Review: A contemporary retelling or Rapunzel
Rating: 3 out of 5
Date: 05 29, 2014
Don't Fall is a completely contemporary retelling of Rapunzel. I have read 3 or 4 re-tellings of Rapunzel now to date and this was a really interesting one. I know the very first line of the summary states that it is a contemporary retelling, but even going into the book knowing that I wasn't sure what to expect. I was reading and enjoying the story, but I kept thinking in the back of my head, "what is the twist going to be". And while there were a few little twists and turns that I didn't see coming, this book really is 100% a contemporary story about a girl with a very over-protective mother. It was a fresh spin on Rapunzel, very fitting for this day and age actually.I felt for Anya. Her mom is so over the top  protective. She is only allowed to venture outside of her house to go to the library. And even then, the main librarian is a friend of the mothers so she is basically a spy. The girl has no where to go. She is tutored at home, only interacts with her mom and goes to the local library two days a week. I think it was because she was so sheltered that her interactions with the cute boy, Zander were so adorable. It made me smile to see the two of them together. Everything about them was sweet and innocent. It was so cute how Zander would wait for Anya every Tuesday and Thursday.It was so interesting seeing the split in emotions that Don't Fall made me feel. I would go from being so happy with a goofy grin on my face watching Zander and Anya get closer and closer, to feeling so sad for Anya when I would watch her get locked away at home again. Every time she tried to speak to her mother she was met with "no's" and stony silence. Her mother would not even discuss anything except expecting a complete devotion to her "rules".Don't Fall is a standalone book that I think so many will really enjoy. The story is cute and very easy to get into. It is a super quick read; one that you can finish in an afternoon. It is my first book that I have read by Rachel Schieffelbein and I really enjoyed it.*Disclaimer- I got a copy of this book for free in exchange for my honest thoughts. I was not compensated for my review.