Reviews for Climbing Rosa

The average rating for Climbing Rosa based on 2 reviews is 3 stars.

Review # 1 was written on 2008-02-13 00:00:00 Frank R Shepard Jr A folktale that I am unfamiliar with, Climbing Rosa blends aspects of both Jack and the Beanstalk and Cinderella. However, Fowles lists the Hungarian folktale The Tree that Reached up to the Sky as her source. Apparently Fowles has switched the genders for her story though with success. Rosa makes a welcome tart-tongued change to the typical sweet fairy tale maiden. The illustrations are done in acrylics and the patterns on the girls' dresses and the lack of perspective are reminiscent of folk art. Some of the details in the illustrations are giggle inducing - the sandwich board that the herald wears to help announce the contest, Andras holding one end of a blanket in one hand (used to catch falling girls) and a book in the other. One review mentions that Fowles strays pretty far from what she lists as her source material; I hope to check on that when I have the chance.

Review # 2 was written on 2009-03-07 00:00:00 Rick Campbell Fun premise: girl, mistreated by conniving sister, has special talent of being able to climb anything. This talent could win her a prince.... The heroine is a bit wisecracking-not as lovable as usual, which disappointed me (except, amusingly at the end, when she decides not to rescue her rotten sister. Yet.) Soft, washy watercolor illustrations. Not too texty, possibility for older Story Times.