September 21, 2010

Princess Academy by Shannon Hale

Have you ever felt like people underestimate you?  They might think you’re weak or just can’t get the job done?  Do YOU ever doubt yourself?  Feel like you don’t belong or wonder what your place is with your friends. . .your family? 

What if you got a chance to prove to everyone around you and YOURSELF that they were wrong about you?  Fourteen-year-old Miri gets the chance to do just that in Shannon Hale’s story Princess Academy

Now I know some of you are thinking, “Hooray, a princess story!”  And I know that some others of you are thinking, “Great, a book about a princess school.  What do they do?  Have long hair growing competitions and practice waiting to be kissed by a prince?”  Not a chance!  The girls in this story are fierce!  If you like books with bandits, rats, and clever tricks, you’ll enjoy this book.  If you like books where girls save the day, you’ll LOVE Princess Academy.


Perfect for Grades 6-10.


 To view an interview with Shannon Hale, click here!  Courtesy of Adlit.org

4 comments:

  1. This book sounds perfect! What else has Shannon Hale written?

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  2. Ms. Hale also wrote the Books of Bayern series (begins with The Goose Girl) and Book of a Thousand Days. She has begun working on graphic novels as well, but I have yet to read one of those. She is known for her fairy tale re-tellings featuring strong female characters and writing that trusts that the reader is smart.

    If you are - or have readers -- who like Princess Academy but are in upper middle school or high school her other books are a nice fit. I'd also suggest Tamora Pierce's books, Darkwood by M.E. Breen or Graceling by Kristin Cashore.

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  3. To be honest, the title of this book turned me off to selecting it for my daughter. I'm glad to have been enlightened! I also appreciate the "grow into these" suggestions that you have, e.g. Tamora Pierce.

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  4. I loved this book, and I think, unfortunately, that the title will turn off some readers who think the book is about princesses. It is, tangentially, about princesses, but moreso it is a story about good vs evil as embodied in an unexpectedly tough heroine who digs deep and finds her innner strengths. All types of girl readers will love this book, and many boys as well...not just those who are interested in princesses.

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