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Princess Academy by Shannon Hale

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Brief synopsis (no spoilers)
Young girl along with all other girls in her age range (12 to 17) from a small rural land (mountain village that mines the fictional stone linder) are required to attend an academy to prepare them for the prince of the kingdom, who will be choosing a bride from their village.

Category
Fiction, YA

Why I chose this book
The author was recommended to me

My personal opinion (the review)
I loved it. The characters were real. The academy taught not only the expected poise and etiquette the title implies but also history and diplomacy and other real life subjects. The overall message of the book was one of growth and change and self reflection, learning to be better, not dreaming of a magical ending. (Although there is one small magical element to the story, among the miners.) It focused on education and family, which I really like.

All of the character development was great, but the main character especially was something I'd not only be comfortable with my daughters reading but that I will recommend to my daughters. (My oldest is almost 10 and is an avid reader. I feel she is level enough to understand the book.) Miri (the young girl the story is told through)  feels treated unfairly, weak, and without potential, but realizes her own inner strength and her ability to contribute to her family and village/community in other ways throughout the story.

Warnings (language, violence, "adult" situations, death, etc.)
None that I can remember. The main character's mother is deceased before the story begins.
Any other death that I may have forgotten was not to a character I was attached to.

Movie rating equivalent
G

Protagonist description
Physically weak, emotionally strong. Thoughtful of others. Determined.

Point of view of story
3rd person, focused on Miri 
(*disclaimer - I procrastinated writing this review and now I can't remember - alternate: 1st person through Miri)

Book length
a week

Story flow
great - not too slow or too fast anywhere

Grammar and spelling issues
None or rare

Character connection (no spoilers)
none

For series:
Princess academy, palace of stone is the sequel

Independent or integral (stand-alone or back story dependent)
Stand alone

Series review as a whole
Loved it. I'll review the sequel next.
The second book might be too difficult in subject matter (politics of the kingdom) for my 10 year old to understand, but both books are well written and give characters that are worth admiration. They also give characters that are not what they seem, illustrating the need to understand the true character of someone.

If you only have time for one, read: (which one)
This one (the first)

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