PRINCESS ACADAMY BY SHANNON HALE

Bibliography
Hale, Shannon. 2005. PRINCESS ACADEMY. New York, NY: Scholastic.

Plot Summary
The King's men come to Mount Eskel to take all the girls between ages 12 and 18 and take them to the Princess Academy to train them to be proper ladies fit to be presented and picked for a wife by the prince. Miri, a 14 year-old girl from the town, dreams of working in the quarry with the rest of the townspeople, but is not allowed. Through her experiences at the Princess Academy and experimentation with "quarry-speech," Miri finds that she has a lot to offer her town even if she can't help out in the quarry. When danger comes to their mountain, the people of Mount Eskel pull and work together, keeping those they love safe. surprise princess

Critical Analysis
Hale's character development in this story is incredible! She is able to bring Miri and many of the other girls in the village to life and make them relatable to girls who live anywhere and everywhere. The girl's emotions and feelings are apparent and realistic. The theme of finding your place in the world is easily relatable to many people of all walks of life. Hale set up conflicts that are paralleled in many societies and were suspenseful and fun to read. While the culture of the mountain people may not be the same as the readers, the idea of family and sticking together connect us all. Hale's style and use of language and fantasy make this an enthralling and heart-warming story.

Review Excerpts
Newberry Honor Book
Starred Review in School Library Journal: "...with plenty of suspenseful moments that peak and fall, building into the next intense event..."
Review in Publisher's Weekly: "...lighthearted premise and underlying romantic plot..."

Connections
*Discuss mining rocks - What rocks are mined today? How is it done? Why is it done?
*Discuss the government of a King - What is a monarchy? Why don't we have one? What places do?
*Discuss what you think are necessary subjects for a would-be princess to study.
*Discuss how it would feel to be one of the girls taken away to the academy.
*Discuss how it would feel to be chosen by the prince if you did not want to be chosen.
*Discuss how it would feel to not be chosen if you wished you were chosen.