Princess Academy by Shannon Hale
This book review comes at the perfect time, as I just met Shannon Hale. If you missed that post, see it here. There’s pictures! Shannon was nice as ever and liking an author for the actual person they are makes me like their books even more. Princess Academy is a 2006 Newbery Honor book and deservedly so.
From the book jacket:
High on the slopes of Mount Eskel, Miri’s family has lived forever, pounding a meager living from the stone of the mountain itself. Miri dreams of working alongside the others in the quarry, but she has never been allowed to work there - perhaps, she thinks, because she is so small.
Then word comes from the lowlands: the king’s priests have divined that the prince’s bride-to-be — the next princess — will come from Mount Eskel. The prince himself will travel to the village to choose the bride, but first all eligible girls must attend a makeshift academy to prepare for royal lowlander life.
At the school, Miri finds herself confronting both bitter competition among the girls and her own conflicted desires to be chosen. Yet when danger comes to the academy, it is Miri, named for a tiny mountain flower, who must find a way to save her classmates - and the chance for the future that each of them is eager to secure as her own.
I really liked the premise of this story and Miri’s conflicted feelings towards the prince and her best friend Peder. Does she dare dream of a better life with the prince or is the better life right in front of her? It reminded me of being back in middle school with the competition with the girls and such. I also liked the idea that love is not left up to fate, but that each of us can create our own happiness. I did think that the whole talking through rocks thing was a bit weird. But then again, this is fantasy.
Visit Shannon’s Hale’s blog, my Austenland review, and my Book of a Thousand Days review.
My next Shannon Hale book? Goose Girl!
This sounds adorable. Of course, I wanted to read it even before your review, just from the title.
on May 22nd, 2008 at 5:01 amI have not read this one yet but I think it is the next Newbery on my list.
on May 22nd, 2008 at 5:39 amThis is one of the best selling books at the children’s bookstore where I work. Initially, I thought it looked kind of silly, about princesses and all. But the more I hear about it, it actually sounds pretty sweet. I enjoyed your review.
on May 22nd, 2008 at 9:16 amWoohoo!! You’re so gonna love Goose Girl!!
on May 22nd, 2008 at 11:01 amI haven’t read any Shannon Hale yet. I think it’s about time–so many good reviews of her books.
on May 22nd, 2008 at 5:28 pmI really liked this one. I think I’m the only person on this planet that was disappointed in Goose Girl.
on May 23rd, 2008 at 4:11 amThis was my first Shannon Hale book and I thought it was great. It actually was the first juvenile book I had read in a long time and it got me to start reading more. I’m so glad because I have read some really great juvenile and YA books in the last several months since I first read “Princess Academy”.
on May 23rd, 2008 at 11:26 amI read this last year and was very impressed with it
I’ll have to check out Hale’s other books.
on May 23rd, 2008 at 12:23 pmLOL I haven’t read this one, but I’m thinking my thoughts would be the same as yours regarding the fantasy part.
on May 24th, 2008 at 4:35 amI actually liked this one just a tad bit more than the Goose Girl series. I thought Miri was a fantastic character and I loved the ending. Hale never disappoints me.
on May 24th, 2008 at 7:05 amThanks all. I hope to read Goose Girl within the next couple of months. You should see my pile that I’m trying to get through for this month. Nothing like pressuring yourself. And bunny, your avatar looks like you’re really saying “Woohoo.” Pretty funny.
on May 24th, 2008 at 4:20 pmOh this sounds lovely - you’re going to love the Goose Girl - be sure to stop by and update my Mr Linky when you post your review - I just reviewed it at Blue Archipelago today
on May 31st, 2008 at 6:22 ami am reading the book princess academy its a cool book i am in chapter 2.
on June 15th, 2008 at 4:44 pmI think this looks cute! I will read this. I read Goosegirl and I liked it at the time I read it, but I couldn’t say what it was about.
on August 4th, 2008 at 8:00 pmsounds cute! i’ll add it to my list! =]
on September 2nd, 2008 at 1:53 pmIf I had a daughter this would be a must-read out-loud-together. There are so many life lessons to learn- especially the laws of diplomacy. I actually am planning on getting it on audio to have my boys listen to on a trip one of these days. I’ve recommended it to so many people and they have all loved it. I am a big fan of Shannon Hale’s books. PA and GG are my favorites.
on September 22nd, 2008 at 11:07 pm[...] out the Maw Books reviews of Rapunzel’s Revenge, Princess Academy, Austenland, Book of a Thousand Days, and my thought on meeting Shannon at children’s book [...]
on October 2nd, 2008 at 10:13 am[...] Natasha at Maw Books [...]
on October 6th, 2008 at 6:24 pm