Spindle's End - Hardcover

McKinley, Robin

Hardcover

ISBN 10: 0399234667 ISBN 13: 9780399234668

Publisher: G. P. Putnam's Sons, 2000

Synopsis

Princess Rosie is whisked away into hiding by her forest friends as a baby in order to protect her from the evil fairy Pernicia's curse, but Pernicia's powers are strong, and Rosie's fairy and animal friends must do everything they can to save her. 50,000 first printing.

About this title

Review:

Renowned fantasy writer Robin McKinley, author of the lush "Beauty and the Beast" retellings Beauty and Rose Daughter, has produced another re-mastered fairy tale, this time about the dreamy Sleeping Beauty. Much like in the original story, the infant princess, here named Rosie, is cursed by an evil fairy to die on her 21st birthday by pricking her finger on a spindle. That same day, Rosie is whisked away into hiding by a peasant fairy who raises her and conceals her royal identity. From that point on, McKinley's plot and characterization become wildly inventive. She imagines Rosie growing up into a strapping young woman who despises her golden hair, prefers leather breeches to ball gowns, and can communicate with animals. And on that fateful birthday, with no help from a prince, Rosie saves herself and her entire sleeping village from destruction, although she pays a realistic price. In a final master stroke, McKinley cleverly takes creative license when the spell-breaking kiss (made famous in "Sleeping Beauty") comes from a surprising source and is bestowed upon the character least expected.

Although the entire novel is well written, McKinley's characterization of Rosie's animal friends is exceptionally fine. Observations such as "...foxes generally wanted to talk about butterflies and grasses and weather for a long time while they sized you up," will spark reader's imaginations. It won't be hard to persuade readers of any age to become lost in this marvelous tale; the difficult part will be convincing them to come back from McKinley's country, where "the magic... was so thick and tenacious that it settled over the land like chalk dust...." Highly recommended. (Ages 12 and older) --Jennifer Hubert

About the Author:

Robin McKinley is a winner of the Newbery Medal for The Hero and the Crown and a Newbery Honor for The Blue Sword.

About this edition

• Publisher: G. P. Putnam's Sons
• Publication date: 2000
• ISBN 10: 0399234667
• ISBN 13: 9780399234668
• Binding: Hardcover
• Edition number: 1
• Number of pages: 422