Princess Academy

This is one of my favorite books! The characters are written with nuance and personality, flaws and growth, relationships and history. Quarry speech is really fun and interesting, and I love Miri's journey coming into her own. :)

Not as described!

I'm in loooooooove. That's all I can figure. Why else would I have stayed up until 2am to finish this book, tossed and turned, unable to sleep, feverish thoughts of "if only I had enough money to buy the school 10 copies and give one to everyone I know!" in my over-tired head? Why else would I have dreamed (when I was finally able to sleep) of the different characters in this book, longing to be the main character, Miri? I am dopey-eyed, slack-jawed, gimme more gimme more gimme more in loooooooove with this book! Princess Academy can most easily be described as a take on the "princess tale," wherein it is possible for a common young woman to marry the prince. But it's so much more than that. Young Miri is the diminutive heroine of the story, living a small, quiet life with her family and villagers atop Mount Eskel. The village mines the mountain quarries for blocks of linder, a valuable commodity for building in their country of Danland. A representative from the royal court - located in the "lowlands" - comes to tell the village that it has been determined the prince's bride shall come from their tiny village. Since none of the young women can read or write or engage in things like Conversation, Poise, and Diplomacy, the court creates a Princess Academy, where the girls can study for one year and potentially catch the eye (and hand) of the Prince at the year-end ball. The year at the Academy changes everyone, especially Miri (named after the miri flower that grows in the linder-filled mountains). She comes to the academy with fear and hope lodged in her heart. She has always felt useless in her village - too small to work the quarry, too small to be of any consequence. Could the Academy offer her a chance to be important? What if she were chosen as the princess? Ultimately Miri discovers in herself hidden talents and abilities, and with a generous spirit goes about helping others to do the same. Throughout the year at the school, all the girls grow strong, intelligent, independent. They examine their relationships with each other, with their families, with the mountain itself. Author Hale leans on Scandinavian roots to create her community in the book. The look, the feel of the village is Scandinavian, even down to the use of names like Doter and Peder and Britta. There are some incredibly poignant scenes, one which made me tear up. There is humor and action and suspense. There is a sweet love story, with touches of passion and fluttering hearts. The mountain is a character as real as any human in this story. This isn't really just a "princess tale." It's a tale of friendship and love, loyalty, courage, individual gifts, the value of education. I'd hate for anyone to look at the title and dismiss it as a fairy tale. I was thinking if I had chosen the title, it might be "Miri Blooms." This book has certainly planted something very warm and whole in my own heart. Yes, I think I'm in love!

Let's face it. The princess-in-training plot is a little overused, and as a result, it's sort of tired reading for most people who've read a lot of children's lit. And that is precisely why Princess Academy by Shannon Hale is essential reading. If a novel that's written in a seemingly tired subgenre manages to win a major award as this one did, something new and amazing must have happened there so as to overcome the reading audience's prejudice. And Princess Academy was an original and amazing read. It was entirely worthy of being named a Newbery Honor award; in fact, it should have won the top award. The main character, Miri, is fascinating. Bold, courageous, smart, funny. She's an utter joy to read about. As is the culture that Hale has created for the novel. And there's nothing tired about this plot. Hale echoes some of the princess fairy tale conventions, but she's really remade this fairy tale story quite successfully. Just when you think you've got the plot pegged, there's a twist that throws you. A relationship develops as you didn't think it would, or a surprising enemy arises. It's an entirely involving story. The story contains surprising layers of meaning, too. The relationships have depth, and there are valuable social messages here. It's a really strong novel, definitely the best book I've read this year (regardless of genre).

This is a delightful tale for all ages, full of hope, exploring our hearts' desires, daily struggles, human relationships, and finding our way in this world. Soul searching, while attempting to discover meaning in life, is very much a part of this age-old story retold so beautifully by Ms. Hale. Miri's hope to be chosen by the prince as his princess is something we can all relate to. While the story recognizes deeper and larger issues such as how society views differing classes and the often overwhelming and almost hopeless struggle to achieve success (or what we believe to be success), the fairy tale nature of this book makes it charming and engaging, presenting only gentle and subtle messages. Though this story likely will appeal mainly to girls, it is an entertaining tale for all ages and peoples. Even boys and men should be encouraged to read this book, if only to gain a greater understanding of girls and women - their hopes, dreams, reasoning, and challenges. Ms. Hale tells a timeless tale which proves that girls never really change. Times change, and surroundings change, but girls never really change. I truly believe that "a fairy lives in every girl's heart." Having read The Princess Academy, I now also believe that every girl is a princess, even grown up girls. J.H. Sweet, author of The Fairy Chronicles

I think Princess Academy is my favorite of Shannon Hale's three wonderful books. When the priests in the capital of Asland determine that Danland's prince will marry a girl from Mount Eskel's marble mining village, an academy is established for all eligible village girls so that they may gain the proper knowledge and skills to be choosen. Miri, with 19 other girls, is sent to the academy for a year. Along with Poise and Conversation, Miri finds information to help her village and discovers within herself what it truly means to be a princess, and not just in title. Also recommended: Goose Girl, Enna Burning (both by Hale), the Charlie Bone series