Princess Academy

Reader reviewed by Mary

This would be my second Shannon Hale book, the first being The Book of a Thousand Days. And I have to say that I adored it.



Miri lives in a small village where the villagers lives revolve around mining stones. Miri's father refuses to let Miri work in the mine, forcing Miri to feel useless and weak. Then, Miri is offered a chance to prove herself. The prince is seeking a bride and tradition dictates that it must be chosen from her town. A Princess Academy is set up so all the eligible children can be suitable for marriage. Miri knows this is her chance to prove that's she's useful...


Not a shallow book as the title suggests, this novel is a journey of a young girl being true to herself. Shannon Hale's beautiful prose shines throughout the book. I loved this book.

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.

Reader reviewed by Jessica M.

The story is about a small, fourteen year old girl named Miri, who has always wished to be useful. She gets her chance when she is among several girls to attend a princess academy, because the prince has to choose a bride from Miri's mountain home. She makes friends along the way and realizes that she is useful in just being herself. I thought this book would be girly and I was happy to discover that it was not. It might not be my favorite book, but it is still a good read.

Reader reviewed by Mary

This wonderful story is about a girl who lives on a mountain with her older sister and father. She is very different than all the other girls because her father is very protective about her and won't let her do certain things. One day, they find out the prince is getting married and the girls of Mount Eskel are to go to the academy. This is very exciting and all girls that are old (and young) enough go. This brings so much adventure into the story. But this is not all. There is a hint of love in this story, and I loved this book, so I believe you will, too!

Reader reviewed by chick box

this book was just amazing. i loved shannon hales the goose girl and enna burning. this one was just as good. Shannon takes you to another world.

Miri and all the other lowlander girls have the chance to marry the prince. they are sent off to an academy to learn how to be a princess. Miri learns a lot of things...will the prince fall in love with her?

Reader reviewed by Alanna

I tend to think of this as a pretty girly book, but if my brother, the one who plays nothing but war games, could like the movie Aquamarine, some of you guys out there might like this book. It's about Miri Larendaughter of Mount Eskel. When it is foretold that the prince's bride will come from Mount Eskel, Miri and her peers are shipped of to a princess academy where competition is thick, and Miri must find out how to win over the strict headmistress, Olana.

Reader reviewed by nelka35

The basic plot is this: the priests say that the prince has to choose a bride for the girls of a mountain village. Therefore the girls are sent to an academy to learn the things they need to know. The story itself is told beautifully - I was completely involved in it, and had to come back to reality when I finished the book. It has interesting twists, some quite unexpected, and is a well-developed, detailed, and balanced, tale. I highly recommend it - a real joy to read!