So in book 5 of this series about fairy tale princesses going to school together, Rapunzel has decided to show her best friend, Val, that she can joust just as well as him. Or better. Since he's inclined to take it easy on her because she's a princess, and his Charm School of course teaches chivalry and all that sex role rot, the only way for her to compete with him on even footing is to enter the tournament disguised as a male competitor.The big obstacle is her hair. She does contemplate cutting it off, but not for very long. For such a sporty girl, you'd think she'd realize her unbelievably long hair was holding her back. When you're at the point where you can trip on your own hair, it's too long! (You know.. we never have seen anyone climbing up her hair in these books. I think the witch climbs down once. But mostly she just pops into the tower with her magic witchy powers. Quite pointless.)So, anyway, the other girls help her. Make her a school uniform, borrow a suit of armor, give her a horse to practice on, help her sneak out of school, etc etc.I was surprised that so soon after the Let Down Your Hair debacle of a book that we had another story focussing on Rapunzel already. And it would be a theme I like. So far this rivals the book with the games for best of the series.Sideplot has Snow trading a bag of apples for some magic beans from a kid named Jack. Which plot ends stupidly, but whatever.Speaking of endings, I find the ending of the jousting tournament plot unbelievable as well. And unnecessary. Let me just say, hopefully without giving away the ending, that she's a first year princess, going up against first, second, third, and fourth years boys (perhaps 13-14 is the oldest, at a guess) who have studied jousting in school. Even with her 'outside the box' thinking on tactics, just how well can she reasonably expect to do?Anyway, the detail of the jousting is enough to make me think the authors researched a bit there. All I really know about it is you come at each other with long pointy sticks. How accurate that detail is, I don't know, but I'll believe it.Two books left. Hrm, and unlike the previous books, there's no hint at the end of this one as to what the next one is about. As the title involves apples though, I'm going to assume it's about Snow White. Maybe that giant comes after her. Or she befriends Jack. I hope not. Jack was a real jerk. ( )

Not the best book in the series, but still good. Rapunzel's determined to prove herself to her friend Val, but worries that Val won't stay her friend if she beats him in the tournament. Meanwhile Snow White seems to have gotten mixed up with Jack and the Beanstalk's story. Always good to play with extra fairy tales. ( )