Golden by Cameron Dokey

Rapunzel has never had any hair, not since the day she was born. Nor has she seen her parents since that day; she lives with Melisande the sorceress, who took her in after her mother's unwillingness to love her. Her days consist mainly of general chores, helping Melisande around the house and garden, and looking out for Mr. Jones and his boy Harry, her best and only friend.

They stay away from large areas because of Rapunzel's oddity. The townsfolk do not taking kindly to it, but for the most part they leave her alone. Many of them also come to Melisande for small cures and curses.

After a secret is revealed, Rapunzel must take another look at her past, and sees it in a whole new light. Melisande is not as selfless and honest as she once thought. She must chose now, to save Rue and find a way to save herself, or be imprisoned in her place.

The two girls, similar in age, have one major difference: Rue's hair shines like it was spun from gold and starlight. Will Rapunzel find a way to break Rue's curse?

Lighthearted, enjoyable fairy tale retelling. Several fun quirks to keep it interesting. Very quick read as well, this is part of a series written by various authors (some are better than others).

"'They come,' the sorceress said at last, "Because they confuse seeing a thing with understanding it, and they believe that my true power lies in the bestowing of this shortcut.'
'Then they are idiots, as well as lazy,' I snorted. 'For the first lies within your power, it is true, but the second may or may not. And either way, it makes no difference. A shortcut may be fine if you're walking through a field, but it hardly seems in order when you're dealing with the heart,'" (Dokey pg. 26, 2006). 

*Library Link*

If you liked this, check out:
Before Midnight by Cameron Dokey
Beauty by Robin McKinley
The False Princess by Eilis O'Neal

Dokey, C. (2006). Golden. New York: Simon Pulse.