Review Detail

Reader reviewed by Bettina

Shannon Hale spins another fantastic tale with her fairytale style with Princess Academy. Miri's home on Mount Eskel has always been nice, even though it's not the high life. She has a loving family and the tight-knit little village helps each other. Miri's dreams fly higher though, she desperately wants to work in the quarry, or be important in some way. Her life changes when the Mount Eskel is named as the place where the prince's wife will come from. There is an academy (for hopeful princesses) made on Mount Eskel, and many of the girls are sent there.

Miri's dream of being important suddenly seems very possible, but a formidable instructor and other troubles seem to stand in her way. Miri tries to overcome them in this wonderful story.

Princess Academy is not just some fluffy little girly-girl story. Like all Shannon Hale stories, Princess Academy spins a highly believable world with colorful characters. This is a cute story, but I think that the other Shannon Hale books, particularly The Goose Girl have a little more meat in them. Nonetheless, Princess Academy is not a bad book at all.