Rapunzella, Or, Don't Touch My Hair

Ella McLeod

From Shelf: Branford Boase Award Longlist 2023

A genre-bending YA that weaves together inner-city life and a wildly dangerous fairytale universe. Rapunzella is imprisoned in an enchanted forest made of her own Afro and the might of the evil King Charming seems unstoppable. But is it? Can Rapunzella use her power to change the future?

"a stunningly lyrical exploration of a teenager coming into her power as a young woman." - United By Pop A genre-bending YA that weaves together inner-city life and a wildly dangerous fairytale universe. Rapunzella is imprisoned in an enchanted forest made of her own Afro and the might of the evil King Charming seems unstoppable. But is it? Can Rapunzella use her power to change the future? You're fifteen, you spend your time at school and at Val's hair salon with Baker, Val's son, who has eyes that are like falling off a cliff into space. The salon is a space of safety, but also of possibility and dreams... Dreams of hair so rich and alive that it grow upwards and outwards into a wild landscape, becomes trees and leaves, and houses birds and butterflies and all the secret creatures that belong in such a forest. Is there a future where such possibility and power is more than just a dream? Ella McLeod's debut merges poetry and prose in a stunningly lyrical, heart-piercingly honest exploration of a teenager coming into her power as a young woman. A bold new voice in YA fiction, Ella McLeod is a spoken word poet and actor. Perfect for fans of Elizabeth Acevedo, Dean Atta and Kalynn Bayron. A celebration of Black hair and the power of coming into your identity. MORE PRIASE FOR RAPUNZELLA: OR DON'T TOUCH MY HAIR A Guardian BEST BOOKS pick - August 2022 "Rapunzella cleverly weaves contemporary urban life with traditional fairy tale in a story that celebrates Black hair and identity." - Just Imagine