Skip to main content

Princess Academy by Shannon Hale

By
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)

Comments

Post a Comment

Popular posts from this blog

Tap the Magic Tree by Christie Matheson

By
Summary: Every book needs you to turn the pages. But not every book needs you to tap it, shake it, jiggle it, or even blow it a kiss. Innovative and timeless, Tap the Magic Tree asks you to help one lonely tree change with the seasons. It begins with a bare brown tree. But tap that tree, turn the page, and one bright green leaf has sprouted! Tap again—one, two, three, four—and four more leaves have grown on the next page. Pat, clap, wiggle, jiggle, and see blossoms bloom, apples grow, and the leaves swirl away with the autumn breeze. (Amazon) Attention Span/reading level: Perfect for my three year old. I would say that ages 2-10 would really enjoy something like this. It really keeps kids engaged and makes them feel like part of the story. There is one word to one sentence per page. Good uses for book in teaching: Interaction, that the reader takes part in making the story, what a tree can do (leaves, blossoms, fruit) Favorite part:      Child: The fact that ...
Post a Comment
Read more

Balancing Act by Ellen Stoll Walsh

By
Summary: Two mice make a teeter totter. Soon a frog comes along and wants to join. Can the mice balance all the friends who want to play with them? Attention Span/reading level: 3-6 years old, usually 5 or less words on a page Good uses for book in teaching: Balance, science Favorite part:      Child: When the frog joins in     Mine: That the mice keep playing at the end  Least favorite part: None:   W arnings/negative feedback: None.  Review: This is a really simple but fun way to introduce the idea of balancing and weight to kids. It's fun to show them how it must be equal on each side to balance. Showing that size can affect weight is shown on the page where all the animals are on one side with the big bird on the other. This could be a fun activity to replicate with toys if doing a science lesson at home. 
Post a Comment
Read more

The Mystwick School of Musicraft by Jessica Khoury

By
Brief synopsis (no spoilers):  " Amelia Jones has always dreamed of attending the Mystwick School of Musicraft, where the world’s most promising musicians learn to create magic. But then she botches her audition and her dream comes to an abrupt and humiliating end—until the school agrees to give her a trial period. Amelia is determined to prove herself, vowing to do whatever it takes to become the perfect musician. Even if it means pretending to be someone she isn't. ​ Between a teacher who really dislikes her and a roommate who wants to see her expelled, life at Mystwick is harder than Amelia thought it would be. And that’s not even counting the mysterious something that’s starting to make the teachers worry. When supernatural powers threaten the school, can Amelia find the courage to be true to her herself, save Mystwick, and prove once and for all where she belongs?" Author's webpage Category: Middle Grades/J Fic. Why I chose this book: Free on Audible My personal ...
Post a Comment
Read more