Princess Academy

1. BIBLIOGRAPHY

Hale, Shannon. 2005. PRINCESS ACADEMY. New York, New York: Bloomsbury Publishing.

ISBN 9781582349930

2. PLOT SUMMARY

Princess Academy is about a group of mountain girls who have been selected to attend the Princess Academy in order to learn the etiquettes and responsibilities of a princess. After learning these skills, the prince will choose the girl that graduates at the top of the academy to be his bride. Fourteen year old Miri, who has never been able to work in the quarry with the other members of her family will journey to the academy with the desire to learn everything she can and excel to the top so she can make her family proud, only to find that she will encounter bitter competition with the other girls along with her own inner conflict on whether or not she wants to be chosen as the prince’s bride. Feeling as though she is an outcast, Miri begins secretly experimenting with the mysterious language called, “quarry speech” that her people use while mining the linder stones. She will soon realize that this language can be used outside her village and will eventually help save the academy from a dangerous situation that Miri and the other students will be faced with.

3. CRITICAL ANALYSIS

This story takes place in a medieval setting that has a hint of magic sprinkled throughout but not enough that makes this world unrealistic. The magic is not overwhelming or unbelievable. It comes from the people of Mount Eskel and the mountain itself. The story is told from the viewpoint of Miri. Miri, who is the central character, along with other girls from her village are selected to attend a princess academy so they may be groomed to become the prince’s bride. There is a fierce competition between the girls that takes place leaving Miri feeling like an outcast. Through secretly experimenting with the “quarry speech” that her people use while working in the linder mines, Miri’s insecurities and adversities that she encounters will soon help her to evolve into the heroine of the story, find her inner strength and develop a deeper appreciation and understanding of her mountain culture. Several underlying themes are present in the story; loyalty, friendship, and choices that are made can affect others. These themes help set the tone and help the reader get a look into the characters themselves.

There is a hint of a love interest between Miri and Peder but it doesn’t develop into much. I think because this is a story geared toward older students, I would like to have seen this more developed, because it wasn’t I was a little disappointed and I think the older readers will be too.

Within the story Hale offers a bit of revelation which is “knowledge is a powerful tool.” She show this when Miri has come back from the academy and begins explaining to the villagers that the linder stones they have been mining and selling at low prices are actually very valuable to the lowlanders. She helps them to understand that their trading and selling potential will change their way of living and future for the better.

I think this book overall is a great book about the coming of age and I would recommend it to preteens, teenagers and adults. For those who may get deterred from reading this book because it has the word “Princess” in it, take a chance and read it anyways you will be surprised.

4. REVIEW EXCERPT(S)

Horn Book Guide: “Hale's writing is clear and her descriptions vivid. Her imaginary world, peopled by strong yet vulnerable characters, is quietly memorable.”

Publisher’s Weekly: “Readers enchanted by Hale's Goose Girl are in for an experience that's a bit more earthbound in this latest fantasy-cum-tribute to girl-power.”

Voice of Youth Advocate: “Although many people who read this book will not have any connection to Miri's way of life (people usually don't tend goats high on a mountainside their whole lives), Hale's writing places you in the book, so you feel you can relate. The plot seems predictable, like any other book of its genre, but it has a twist that sets it apart and makes it all the more enjoyable.”

5. CONNECTION

Other books by author:

Hale, Shannon. THE GOOSE GIRL. ISBN 9781582349909

Hale, Shannon. ENNA BURNING. ISBN 9781582349060

Hale, Shannon. THE RIVER SECRETS. ISBN 9781582349015

Hale, Shannon. A BOOK OF A THOUSAND DAYS. ISBN 9781599900513