A Curse Dark as Gold

Title A Curse Dark as Gold
Author Elizabeth C. Bunce
Bunce enjoys needlework and has a passion for traditional folk and fairy tales. She lives in Missouri, near Kansas City. This is her first novel.
ISBN 9780439895767
Publisher Arthur A. Levine Books (an imprint of Scholastic Inc.)
Copyright Date 2008
Reading Level/Interest Age 13+
Genre Fantasy: Fairy Tales
Plot Summary
A Curse Dark as Gold is an imaginative retelling of the fairy tale Rumpelstiltskin, made famous by the Grimm Brothers. As Bunce states, "I always wanted to know more about the stories and characters - the stories beneath the stories. What was the miller's daughter thinking? What did Rumpelstiltskin want the baby for?" Bunce was particularly concerned with the fact that, in a story where the name of the evil character holds weight, why was the heroine nameless? From this concern, the rest of the story grows. Charlotte Miller is devastated when her father dies, leaving her and her younger sister as the stewards of the Stirwaters mill, on which the whole town relies for their livelihood. The mill is deeply in debt and Charlotte must figure out a way to save the mill and the town. But there is a strange curse that has settled over the mill, a curse that has been around as long as the mill and threatens to destroy it. When a strange, magical man named Jack Spinner offers to spin gold thread out of straw, Charlotte sees it as the opportunity she has been looking for. Or will it be the final undoing of the Miller family and their mill?
Critical Evaluation
Bunce has struck gold with her first novel, A Curse Dark as Gold and created a heroine in Charlotte Miller who is not easily forgotten. The suspense and tension that Bunce writes into the story will keep any reader on the edge of her seat. Particularly noteable is Bunce's ability to write a novel that is full of magic and superstition, but which seems altogether realistic in setting, scope and characterization. Female readers will love to read about Charlotte's experiences as a woman doing a job typically reserved for men and her struggles. A fantastic recommendation for teenagers who enjoy literary fiction as this novel is very well-written. Also a good read for someone who like retellings of classic fairy tales.
Reader’s Annotation
Charlotte Miller will do anything to save her mill and her town, but how far will she really go? This retelling of the Rumpelstiltskin tale will keep you guessing until the very end.
Curriculum Ties A great book for an English class to learn about retelling fairy tales and the power and symbolism behind names and naming. Could also be tied into a section on British History, just at the beginning of the Industrial Revolution.
Booktalking Ideas
1. Start with a summary of the familiar Rumpelstiltskin tale and then do a summary of the book, highlighting the major differences.
2. Do a character sketch of Charlotte and of Jack Spinner, ending with a hook about how their lives will be linked.
Challenge Issues
None
Why did I include this book?
Best Books for Young Adults (ALA, 2009); William C. Morris Award (2009); Cybils Award (Finalist, Fantasy and Science Fiction, 2008); I wanted to include a fantasy novel in my database.