In a magic kingdom where your name is your destiny, 12-year-old Rump is the butt of everyone's jokes. But when he finds an old spinning wheel, his luck seems to change. Rump discovers he has a gift for turning straw into gold. His best friend, Red Riding Hood, warns him that magic is dangerous, and she's right. With each thread he spins, he weaves himself deeper into a curse. To break the spell, Rump must go on a perilous quest, fighting off pixies, trolls, poison apples, and a wickedly foolish queen. The odds are against him, but with courage, friendship, and a cheeky sense of humor, he just might triumph in the end.

This story relates the tale of Rumpelstiltskin's childhood and youth, explaining why his name is so important, how he is able to spin straw into gold, and why a firstborn child is his reward for helping the miller's daughter-turned-queen.