Fourteen-year-old Miri lives on a mountain where her ancestors have quarried stone and lived in poverty for generations. Then just before winter's first snowfall, a delegation from the lowlands arrive with exciting news. The king's priests have divined that her small village is the home of the future princess. In a year's time, the prince will come himself and chose his bride from among the girls of the village. The king's ministers set up an academy on the mountain, where every girl of age will be sent to learn the skills of a princess. But there is no way Miri can prepare herself for what lies in store.
Princess Academy
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About the Author
Shannon Hale started writing books at the age of ten, earning an MFA in Creative Writing from the University of Montana sixteen years later, and publishing The Goose Girl, her first book, not long after that. She lives in Salt Lake City, Utah, with her husband, and their son, Max.
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11 of 11 people found the following review helpful
By J. H. Sweet
Format:Paperback
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. The girls' 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
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
7 of 8 people found the following review helpful
By Star_Sea
Format:Paperback
Shannon Hale is best known for her tour-de-force retelling of 'The Goose Girl', but here she invents her own story, just as fresh and appealing. Miri and the others live in a small mountain village where their families quarry the precious linder stone. The community is isolated, and Miri dreams of somehow winning her father's approval, since he forbids her to work in the quarry with her sister. Her life is changed forever when the priests declare that her village is the site of the girl to marry the prince. All girls over twelve but under sixteen are herded into the eponymous academy, and for a while, the outlook is bleak, with the tutor sneering at her charges and their upbringing, until Miri decides to turn the tables on her. She is an enchanting character, stubborn, sometimes insecure, but clever and with bags of initiative. Aside from the task of preparing for the prince, there are other challenges for the girls to meet, and you will want to see how Miri and the other girls overcome them, and what happens to them all at the end. Hale's language is as evocative as ever; although some similes are a little clumsy, the strength of the storyline makes up for all faults. Anyone who has read 'A Little Princess' will realise the message that every girl is special in her own way, but there are other messages in here, too, making the book a wonderful read for any girl over the age of eight.
4 of 5 people found the following review helpful
Format:Paperback
Miri lives in a little isolated village high up on Eskel Mountain, where her ancestors have quarried the linder in the rock there for centuries. Quarrying is part of the village life, and the villagers even have discovered a way to talk to each other over the noise of the quarry - they send messages through each other's minds, called 'quarry speech'.
But for reasons her father won't say, fourteen-year old Miri is forbidden to go anywhere near the quarries, let alone work there or join in with the quarry speech that she is intrigued by. She feels left out, and wishes more than anything that she could be a part of the village tradition. So when the King's priests divine that the Prince's wife shall be found in the remote Mount Eskel, Miri is determined that if she cannot be a quarrier like the rest of her friends and family, she will try to be a Princess.
I loved this book so much, I read it in one day! I am a huge fan of Shannon Hale's books, and I think that Princess Academy is just as good as The Goose Girl and Enna Burning. I only wish it was longer! I'd give it a billion stars if I could!
Emma :-D
But for reasons her father won't say, fourteen-year old Miri is forbidden to go anywhere near the quarries, let alone work there or join in with the quarry speech that she is intrigued by. She feels left out, and wishes more than anything that she could be a part of the village tradition. So when the King's priests divine that the Prince's wife shall be found in the remote Mount Eskel, Miri is determined that if she cannot be a quarrier like the rest of her friends and family, she will try to be a Princess.
I loved this book so much, I read it in one day! I am a huge fan of Shannon Hale's books, and I think that Princess Academy is just as good as The Goose Girl and Enna Burning. I only wish it was longer! I'd give it a billion stars if I could!
Emma :-D
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5.0 out of 5 stars
A Heart-Warming Fairytale For All Ages
This book is truly a hidden gem! It is also suitable for children and adults alike. Miri is truly a great protagonist. Read more
Published 2 months ago by St. Andrean
5.0 out of 5 stars
Every Girls Dream!!
LOVED this book! Who wouldn't want to go to a Princess Academy and learn how to be a princess in hopes of catching the Princes attention?! That's every girls dream! Read more
Published 21 months ago by Mary-The Sweet Bookshelf
5.0 out of 5 stars
A pleasent surprise
I actually enjoyed this book more than I expected. The title and cover put me off a little but the plot summary caught my attention so I thought I'd give it a try. Read more
Published on 3 Aug 2009 by Tasha
5.0 out of 5 stars
Princess Academy
Miri lives in a little isolated village high up on Eskel Mountain, where her ancestors have quarried the linder in the rock there for centuries. Read more
Published on 29 Sep 2006 by Shannon Heart
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