A long time ago, a witch burst into flames. A pirateand a mermaid fell in love. A map was marked with a glowing X. Anda Republic was born.In the present day, two girls are given a history assignment:to try and piece together the rise and fall of the famous and corruptpirate Republic, which once formed their island home.As Reggie and Maeve sift fact from fiction, they realise thateverything they've been told about the Republic is wrong. That theproblem with history being told by the victors is that a lotgets left out. That ancient legend might be uncomfortablyclose to home. As their tentative friendship deepens into somethingmore, they realise that a magical world could be on their verydoorstep – if only they could find the map... Blending high-seas swashbuckling adventure, lyrical poetry andcontemporary romanceTHE MAP THAT LED TO YOU is another genre-defying, intoxicatinglyrich tale of myth and magic from RAPUNZELLA author Ella McLeodPerfect for fans of Elizabeth Acevedo, Dean Atta and Kalynn Bayron.  "Ella Mcelod is a stunning talent. This lyrical adventurestory combines high seas adventures and a sweeping mythology, withpiercing moments of truth. The experiences of growing up, of feelingdifferent, of longing to find your place in a world determinedto keep you in a box are explored with stunning clarity, alongsidea swashbuckling adventure that will make you gasp out loud.And it has mermaids!" Esmie Jikiemi-Pearson"Ambitious and genre-defying, THE MAP THAT LED TO YOU, isrichly magical, heartfelt, and powerful. No one writes quite likethe incredible Ella McCloud!" Rosie TalbotPraise for Rapunzella, or, Don't Touch my HairA Guardian BEST BOOKS pick - August 2022"Rapunzella cleverly weaves contemporary urban life with traditionalfairy tale in a story that celebrates Black hair and identity."Just Imagine"a stunningly lyrical exploration" United ByPop

"a stunningly lyrical exploration of a teenager cominginto her power as a young woman." - United By PopA genre-bending YA that weaves together inner-city lifeand a wildly dangerous fairytale universe.Rapunzella is imprisoned in an enchanted forest made of herown Afro and the might of the evil King Charming seems unstoppable.But is it? Can Rapunzella use her power to change thefuture?You're fifteen, you spend your time at school and at Val's hairsalon with Baker, Val's son, who has eyes that are like fallingoff a cliff into space. The salon is a space of safety, but alsoof possibility and dreams... Dreams of hair so rich and alive thatit grow upwards and outwards into a wild landscape, becomes treesand leaves, and houses birds and butterflies and all the secretcreatures that belong in such a forest.Is there a future where such possibility and power is more thanjust a dream?Ella McLeod's debut merges poetry and prose in a stunninglylyrical, heart-piercingly honest exploration of a teenagercoming into her power as a young woman. A bold new voice in YA fiction, Ella McLeod is a spoken wordpoet and actor.Perfect for fans of Elizabeth Acevedo, Dean Atta and Kalynn Bayron.A celebration of Black hair and the power of coming into youridentity.  MORE PRIASE FOR RAPUNZELLA: OR DON'T TOUCH MY HAIRA Guardian BEST BOOKS pick - August 2022"Rapunzella cleverly weaves contemporary urban life with traditionalfairy tale in a story that celebrates Black hair and identity." - JustImagine

An empowering twist on a classic tale - this picturebook will inspire young girls everywhere“empowering, fun and inclusive.”- Teach Primary “With humour, heart and a clever twist on theclassic tale, this lovely picture book shows that we can be manythings, and that no storyline, or stereotype, is ever set in stone.”- Inclusive Books for Children (Top Pick) There are just three things that a girl can be...A Witch should brew potions, but Goldilocs wouldrather make porridge.Plus, an Evil Queendoesn't build her own throne.As for a Princesswaiting for a prince...that just soundsBORING!When Goldilocs tries to be the things she's told a girl shouldbe, she finds that none of them quite fit. But with help from someunexpected friends, Goldilocs learns that being herselfis what matters most. Retold with rhythm and rhyme, Ella McLeod's retelling breathesnew life into the classic storyRochelle Falconer's cheeky illustrations will both empower anddelight little readersOlder readers will love Rapunzella and The Map ThatLed To You by Ella McLeod

Selected for the ALA 2025 Rise: A Feminist Book Project list!Rapunzella is a genre-bending novel that weaves together a young girl's ordinary life and a wildly dangerous fairytale universe, celebrating Black hair and the power of coming into your identity."Recasting classic fairy tales in the context of Blackness, the marvelous novel Rapunzella, Or, Don't Touch My Hair celebrates Black women's solidarity and the magic that's innate in Black girls. . . . A love letter to Black women." Foreword, STARRED REVIEWZella is imprisoned in an enchanted forest made of her own Afro, and the might of the evil King Charming seems unstoppable. But is it? Can she use her power to change the future?You're fifteen. You spend your time at school and at Val's hair salon with Baker, Val's son, who has eyes that are like falling off a cliff into space. The salon is a space of safety, but also of possibility and dreams. When you dream, you visit an enchanted forest full of friends and wonder. You dream of witches and magic, of hair so rich and alive that it grow upwards and outwards into a wild landscape, becomes trees and leaves, and houses birds and butterflies and all the secret creatures that belong in such a forest. But when you wake, your memories vanish, and you are just you, trying to navigate relationships and learning who you will grow up to be.Is there a future where your dreams are more than just dreams?Ella McLeod's debut merges poetry and prose in a stunningly lyrical, heart-piercingly honest exploration of a teenager coming into her power as a young woman.

A long time ago, a witch burst into flames. A pirateand a mermaid fell in love. A map was marked with a glowing X. Anda Republic was born.In the present day, two girls are given a history assignment:to try and piece together the rise and fall of the famous and corruptpirate Republic, which once formed their island home.As Reggie and Maeve sift fact from fiction, they realise thateverything they've been told about the Republic is wrong. That theproblem with history being told by the victors is that a lotgets left out. That ancient legend might be uncomfortablyclose to home. As their tentative friendship deepens into somethingmore, they realise that a magical world could be on their verydoorstep – if only they could find the map... Blending high-seas swashbuckling adventure, lyrical poetry andcontemporary romanceTHE MAP THAT LED TO YOU is another genre-defying, intoxicatinglyrich tale of myth and magic from RAPUNZELLA author Ella McLeodPerfect for fans of Elizabeth Acevedo, Dean Atta and Kalynn Bayron.  "Ella Mcelod is a stunning talent. This lyrical adventurestory combines high seas adventures and a sweeping mythology, withpiercing moments of truth. The experiences of growing up, of feelingdifferent, of longing to find your place in a world determinedto keep you in a box are explored with stunning clarity, alongsidea swashbuckling adventure that will make you gasp out loud.And it has mermaids!" Esmie Jikiemi-Pearson"Ambitious and genre-defying, THE MAP THAT LED TO YOU, isrichly magical, heartfelt, and powerful. No one writes quite likethe incredible Ella McCloud!" Rosie TalbotPraise for Rapunzella, or, Don't Touch my HairA Guardian BEST BOOKS pick - August 2022"Rapunzella cleverly weaves contemporary urban life with traditionalfairy tale in a story that celebrates Black hair and identity."Just Imagine"a stunningly lyrical exploration" United ByPop

"a stunningly lyrical exploration of a teenager cominginto her power as a young woman." - United By PopA genre-bending YA that weaves together inner-city lifeand a wildly dangerous fairytale universe.Rapunzella is imprisoned in an enchanted forest made of herown Afro and the might of the evil King Charming seems unstoppable.But is it? Can Rapunzella use her power to change thefuture?You're fifteen, you spend your time at school and at Val's hairsalon with Baker, Val's son, who has eyes that are like fallingoff a cliff into space. The salon is a space of safety, but alsoof possibility and dreams... Dreams of hair so rich and alive thatit grow upwards and outwards into a wild landscape, becomes treesand leaves, and houses birds and butterflies and all the secretcreatures that belong in such a forest.Is there a future where such possibility and power is more thanjust a dream?Ella McLeod's debut merges poetry and prose in a stunninglylyrical, heart-piercingly honest exploration of a teenagercoming into her power as a young woman. A bold new voice in YA fiction, Ella McLeod is a spoken wordpoet and actor.Perfect for fans of Elizabeth Acevedo, Dean Atta and Kalynn Bayron.A celebration of Black hair and the power of coming into youridentity.  MORE PRIASE FOR RAPUNZELLA: OR DON'T TOUCH MY HAIRA Guardian BEST BOOKS pick - August 2022"Rapunzella cleverly weaves contemporary urban life with traditionalfairy tale in a story that celebrates Black hair and identity." - JustImagine

An empowering twist on a classic tale - this picturebook will inspire young girls everywhere“empowering, fun and inclusive.”- Teach Primary “With humour, heart and a clever twist on theclassic tale, this lovely picture book shows that we can be manythings, and that no storyline, or stereotype, is ever set in stone.”- Inclusive Books for Children (Top Pick) There are just three things that a girl can be...A Witch should brew potions, but Goldilocs wouldrather make porridge.Plus, an Evil Queendoesn't build her own throne.As for a Princesswaiting for a prince...that just soundsBORING!When Goldilocs tries to be the things she's told a girl shouldbe, she finds that none of them quite fit. But with help from someunexpected friends, Goldilocs learns that being herselfis what matters most. Retold with rhythm and rhyme, Ella McLeod's retelling breathesnew life into the classic storyRochelle Falconer's cheeky illustrations will both empower anddelight little readersOlder readers will love Rapunzella and The Map ThatLed To You by Ella McLeod

Selected for the ALA 2025 Rise: A Feminist Book Project list!Rapunzella is a genre-bending novel that weaves together a young girl's ordinary life and a wildly dangerous fairytale universe, celebrating Black hair and the power of coming into your identity."Recasting classic fairy tales in the context of Blackness, the marvelous novel Rapunzella, Or, Don't Touch My Hair celebrates Black women's solidarity and the magic that's innate in Black girls. . . . A love letter to Black women." Foreword, STARRED REVIEWZella is imprisoned in an enchanted forest made of her own Afro, and the might of the evil King Charming seems unstoppable. But is it? Can she use her power to change the future?You're fifteen. You spend your time at school and at Val's hair salon with Baker, Val's son, who has eyes that are like falling off a cliff into space. The salon is a space of safety, but also of possibility and dreams. When you dream, you visit an enchanted forest full of friends and wonder. You dream of witches and magic, of hair so rich and alive that it grow upwards and outwards into a wild landscape, becomes trees and leaves, and houses birds and butterflies and all the secret creatures that belong in such a forest. But when you wake, your memories vanish, and you are just you, trying to navigate relationships and learning who you will grow up to be.Is there a future where your dreams are more than just dreams?Ella McLeod's debut merges poetry and prose in a stunningly lyrical, heart-piercingly honest exploration of a teenager coming into her power as a young woman.