Title: “Rump”

Author: Liesl Shurtliff

Publication date: 4/9/2013

Type of book: Young reader fantasy/fairytale.

Is this a part of a series, If yes, which number? Not part of a series.

Summary: Rump’s mother dies in childbirth and he never knows the full name that she gave him before she died. He grows up with his grandmother who loves him very much but his life is not an easy one. They are very poor and Rump has to dig for gold in the mines every day just to put a little bit of food on the table. Because he’s small, Rump gets picked on by the other kids in the village on a regular basis. His only friend is Red, a strong no nonsense girl who sticks up for Rump when she can. When Rump finds an old spinning wheel he discovers that he has the ability to spin straw into gold. He thinks that all his problems are solved but he quickly realizes that gifts can become curses in the blink of an eye.

Characters:

*Rump: He is so sweet and you just feel for him throughout the story. I found him to be a very relatable character.

*Red: Spunky and strong. I loved her so much. Plus she is very smart and caring. Rump couldn’t have picked a better friend.

Favorite bits:

*Gold hungry pixies.

*Rump’s Gran telling him to spin gold in his heart.

*”A Stiltskin is magic at its greatest. Pure magic, un-meddled-with and more powerful than any enchantment or spell.”

*Rump’s Gran tells him the story of Snow White. I love when fairytale stories bring other tales into them. I find it really fun.

*Rump’s aunts Hadel, Balthilda, and Ida are really fun to read about and it’s sweet the way that they care for him.

*I liked the importance of names in the book.

*Mard and the other trolls are a wonderful part of this book. They live simple happy lives and they are very smart. They take care of Rump when he needs it the most.

*I love that Rump says that meanness is a choice.

*Overall Rump was a very well written story with a sweet cast of characters. I flew through it and I think that readers will really enjoy this enchanting tale.

Problematic bits: I feel like Rump may be a little on the heavy side for some young readers but that is the only issue I had with it. 

Liesl Shurtliff's Site