of 16. Melisande has some very big secrets, ones that change Rapunzel's life forever - more than just the fact that she is not the biological child of her mother.
I found the book to be well written with language that drew me into Rapunzel's world.
January 1, 2016
SUMMARY: Before Rapunzel's birth, her mother made a dangerous deal with the sorceress Melisande: If she could not love newborn Rapunzel just as she appeared, she would surrender the child to Melisande. When Rapunzel was born completely bald and without hope of ever growing hair, her horrified mother sent her away with the sorceress to an uncertain future.
After sixteen years of raising Rapunzel as her own child, Melisande reveals that she has another daughter, Rue, who was cursed by a wizard years ago and needs Rapunzel's help. Rue and Rapunzel have precisely "two nights and the day that falls between" to break the enchantment. But bitterness and envy come between the girls, and if they fail to work together, Rue will remain cursed... forever.
REVIEW: When I first started this story and learned that Rapunzel was bald, I wasn't sure how it was going to work; but Dokey put an interesting twist on the Rapunzel tale that made it quite interesting. The ending was delightful and definitely a different variation. Once again Dokey has used interesting and inventive twists to make this into an enjoyable young adult/adult story. This book is mesmerizing and Rapunzel is a strong heroine who during her journey learns to value herself just as she is. Harry is a great bumbling "tinker's boy" and Jake is the "true prince" looking for real love. With a twist to the ending, this is another very good Once Upon a Fair Tale series read.
FAVORITE QUOTES: "There's a reason you're to supposed to say the very first thing that comes into your head. If you don't take the time to think through your words, you end up being rude just as often as not."
"A good act that is compelled is not goodness at all, but merely force."
"What is in the heart cannot be forced.....If the heart bends, it must be of its own free will or not at all."
"Maybe all young men who love us become knights in shining armor when we love them back."
"That is what love is, I thought. A possibility that becomes a choice. A choice youi keep making, over and over. Day after day. Year after year. Time after time."
After sixteen years of raising Rapunzel as her own child, Melisande reveals that she has another daughter, Rue, who was cursed by a wizard years ago and needs Rapunzel's help. Rue and Rapunzel have precisely "two nights and the day that falls between" to break the enchantment. But bitterness and envy come between the girls, and if they fail to work together, Rue will remain cursed... forever.
REVIEW: When I first started this story and learned that Rapunzel was bald, I wasn't sure how it was going to work; but Dokey put an interesting twist on the Rapunzel tale that made it quite interesting. The ending was delightful and definitely a different variation. Once again Dokey has used interesting and inventive twists to make this into an enjoyable young adult/adult story. This book is mesmerizing and Rapunzel is a strong heroine who during her journey learns to value herself just as she is. Harry is a great bumbling "tinker's boy" and Jake is the "true prince" looking for real love. With a twist to the ending, this is another very good Once Upon a Fair Tale series read.
FAVORITE QUOTES: "There's a reason you're to supposed to say the very first thing that comes into your head. If you don't take the time to think through your words, you end up being rude just as often as not."
"A good act that is compelled is not goodness at all, but merely force."
"What is in the heart cannot be forced.....If the heart bends, it must be of its own free will or not at all."
"Maybe all young men who love us become knights in shining armor when we love them back."
"That is what love is, I thought. A possibility that becomes a choice. A choice youi keep making, over and over. Day after day. Year after year. Time after time."
September 8, 2011
I can point out a lot of good things about this book. For one, it definitely took after the original tale of Rapunzel but giving it a rather surprising twist. When we hear “Rapunzel� we immediately think EXTREMELY LONG BLONDE HAIR. But with Dokey’s Golden, we find our heroine BALD. Yup, you read it right; Rapunzel is B-A-L-D. I absolutely loved the idea. It was so fresh and the story of how she ended up with the sorceress was cunning.
Another thing I was fond of was Rapunzel herself. She’s spunky and charming. Usually, when I read about princesses or damsels in fairy tales they seem to always be mistreated and distressed. Here I find a girl who, despite having known how her past was, is a lively and strong-willed character who doesn’t have to be all nice and sweet.
I also like the idea that the person who took Rapunzel from her parents was not the villain in the story. Henry and Mr. Jones were also characters that I adored. I love Henry and Rapunzel’s bickering, I find them so entertaining.
I was really into my reading up until I reached the part where Rapunzel had to stay in the tower. It got a little TOO twisted at this part and I was just not getting what Rapunzel’s plan was on how to get out of that tower.
Another let down was the fact that when we finally reached the climax of the story, it was over by a blink of an eye. That fast? I didn’t even get how the story got there.
And then they lived happily ever after� that was it. Just when I thought this was going to be one of those books in the Once Upon A Time series that I’d come to love. *Sigh* So sad.
But I did appreciate how wise Dokey was to still incorporate how the tale we know of Rapunzel now with what she has recreated. That part of the ending was something that made me smile in spite of my displeasure.
For more of my reviews, please visit my blog:
The Blair Book Project @
Another thing I was fond of was Rapunzel herself. She’s spunky and charming. Usually, when I read about princesses or damsels in fairy tales they seem to always be mistreated and distressed. Here I find a girl who, despite having known how her past was, is a lively and strong-willed character who doesn’t have to be all nice and sweet.
I also like the idea that the person who took Rapunzel from her parents was not the villain in the story. Henry and Mr. Jones were also characters that I adored. I love Henry and Rapunzel’s bickering, I find them so entertaining.
I was really into my reading up until I reached the part where Rapunzel had to stay in the tower. It got a little TOO twisted at this part and I was just not getting what Rapunzel’s plan was on how to get out of that tower.
Another let down was the fact that when we finally reached the climax of the story, it was over by a blink of an eye. That fast? I didn’t even get how the story got there.
And then they lived happily ever after� that was it. Just when I thought this was going to be one of those books in the Once Upon A Time series that I’d come to love. *Sigh* So sad.
But I did appreciate how wise Dokey was to still incorporate how the tale we know of Rapunzel now with what she has recreated. That part of the ending was something that made me smile in spite of my displeasure.
For more of my reviews, please visit my blog:
The Blair Book Project @
August 4, 2010
I found this story to be engaging even though it would not be the type of story i would pick up on my own. I liked that Dokey gave a twist to the "classic" tale of Repunzel. I liked the character of the original Repunzel, she was a spunky girl. Her relationship with Harry reminds me of my relationship with my husband because we are both very sarcastic and very proud people. I liked the interactions between Rue and Repunzel, they bickered as if they were truly sisters. However, I did not like the character of Alex at all. I found him to be a very weak character, but I guess if Dokey was changing aspects of the "classic" tale then she had to do something with the prince. The prince is usually strong and not clumsy, but Alex was gulliable, clumsy, and overall a weak character.
I can see teenagers liking this novel because many of the characters are a bit snarky. Teenagers are attacked to sarcasm. I also think teenagers are attacked to retellings of stories. This story almost reminded me of the play Wicked where the story we knew was not necessarily the story that actually played out. I can see girls being more attacted to this novel than boys because the girls characters are the protagonists and it is a overall a romance story.
And what I liked most, is that it was a retelling that did not include sex. Both Tender Morsels and Fables include graphic sex scenes and this book did not. I would feel more comfortable recommending this novel to a wider audience than the other two books.
I can see teenagers liking this novel because many of the characters are a bit snarky. Teenagers are attacked to sarcasm. I also think teenagers are attacked to retellings of stories. This story almost reminded me of the play Wicked where the story we knew was not necessarily the story that actually played out. I can see girls being more attacted to this novel than boys because the girls characters are the protagonists and it is a overall a romance story.
And what I liked most, is that it was a retelling that did not include sex. Both Tender Morsels and Fables include graphic sex scenes and this book did not. I would feel more comfortable recommending this novel to a wider audience than the other two books.
August 20, 2009
This is a very original take on the classic fairy-tale of Rapunzel. Instead of the sorceress being an evil old women who locks Rapunzel up in a tower until she's saved by the prince, it's COMPLETELY different.
Quick Overview: Rapunzel is born completely bald, the one stuck in a tower is the sorceress's daughter Rue, who is not put there by the sorceress, and the prince doesn't technically save anyone from a tower. The sorceress finds Rapunzal's father stealing rapunzel(of course) from her garden. She makes a bargain with him and his wife. If they cannot love the child as she is born than the sorceress will keep her. Rapunzel's mother is a beautiful but shallow woman, and when she sees that the child is completely bald she simply can't love her. The father, though heart broken must keep his word. The sorceress raises Rapunzel as her own daughter and she grows up to be a smart and confident girl. But things are soon going to change for her.
This was just a really nice read and I loved how all the characters were potrayed. Everything played out just perfectly and I much prefer this one than the original tale. I really would've prefered that the book be longer. The characters could have been fleshed out better and the second half of the book seemed to wrap up too quickly. A very good and original story, but would have liked it to be a little longer.
Quick Overview: Rapunzel is born completely bald, the one stuck in a tower is the sorceress's daughter Rue, who is not put there by the sorceress, and the prince doesn't technically save anyone from a tower. The sorceress finds Rapunzal's father stealing rapunzel(of course) from her garden. She makes a bargain with him and his wife. If they cannot love the child as she is born than the sorceress will keep her. Rapunzel's mother is a beautiful but shallow woman, and when she sees that the child is completely bald she simply can't love her. The father, though heart broken must keep his word. The sorceress raises Rapunzel as her own daughter and she grows up to be a smart and confident girl. But things are soon going to change for her.
This was just a really nice read and I loved how all the characters were potrayed. Everything played out just perfectly and I much prefer this one than the original tale. I really would've prefered that the book be longer. The characters could have been fleshed out better and the second half of the book seemed to wrap up too quickly. A very good and original story, but would have liked it to be a little longer.
August 2, 2010
Golden is a retelling of the story of Rapunzel but with a few twists and turns along the way. For one thing, Rapunzel is born bald and she is not trapped in a tower but someone else is. Rue, the sorceress' daughter, is trapped in a tower and she is the owner of long roped locks of golden hair. Rue does need Rapunzel's help however to be freed from the tower that imprisons her.
I feel that this story was well told and is an interesting interpretation. Young adult readers will like it because it is a story that is both familiar and unique so that they will be surprised but also expectant. This story is also important because it teaches readers two important things. One that you can and should not judge someone who is different just because you do not understand them and also that love lies in the eye of the beholder. Rapunzel and Rue are also smart and questioning not just women who will fall in love at the drop of hat or enter things blindly. This is a good story for readers of all ages and good for reluctant readers because it is familiar and also not very long. Great for people who love fairy tales.
I feel that this story was well told and is an interesting interpretation. Young adult readers will like it because it is a story that is both familiar and unique so that they will be surprised but also expectant. This story is also important because it teaches readers two important things. One that you can and should not judge someone who is different just because you do not understand them and also that love lies in the eye of the beholder. Rapunzel and Rue are also smart and questioning not just women who will fall in love at the drop of hat or enter things blindly. This is a good story for readers of all ages and good for reluctant readers because it is familiar and also not very long. Great for people who love fairy tales.
January 14, 2008
Have I ever mentioned how much I love fairy tales?
Golden is a beautifully done retelling of Rapunzel. Melisande the sorceress catches a man stealing an herb, rapunzel (parsely), from her garden because his pregnant wife has a craving. The mother, although beautiful, is selfish and is unable to love her newborn daughter because the girl was born completely bald. Melisande adopts the girl, who remains bald. When Rapunzel is 16, she learns that Melisande has a daughter who is trapped in a tower as a result of a wizard's enchantment. It is up to Rapunzel to figure out how to find true love and rescue Melisande's daughter, Rue from her tower.
My favorite quote from the book:
"That is what love is, I thought. A possibility that becomes a choice. A choice you keep making, over and over. Day after day. Year after year. Time after time."
The heroines are strong and they are rescued as a result of their brave and true hearts, rather than because the big, strong men save them. Hooray for girl power!
Golden is a beautifully done retelling of Rapunzel. Melisande the sorceress catches a man stealing an herb, rapunzel (parsely), from her garden because his pregnant wife has a craving. The mother, although beautiful, is selfish and is unable to love her newborn daughter because the girl was born completely bald. Melisande adopts the girl, who remains bald. When Rapunzel is 16, she learns that Melisande has a daughter who is trapped in a tower as a result of a wizard's enchantment. It is up to Rapunzel to figure out how to find true love and rescue Melisande's daughter, Rue from her tower.
My favorite quote from the book:
"That is what love is, I thought. A possibility that becomes a choice. A choice you keep making, over and over. Day after day. Year after year. Time after time."
The heroines are strong and they are rescued as a result of their brave and true hearts, rather than because the big, strong men save them. Hooray for girl power!
November 24, 2015
Fairytale Retelling Quite a twist on the original
Not quite as whimsical as Ms. Dokey's other fairytales, although I like the imagery of how we hold our loved ones in our hearts.
Only three stars because, although I enjoyed the first two-thirds of the book, the ending worked out much too easily. The main character becomes quite ungracious at about that point as well.
The book is clean, but would probably appeal to a little older audience than most of this author's books. Not for subject content, but because the narrator's voice comes across more like an adult than a teen.
Not quite as whimsical as Ms. Dokey's other fairytales, although I like the imagery of how we hold our loved ones in our hearts.
Only three stars because, although I enjoyed the first two-thirds of the book, the ending worked out much too easily. The main character becomes quite ungracious at about that point as well.
The book is clean, but would probably appeal to a little older audience than most of this author's books. Not for subject content, but because the narrator's voice comes across more like an adult than a teen.
March 26, 2008
I picked this up as a quick read at the library thinking that it'd be one of those books you read and toss and ended up actually REALLY liking it! The plot line moves along at a great steady pace. The characters are refreshingly original and I love the twist on the story! I almost wish there was a sequel to it so we could see what happens to everyone after the end of the story! Unfortunately my library doesn't have any other books by this author or I'd have picked up another!
July 11, 2007
A very interesting spin on the story of Rapunzel, this book has two main characters, one of whom cannot grow hair, and the other of whom is the more traditional long-haired woman. The two girls must work together to un-do the curse.
My only complaint is length...the book was outstanding and it could have been longer.
My only complaint is length...the book was outstanding and it could have been longer.
July 14, 2021
Such a fun and unique retelling of Rapunzel's story. Read this to make sure it was appropriate for my daughter to read and I may or may not be seeking out all the rest of the books in the series! I love a good fairy tell telling.
June 27, 2018
THIS IS A SPINOFF, not a retelling. Rapunzel isn't the maiden in the tower, but a miserably cursed girl destined to be bald for life. Why? Oh, some wizard had a temper tantrum with the sorceress--who is NOT the villain here, but Rapunzel's mother figure. The book is boring, bland and long-winded with doggone stupid insta-love that makes Disney romances look like stalled engagements.
After I complete Once, I'm done with Dokey. She does retellings horribly. A true retelling maintains the CORE story faithfully while changing everything else. You can always easily recognize and follow a well-retold story. MALEFICENT was unique in its style, but the heart of the tale was the same: angered, the fairy, Maleficent cursed Aurora with the sleeping death. The tale was complete with Aurora's hypnosis to prick her finger on the enchanted spinning wheel. The tale of Sleeping Beauty had a fresh take, but not so much so that audiences couldn't recognize the original fairytale at its core.
After I complete Once, I'm done with Dokey. She does retellings horribly. A true retelling maintains the CORE story faithfully while changing everything else. You can always easily recognize and follow a well-retold story. MALEFICENT was unique in its style, but the heart of the tale was the same: angered, the fairy, Maleficent cursed Aurora with the sleeping death. The tale was complete with Aurora's hypnosis to prick her finger on the enchanted spinning wheel. The tale of Sleeping Beauty had a fresh take, but not so much so that audiences couldn't recognize the original fairytale at its core.
September 13, 2022
Golden is a kind of a different take on the original Disney story for Rapunzel in the sense that in this one, Rapunzel is a bald girl living with the sorceress for many years before she finds out that the sorceress needs her help to free her own daughter Rue from the tower where she is being kept prisoner due to a wizard’s curse.
I honestly ended up liking this a lot, I haven’t read anything like this before. There was nothing special about the writing style in itself but the plot as a whole was super engaging and fun to get into. Rapunzel’s character was written beautifully and once she and Rue met, the book picked up exponentially.
I was slightly put off by Rapunzel not including Harry in her plans for Alex and Rue but I also kinda understand where she was coming from so it’s all forgiven. The part where she gives herself a new name without letting the past affect her was my absolute favourite. It signified a fresh start for me personally and I am all here for it.
This was the best book this month so far that I picked up solely for a challenge.
I honestly ended up liking this a lot, I haven’t read anything like this before. There was nothing special about the writing style in itself but the plot as a whole was super engaging and fun to get into. Rapunzel’s character was written beautifully and once she and Rue met, the book picked up exponentially.
I was slightly put off by Rapunzel not including Harry in her plans for Alex and Rue but I also kinda understand where she was coming from so it’s all forgiven. The part where she gives herself a new name without letting the past affect her was my absolute favourite. It signified a fresh start for me personally and I am all here for it.
This was the best book this month so far that I picked up solely for a challenge.
March 3, 2023
Before Rapunzel was born her mother made a hazardous deal. The deal was if her mother was if she couldn't love the newborn then she would have to give the baby away to this other lady. So if she couldn't love her child as soon as she was born, she would have to give the baby away to someone who would love the baby or they thought she would love the baby. Melisande would have taken the baby because she was the one that made that deal with Repunzels mom. Rapunzel was born with no hair completely bald. But 16 years later she has very long hair, she can barely maintain the length of her hair. Then the unknown happens. Melisande presents that she has another kid. a daughter. Rue, was cursed by a wizard. If everyone fails to work together then Rue will remand cursed until the end of her time. If not then she might be able to live a normal life just like most people she is around. This book is amazing. This book is a fairy tale book. Over all this book was very well written and it was just a really good book after all.
October 10, 2023
Age Recommendation: 12 & up.
Swearing: One d.
Romantic Content: Two instances of kissing, one not detailed at all, the other semi detailed where they had fallen on top of each other. Mentions of true love and love at first sight.
Personal Opinion:
This is now my third time reading Golden. Would it shock you if I told you that I didn't even like the book at first? It has its fair share of problems, like slightly overdramatic writing at times, a confusing view of 'love at first sight', and the first and last half of the story lacking continuity, but the positives more than make up for the negatives. I would read it a fourth time, and it has safely made its way onto my favorites shelf.
The plot was so good for a retelling of Rapunzel. I mean, how much more of a twist can you get than a bald Rapunzel? I know some reviewers commented on how it felt like a different book from the first half to the last half, which really turned them off. It is true that there is definitely a change in pace and story which I initially disliked as well, but I came to really enjoy it because it gives the characters the ability to grow with their circumstances. (And the writing style stayed the same. Lovely as always. :) )
Which leads me to my next section: characters. I really loved the characters in this book... Rapunzel, Melisande, the Tinker, Harry, and of course, Mr. Jones. :) Rapunzel is a very likeable main character. She is down-to-earth, but also struggles with problems just like anyone else. The Tinker is so sweet. Melisande is just trying to make it through life and tries her best.
I liked the overall theme of there being room in people's heart for more than just one person. I think that's why I didn't like Golden at first because it is such a hard pill to swallow to share people, belongings, love, etc. with others. To find out that someone lied to you but still forgive them anyways is growth on a personal level. Rapunzel even has to learn to go forward in her life and try to make friends with someone who literally has the one thing she has always coveted her entire life. It's almost like a stretching experience for the reader as they go along with Rapunzel as she learns to forgive, accept, and learn that love can grow to accommodate more people.
Of course, I would be remiss if I didn't mention the romance. It is so sweet. I loved every bit of it. It's not the pulse pounding, swoony, hot stuff, kind of romance, but one that will put butterflies in your stomach nonetheless. It's simple, heartfelt, and beautiful. :) The kind of romance where you choose to love someone. Not flashy, but comfortable, steady and like home.
Golden wasn't just about the romance either though. The relationships between platonic characters were also amazing.
The way the curse is resolved is a little odd, and the author's take on love at first sight is...interesting. It simultaneously made me confused, but also made me think. I agree with one premise of it, but also disagree with the execution of it in this book.
Overall, I would recommend this to anyone who loves fresh retellings of fairy tales, sweet romances, intriguing themes and a great ending!
Pg. 176-"When I look at you, I don't see hair or no hair. I just see you."
Swearing: One d.
Romantic Content: Two instances of kissing, one not detailed at all, the other semi detailed where they had fallen on top of each other. Mentions of true love and love at first sight.
Personal Opinion:
This is now my third time reading Golden. Would it shock you if I told you that I didn't even like the book at first? It has its fair share of problems, like slightly overdramatic writing at times, a confusing view of 'love at first sight', and the first and last half of the story lacking continuity, but the positives more than make up for the negatives. I would read it a fourth time, and it has safely made its way onto my favorites shelf.
The plot was so good for a retelling of Rapunzel. I mean, how much more of a twist can you get than a bald Rapunzel? I know some reviewers commented on how it felt like a different book from the first half to the last half, which really turned them off. It is true that there is definitely a change in pace and story which I initially disliked as well, but I came to really enjoy it because it gives the characters the ability to grow with their circumstances. (And the writing style stayed the same. Lovely as always. :) )
Which leads me to my next section: characters. I really loved the characters in this book... Rapunzel, Melisande, the Tinker, Harry, and of course, Mr. Jones. :) Rapunzel is a very likeable main character. She is down-to-earth, but also struggles with problems just like anyone else. The Tinker is so sweet. Melisande is just trying to make it through life and tries her best.
I liked the overall theme of there being room in people's heart for more than just one person. I think that's why I didn't like Golden at first because it is such a hard pill to swallow to share people, belongings, love, etc. with others. To find out that someone lied to you but still forgive them anyways is growth on a personal level. Rapunzel even has to learn to go forward in her life and try to make friends with someone who literally has the one thing she has always coveted her entire life. It's almost like a stretching experience for the reader as they go along with Rapunzel as she learns to forgive, accept, and learn that love can grow to accommodate more people.
Of course, I would be remiss if I didn't mention the romance. It is so sweet. I loved every bit of it. It's not the pulse pounding, swoony, hot stuff, kind of romance, but one that will put butterflies in your stomach nonetheless. It's simple, heartfelt, and beautiful. :) The kind of romance where you choose to love someone. Not flashy, but comfortable, steady and like home.
Golden wasn't just about the romance either though. The relationships between platonic characters were also amazing.
The way the curse is resolved is a little odd, and the author's take on love at first sight is...interesting. It simultaneously made me confused, but also made me think. I agree with one premise of it, but also disagree with the execution of it in this book.
Overall, I would recommend this to anyone who loves fresh retellings of fairy tales, sweet romances, intriguing themes and a great ending!
Pg. 176-"When I look at you, I don't see hair or no hair. I just see you."
June 17, 2020
Best version of Rapunzel I've ever read. Raw, relevant, and powerful. A touching take on familial love, abandonment, and the human fear of differences.
April 19, 2014
*Originally posted at *
I fell in love with the story of Rapunzel from my very first encounter with the story when I saw Barbie as Rapunzel to Disney's Tangled. I was excited to read Golden for the specific reason that it was a Rapunzel retelling. I fell in love with Cameron's Dokey's changes to the story.
As it turns out Rapunzel's mother has a heart made of stone and can make no room in her heart for Rapunzel. Her mother has hair that is long and beautiful, but Rapunzel is born completely bald. Melisande, a sorceress, takes Rapunzel under her care and raises Rapunzel as her own.
The part I really liked about Golden is how much development was put into Rapunzel's childhood. I found it odd that Rapunzel was so free and her mother was not evil, but later in the novel it is explained. People come to visit the sorceress and Rapunzel, but only one is welcome. That is the tinker and his son Harry. There was always some odd about the tinker. I couldn't put my finger on it until Rapunzel discovered it at the end. Harry, he is a typical boy, teasing and carefree. We see a friendship start to form with him and Rapunzel. One that grows with age and changes over time. I loved the parts with Harry and Rapunzel best. Everything about Rapunzel's life is happy and normal until she turns 16. Something in Rapunzel's life changes when she turns 16.
That is when Rapunzel learns about Rue, the girl with long beautiful hair, who is trapped in a tower. She has two days to free Rue from the curse put upon her by a wizard. It isn't easy to build a relationship in two days time and Dokey shows that although only in little pieces.
I do wish there was more development to this story in the end. I think the relationships could have been built and explained more instead of just happening. I know it is a fairy tale, but that doesn't mean happily ever after always has to happen quickly and without struggles and triumphant. I felt a bit cheated by the end of the novel because I think there was still more of a story to be told. I loved the ending Dokey gave to Golden. I just think there could have been more development into the lead up of the ending.
The one thing I really loved about Golden is that Rapunzel was not the girl I thought she was and even the Rapunzel I came to know through the novel was not the girl I thought she was. My predictions were totally off for what ended up happening, but the ending Dokey gave was better than any ending I had imagined in my mind. So sit back, relax, and enjoy Cameron Dokey's Golden.
I fell in love with the story of Rapunzel from my very first encounter with the story when I saw Barbie as Rapunzel to Disney's Tangled. I was excited to read Golden for the specific reason that it was a Rapunzel retelling. I fell in love with Cameron's Dokey's changes to the story.
As it turns out Rapunzel's mother has a heart made of stone and can make no room in her heart for Rapunzel. Her mother has hair that is long and beautiful, but Rapunzel is born completely bald. Melisande, a sorceress, takes Rapunzel under her care and raises Rapunzel as her own.
The part I really liked about Golden is how much development was put into Rapunzel's childhood. I found it odd that Rapunzel was so free and her mother was not evil, but later in the novel it is explained. People come to visit the sorceress and Rapunzel, but only one is welcome. That is the tinker and his son Harry. There was always some odd about the tinker. I couldn't put my finger on it until Rapunzel discovered it at the end. Harry, he is a typical boy, teasing and carefree. We see a friendship start to form with him and Rapunzel. One that grows with age and changes over time. I loved the parts with Harry and Rapunzel best. Everything about Rapunzel's life is happy and normal until she turns 16. Something in Rapunzel's life changes when she turns 16.
That is when Rapunzel learns about Rue, the girl with long beautiful hair, who is trapped in a tower. She has two days to free Rue from the curse put upon her by a wizard. It isn't easy to build a relationship in two days time and Dokey shows that although only in little pieces.
I do wish there was more development to this story in the end. I think the relationships could have been built and explained more instead of just happening. I know it is a fairy tale, but that doesn't mean happily ever after always has to happen quickly and without struggles and triumphant. I felt a bit cheated by the end of the novel because I think there was still more of a story to be told. I loved the ending Dokey gave to Golden. I just think there could have been more development into the lead up of the ending.
The one thing I really loved about Golden is that Rapunzel was not the girl I thought she was and even the Rapunzel I came to know through the novel was not the girl I thought she was. My predictions were totally off for what ended up happening, but the ending Dokey gave was better than any ending I had imagined in my mind. So sit back, relax, and enjoy Cameron Dokey's Golden.
May 20, 2009
Well, I would probably rate this two and a half stars. I was a little disappointed with the ending, especially since I found the beginning fairly enthralling. I was annoyed through out the whole book by the fact that Rapunzel was, get this, completely and totally bald this completely miffed me. And it also bothered me how Rapunzel was just a stepping stone for the whole story. It's all "oh Rapunzel even though your the main character you have a completely pointless part in the whole entire book, and Rue/Rapunzel is basically perfect in every way, gets the handsome prince and his kingdom, etc. while you get, oh boy! the stupid mouthy tinkers boy! It totally bothered me! I have to say, I was very excited when I first started to read the . The first and clearly the best one that I have read is a retelling of Cinderella. In this one, for once, the main character was pretty and got the prince (thank heavens). Unfortunately all the other ones only seem interested in making the fairy tales totally unrecognizable. I mean come on, I think we all enjoy happy endings where the Princess are beautiful enough(and have hair)and they live happily ever after with their prince, or whatever. not books that end with " and Harry and Susan lived happily ever after" which unfortunately enough is the end of Golden. The book itself wasn't all that bad. But the plot and the characters drove me CRAZY!!!!
Read
March 11, 2012Cameron Dokey did a fantastic job re-telling the traditional fairy tale, Rapunzel. The main character of the story is Rapunzel, a girl named after a type of parsley. The story begins when Rapunzel's father is caught stealing rapunzel (parsley) from the sorceress' garden for his pregnant wife. The sorceress, Melisande, tells them that if the mother doesn't have enough room in her heart for her child, that she will take the child. Rapunzel's mother is a beautiful and vain woman and when Rapunzel is born, she is bald. The mother can't love her as she is so the sorceress took Rapunzel and raised her. Rapunzel later meets the Tinker and Harry, his adopted son. Harry and Rapunzel see each other often as they grow up. Later, Rapunzel and Melisande are forced to leave their home and they travel to a tower. Rapunzel discovers that the girl living in the tower is Rue, Melisande's daughter. Melisande believes that Rue will be able to break the curse holding Rue in the tower. Rue and Rapunzel have to work together to break the curse and through a clever trick are able to do so. The story ends happily ever after for everyone. The story does more then tell the tale of Rapunzel with a clever twist. Rapunzel is faced with an unusual problem and has the choice to walk away but decides to help Melisande despite the lies that Melisande had told her throughout her life. Rapunzel deals with jealousy and her self esteem and helps Rue to find herself as well.
August 2, 2010
I really enjoyed this retelling of Rapunzel. Last semester I took the course the Art of the Children's Book and wrote a paper comparing three different versions of the classic tale of Rapunzel, therefore, I was very interested in reading this. While the three versions stories and illustrations all varied slightly, overall, they were very similar. Golden, on the other hand, had a great twist. I loved the fact that in this rendering, Rapunzel is completely bald. Dokey takes away the most well known feature of the classic character, and instead introduces new characters like Rue in order to create a unique translation. I appreciated the changes that were made, yet I was happy that it still ended with a happily-ever-after. In the end there are two happy couples and Rapunzel becomes Susan, spending the rest of her life with her love, Harry.
I think teen girls would like this book, mostly at the middle school level. I also can see this book having the potential to be incorporated into school curriculum. A compare/contrast study on a classic version and this retelling could lead to excellent discussions.
I think teen girls would like this book, mostly at the middle school level. I also can see this book having the potential to be incorporated into school curriculum. A compare/contrast study on a classic version and this retelling could lead to excellent discussions.
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