Friday Book Review—The Princess Academy by Shannon Hale

I wanted to recommend a book I really love, so I pulled out my lists to identify a story that I hope more of you can read (if you haven’t already). This was the obvious winner.

The Princess Academy is a lovely coming of age tale about a simple village with simple girls who are suddenly put in a complex position. Their village was discerned by the royal magicians as the place where the kingdom’s new princess would be found, as in, one of them will marry the prince. 

The girls mostly work the quarries and have little idea how to be a princess, which is why they are expected to go to a make-shift academy and learn. With all of the girls in princess school, you can imagine how some would work to position themselves as royalty while others aren’t quite as capable. Then there’s Miri who feels conflicted about wanting more from life without wanting to leave her family and friends behind. 

The premise alone gives us plenty of imagination fodder, and Shannon Hale utilizes the set-up masterfully. We sense the simple life of the village, the beauty of their communal bond, the complex relationships they have with each other, and the joy of an expanding horizon that this special education is affording them. Miri uses her new skills and natural talent to practice diplomacy and to reconcile herself to those from whom she had felt estranged. 

While there is a sweet romance in the mix, the story really is about the girls who grow to love each other in a special way. This book is appropriate for pre-teens while being a great comfort-read for adults. It will leave you contented that everything ended just the way it ought to have.

Also, there’s an audio version with a full cast that I highly recommend!