Description

“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