Rump: The True Story of Rumpelstiltskin by Liesl Shurtliff

“ ‘What’s in a name?’  To all those with common names, rare names, beautiful names, strange and exotic names, or names they wish they could change:  Names are powerful and so is destiny, but a person’s will is more powerful than both put together.”  Author’s Note, p.261 Rump:  The True Story of Rumpelstiltskin, by Liesl Shurtliff.

What is in a name? Names aren’t important, it’s the person inside that determines who you are, right? Unfortunately for Rump, in his small village it is believed that your name determines your destiny in life, your purpose for being on this Earth.  With a name like “Rump” that can’t be good, can it?  Rump has been bullied his whole life because of his name, but he knows something others don’t.  He doesn’t believe Rump is really his name, at least not his full name.  Gran’s told him many times of how his dying mother whispered his name to him right after he was born.  She tired to tell Gran but was only able to say the word “Rump…” before she took her last breath.  Rump’s father had died before he was born, so he was left an orphan to be raised by his grandmother.  Mining for gold (this was a job done by children in the village), being bullied, and having so little to eat he only grew to half size, Rump did not have much of a life.  Until he discovers he can spin straw into gold!  Rump is so excited!  His magic can change his destiny, his troubles are over!  There’s only one problem…he can’t stop spinning.  His one and only friend, Red, warns him that magic is trouble, but it’s too late, something has taken control of Rump and he’s powerless to break the spell.  Will discovering his true name and destiny help him or is his fate, like his poor mother’s, sealed already?

I loved this book!  It was a fun read as I have heard the fairy tale of Rumpelstiltskin many times before but had never considered the “back-story”.  This story is filled with unexpected twists and turns and interesting characters such as pixies that sniff out gold, good witches, and evil trolls (that actually turn out to be allies for Rump) that live deep in the woods.  I even found myself rooting for the trolls to help Rump in one scene!  I look forward to sharing this book in the classroom, possibly as a read aloud and mentor text.  Students could then be encouraged to read other fairy tales and write the back-stories they imagine.