Review of "Zel" by Donna Napoli

OVERVIEW:
Mother. Zel. Conrad. Three people. Three perspectives. One story. For as long as Zel can remember it has just been her and Mother. But when a visit to town introduces Zel to Conrad, their brief interaction leads to love that will persevere through years of trial. Trial brought about by Mother, whose only desire is to keep her beloved daughter apart from the world and offer her a happiness she never knew in her own youth. But Mother will do anything to fulfill this wish, even if it might hurt the one she loves.

RATING: (4 out of 5)
Another fantastic retelling of the beloved fairy tale, Repunzel. This novel tells the story from three narrators: Zel--the young, spirited girl with a gift for animals; Mother--who has no other name as well as a dark secret; and Count Conrad--the star struct youth who is determined to follow his heart regardless of all obstacles. This story is told at an easy reading level and is a fun read for anyone. The psychological take on this novel challenges readers to consider the many sides of love, and how sometimes love pushes you to irrational decisions.

TO PARENTS:
This novel is a great read and one of my favorites as a young adult (~13 yr/old). The first person narration makes the story a quick read, one I just made in a day. The topics though, may need considering, as this story deals with spiritual trials (dealing with the devil), witchcraft, teen sex, and psychological distress. Wow! This book sounds for a much higher age than middle schoolers-but it's not as bad as you may think. Allow me to ease some concerns. I think 7+ grades would be fine handling this text, as Napoli handles these topics sensitively and does not go into depth. All of these are briefly insinuated and do not descriptively appear in the story (think Breaking Dawn but better). I didn't even realize the depth of this text until I could analyze it at an older age and recognized the subtle clues. As I always say: When in doubt, check it out! This quick read will allow you to quickly determine if your young reader is ready for this book, all the while  allowing you an enjoyable and thought provoking retelling of the stories we all grew up with.