Barnes & NobleRapunzella, Or, Don't Touch My Hair by Ella McLeod

Rapunzella is a genre-bending novel that intertwines a young girl's ordinary life with a perilous fairytale universe, celebrating Black hair and the journey of self-discovery. Zella finds herself imprisoned in an enchanted forest made of her own Afro, facing the formidable King Charming. But could she possess the power to shape her own destiny? At fifteen, Zella spends her days at school and in Val's hair salon, captivated by Val's son, Baker, with eyes like an endless abyss. The salon offers both refuge and a canvas for dreams. In her dreams, Zella explores an enchanted forest teeming with magic and wonder, where hair flourishes into a lush landscape. But upon waking, these memories fade, leaving Zella to navigate the complexities of reality and the journey to discover her true self. Ella McLeod's debut seamlessly blends poetry and prose, offering a poignant exploration of a young woman's journey into her own power and identity.