Common Sense Media Review
By Mary Eisenhart
,
based on child development research. How do we rate?
Love, courage, problem-solving in lively princess sequel.
Parents Need to Know
Why Age 12+?
Any Positive Content?
Where to Read
Parent and Kid Reviews
What's the Story?
ROOTBOUND opens about a month after Tangled concludes, as newfound princess Rapunzel grapples with etiquette, ball gowns, shoes, and other perils of royal life, while friend and romantic interest Eugene the thief frets that he's going to get the boot because princesses do not marry thieves. They welcome the chance for another adventure together when they're invited to a mysterious kingdom whose luxurious hospitality belies the fact that something's very, very wrong. A magical well is poisoned, the king's been acting strange ever since his wife was killed, allegedly by rebels, and their beloved daughter Verette has a few secrets of her own. And a lot of people are very interested in Eugene's copy of Tales of Flynnigan Ryder. Kind-hearted Rapunzel is determined to help her new friends and put things right, but it's not so easy without magical hair. But in addition to Eugene, she has Maximus the mighty horse and Pascal the pesky chameleon on her side.
Is It Any Good?
A masterfully-composed and utterly fun expansion of a beloved fairy tale. Happily ever after has problems of its own, and author Margaret Owen is just the one to tell the tale, as Rapunzel struggles with princess life and Eugene fears a breakup a month after Tangled concludes. ROOTBOUND finds them both grappling with the demands of their changed life—and welcoming the chance to face new challenges together when a mysterious invitation takes them to a neighboring kingdom with a lot of secrets. Including some about Eugene's origins. There's a lot to learn, a lot of treachery to dodge, a lot of wrongs to right, and quite a few surprises as the story unfolds. It's not every Disney princess who geeks out over paint chemistry and rock formations, but Rapunzel's legion of fans will be thrilled to have her back. To say nothing of Maximus the horse, Pascal the chameleon, and Eugene, with one-liners like "Caution's being so exercised it's got a mean set of abs. Shall we be skedaddling?" The conclusion suggests the possibility of further adventure; we can hope.
Talk to Your Kids About ...
Families can talk about sequels and spinoffs to beloved tales, as Rootbound brings back the characters of Tangled. Do you like the chance to spend more time with your favorites, or do you wish they'd just leave the original story alone? If you're a fan of Tangled, do you feel like Rootbound is faithful to the characters?
Even though she often feels overwhelmed and discouraged, Rapunzel shows a lot of determination and perseverance as she deals with her newfound life as a princess. When you're dealing with something difficult that just has to be gotten through, how do you stick with it and not give up?
Characters in the story often spend a lot of time worrying about something that turns out not to be an issue at all. Has this ever happened to you? What were you worried about, and how did it turn out?
Book Details
- Author :
- Genre : Fantasy
- Topics : Adventures , Dystopia , Fantasy ( Magic ) , Friendship
- Character Strengths : Courage , Curiosity , Empathy , Humility , Integrity , Perseverance
- Book type : Fiction
- Publisher : Random House
- Publication date : July 28, 2026
- Publisher's recommended age(s) : 12 - 18
- Number of pages : 320
- Available on : Audiobook (unabridged), Hardback, Apple Books, Kindle
- Last updated : July 30, 2026
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