Grounded

> "Rapunzel was innocent. She wasn't sure what innocent meant, but she knew that she *was*, and Witch said it made her perfect."
>
>

> --*Grounded: The Adventures of Rapunzel*
>
>

*Grounded: The Adventures of Rapunzel* is the first book in the Tyme series. It follows Rapunzel on her journey to learn who her Witch is, who she is, and what the world is truly like. It was published in 2015.

## Dedication

For Ruth, who lives her too,

and for Cheryl, who kept the door open.

## Synopsis

You know the tower, the hair, and the witch. But in the land of Tyme, that's just the start of the story...

Rapunzel has never visited a fairy court, or won a jacks tournament, or slept under the stars. She hasn't outwitted a Stalking beast, or made a fried, or adopted a very opinionated frog. She knows only her enchanted tower, which obeys her every command, and her wonderful Witch, who guards her against evil princes far below. Beautiful, beloved, and innocent, Rapunzel can't imagine a happier life.

But when a thief named Jack climbs into her tower, that happy life breaks open forever. Because Rapunzel learns then that Witch is in terrible danger -- and to keep her safe, she must leave her tower and journey with Jack on a quest far across Tyme. There she finds a world filled with even more peril that Witch promised... and more magic, wonder, and excitement than she had ever dreamed.

Much more than just a retelling of Rapunzel, *Grounded* is a marvelous adventure, a moving family drama, and a captivating introduction to the world of Tyme -- with many tales to come.

## Fairy Tale Inspiration

* Rapunzel
* Jack and the Beanstalk

## Plot Summary

The book opens up with Rapunzel enjoying her perfect yet simple life in her magical tower. It is nearing nighttime, and she is reading and taking a bath. Rapunzel hears a noise that doesn't seem like Witch approaching, and it is not Witch; it is Jack. Because of her storybooks, Rapunzel thinks he is a prince. Jack tells Rapunzel that he is looking for a cure for a fairy that Rapunzel had hurt, but Rapunzel doesn't remember. After some insults between the two, Rapunzel chases Jack out of the tower by calling for Witch.

Witch offers to take the memory of Jack away from Rapunzel, but unlike all the times in the past, Rapunzel decides not to remove the memory. She becomes extremely worried about the welfare of Witch, and this causes Witch to age a little bit. Jack comes back the next day and tricks Rapunzel into giving her a rose for the cure. Thinking that Witch will get hurt if the fairies take the cure, Rapunzel chases after Jack.

They travel through the woods to find the fairies. Jack takes Rapunzel Prince Dash, filled with stone. He is holding a lock of Rapunzel's hair, and Rapunzel and angry and confused how he could have taken her hair. Eventually, they find Rune, and Rune reveals that Glyph has already taken the cure and healed greatly (though not completely). Rapunzel is convinced that Rune is powerless, but he shrinks Jack and her, and Rapunzel is forced to follow Rune into the Red Glade.

The fairies in the Red Glade all want to kill Rapunzel, but Glyph is kind and calms the fairies. Glyph asks Rapunzel what she knows about what is going on with Witch and Glyph, and Glyph explains what Rapunzel doesn't know. (Glyph came to Rapunzel's tower a few days ago, but her wing was damaged from Rapunzel unknowingly swinging her hair around while Glyph was climbing it. Rapunzel cares for Glyph, but Rapunzel gives her medicine that actually harmed Glyph.) Glyph, in the end, decides that Rapunzel will live for now, and Glyph will choose what will happen to Rapunzel tonight.

Trompe takes Jack and Rapunzel for a back in the lake. She then leads them to their room and some food was left for them. Rapunzel throws up the fairy food and starts crying because it is her birthday. Jack brings a gift for her: a frog. Rapunzel names the frog Prince Frog; she likes the frog, and the frog likes Rapunzel.

## Characters

### Main

* Rapunzel
* Jack
* Witch (Envearia)

### Supporting

* Prince Dash Charming
* Rune
* Glyph
* Trompe
* Syrah Huanui (in the form of Prince Frog)
* Woman with custard
* Custard shop owner
* The Muffin Man
* Clover Sourwood-Gourd
* Linden Sourwood-Gourd (assumed)
* Governor Calabaza
* Delicata Gourd
* Nexus Burdock
* Carmella
* Bradley Gourd
* Tommy Gourd
* Bejeweled (Jules)
* Serge
* Bandits
* Greve
* Skye
* Edam
* Purl Tattersby
* Prince Mick the Magnificent of Orange
* Exalted Nexus Keene of Lilac
* Trusty
* Princess Daigh of Orange
* Woodmother
* Nan
* Chieftain Fleet
* Nettie Belting (assumed)
* Jack's mother
* Tess Byre

### Seen in Woodmother

* Jack
* Jack's mother
* Tess
* Envearia (senior)
* Witch (Envearia)
* Prince Phillip Charming
* Her Royal Highness Felicity
* Valor
* Justice
* Amelia
* Rapunzel

### Mentioned

* Natalie LeRoux
* Remoulade LeRoux
* Jack's father
* Rose
* Prince Saras Vesper

## Trivia

* Clover and Linden, characters in *Disenchanted*, show up in Cornucopia. Linden is not named, but he is described as wearing only one sleeve, and he is with his sister Linden.
* Nettie Belting, a scribe, shows up at the end of *Grounded*. She appears more than once in *Disenchanted*, and she is remarked to have written a good story about Rapunzel.
* Rapunzel's frog, Prince Frog, is revealed in *Transformed* to be Syrah Huanui.