There is no question that fairy tales hold an abundance of psychological mystery, and bravo to Donna Jo Napoli and her efforts to explore this rich literary ground in an entirely accessible manner. Crazy Jack is a retelling of Jack and the Beanstalk, which stays relatively true to the story, but enriches and expands Jack’s experiences, desires and motives, adding a measure of humanity into a magical tale. Her use of language is sparse and poetic, with “crazy” Jack thinking and speaking more in riddles and analogies as the small book progresses. Don’t let the horrible cover art deter you from this quick, mesmerizing (and surprisingly sensual) read.
4 stars
144 pages
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