Rating: 
Summary: Clever crafting of crafty tales
Review: Please don't rip out the first chapter of this book. It's fine as it is. Spoiler alert: no babies are actually devoured in print or otherwise!
As to its bloody-mindedness, it's a rewrite of a fairy tale, for heavens' sake. Vande Velde is extremely adept at giving an interpretation of these chestnuts. My personal opinion is that 'tweens and up will find it to be marvelous reading to giggle over.
I advise the reviewer who gave it one star to never, never let her child read Hans Christian Andersen-- particularly The Little Match Girl and The Little Mermaid (not the sugarplum Disney version). Likewise Little Red Red Cap (AKA Riding Hood) and Snow White (entrails, anyone?) from the Grimm brothers. Never mind that they serve as promises of chance for a better afterlife, warnings to mind your parents or your guardians as in the case of Snow White.Life can be hard and mean. Sometimes there are villains. In fairy tales, at least, they usually get their due. P.S. Anyone wanting to see Donna Jo Napoli's very touching (and young adult) take on Hansel and Gretel should try her book, The Magic Circle.
Rating: 
Summary: boring but creative
Review: The beginning of this book is very interesting and entertaining. The voice of the author in his note is very amusing and makes a clear point. His ability to come up with such different and full versions of the classic story, Rumpelstiltskin, is extremely creative and enjoyable, but gets very dull as the book holds six different versions of the same story that we already know of. The questions that the author throws at the reader is what kept me reading the first half of the book, but had to force myself to read to the end. For the most part, I didn¡¯t enjoy the book, but some parts were amusing.
Rating:
Summary: Good idea, could have been written better
Review: The book starts off with a very good idea: analyze the various flaws of the Rumpelstiltskin story. Why would a father boast that his daughter can spin straw into gold? Why would someone who can spin straw into gold want a gold ring in exchange? Why would Rumpelstiltskin sing his name out loud? Why would the miller's daughter want to marry a king that threatens to cut her head off?
These various questions are either answered by one story or another, or are avoided by a change in the plot. There are some stories that are very sweet and funny, others that seem kind of random (therefore 4 stars).
It seems that author had a great time and enjoyed writing all of them. A more inspired reader would be motivated to write his/ her own versions of this classic.
Rating: 
Summary: The best of fairytales
Review: The problem in the story was the girl did not know how to turn straw into gold. When she had to live in the dungeon she had to turn straw into gold. When she was trying to turn straw into gold a visitor appeared. He said "If you give me your necklace I'll turn this pile of straw into gold." Then he turned all of the straw into gold. He did it two more times. The last time he did it he said "If you don't guess my name, I'll take your baby when you have one." The girl became queen. A few months went buy and the queen had a baby. Two weeks past and the third week Rumpelstiltskin came. He told the queen she promised him her baby. The first day she guessed the wrong name. The second day she guessed the wrong name then when he left she had her servant go look to find what his name. His name was Rumpelstiltskin. She guessed Rumpelstiltskin and she got to keep her baby.
Rating:
Summary: A Great Read
Review: This book is very creative and amusing. There are parts where I laughed out loud. Vivian Vande Velde is great at putting a different twist to a familiar story.
Rating:
Summary: Read Me!
Review: This book started out hilarious. I luaghed histerically when I read the authors note. then as I read on this book became less and less amusing. It was no longer funny and it soon became boring. I would say that if someone wanted to read this they should read the author's note then put it back on the shelf.
Rating:
Summary: Droll delight
Review: Vivian Vande Velde has already proved herself a master of fantasy. Now she proves that she is a master of logic also! Having noted the numerous and often laughable flaws in the fairy tale "Rumplestiltskin," Ms. Vande Velde entertains with her wry observations -- and droll retellings. For instance, how could a person with his foot caught "tear himself in two"? Is that physically possible? Why did Rumplestiltskin want the girl's gold ring if he can spin gold himself? Why the heck would he want a baby? Well, VVV has the answer. She produces multiple retellings of the story: the miller's daughter is chasing the king. Rumplestiltskin is a woman. Rumplestiltskin is not just a repulsive little troll -- and has a secret identity. Surprise endings and weird twists (and very good questions) are presented, all in VVV's unique style and peppered with her sense of humor. Though twelve bucks may seem like a lot for a small book, don't let the size deter you. In laughs per page, it more than pays off...
Rating:
Summary: Droll delight
Review: Vivian Vande Velde has already proved herself a master of fantasy. Now she proves that she is a master of logic also! Having noted the numerous and often laughable flaws in the fairy tale "Rumplestiltskin," Ms. Vande Velde entertains with her wry observations -- and droll retellings. For instance, how could a person with his foot caught "tear himself in two"? Is that physically possible? Why did Rumplestiltskin want the girl's gold ring if he can spin gold himself? Why the heck would he want a baby? Well, VVV has the answer. She produces multiple retellings of the story: the miller's daughter is chasing the king. Rumplestiltskin is a woman. Rumplestiltskin is not just a repulsive little troll -- and has a secret identity. Surprise endings and weird twists (and very good questions) are presented, all in VVV's unique style and peppered with her sense of humor. Though twelve bucks may seem like a lot for a small book, don't let the size deter you. In laughs per page, it more than pays off...
Rating:
Summary: Droll troll tales made me laugh!
Review: You don't have to be a certain age to appreciate creativity, and these remakes of the old Rumpelstiltskin fable are certainly original. The wonder is the author comes through time after time, six times in all, with a fresh way of framing the timeworn characters. And characters they are -- each one different, each one oozing vanity, or avarice, or foolishness, or sometimes sweetness. I'd recommend reading this if you want to unleash your own creativity, no matter what kind of writing you do.
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