Zel is a new version of the old fairy tale Rapunzel as it is imagined by Donna Jo Napoli. The tale is expanded and given more symbolic detail than the original tale. The story of Rapunzel is often modified to be more suitable for younger children, but Zel has more mature content and is suited to a young adult or adult audience.
It is not clear that Zel is the story of Rapunzel until one gets well into the book and the story gives life and imagination to the thoughts and desires of the three main characters. The themes in Zel include jealousy, deception, love, lust and desperation. The themes of this story I feel combine to produce a powerfully emotional and compelling story that I thing would be very meaningful to young adults of today.
Napoli, D. J. (1998).
Zel. Toronto: Penguin Group
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