PRINCESS ACADEMY by Shannon Hale

1. BIBLIOGRAPHY
Hale, Shannon. 2005. PRINCESS ACADEMY. New York, NY: Bloomsbury Children’s Books. ISBN 1582349932.

2. PLOT SUMMARY
Way up on top of Mount Eskel lived a small village where a family made their living by mining stone and trading it to the detested lowlanders for provisions. All able-bodied members of the village worked in the mine to provide for their families – except for Miri. She felt that she was either too small or not loved enough to be allowed by her father to work by his side. Soon, they all got word that the Prince was going to pick a wife from their village and the girls between 14 and 18 years of age were required to attend a Princess Academy. Through a year and a half of hard work, charm classes, and education, the girls emerge prepared to place their village on the map. With Miri’s expertise, that is exactly what they do.

3. CRITICAL ANALYSIS
Most little girls dream about becoming a princess. Some of the girls on Mount Eskel are reluctant, or even resistant to the idea. Shannon Hale writes a compelling novel about a group of uneducated mountain girls gaining much more than the title of princess. Hale shows us the culture and lifestyle of these girls, their hopes and dreams, and even their motivation for wanting to marry a man they have never met. Competition and jealousy are intertwined with heartwarming friendships and a desire to improve the quality of life for everyone they love. Hale makes the story less about a girl getting a coveted title, and more about their journey in life and how far that will take them in the future. Enemies become friends and the meek, a teacher becomes a servant, and the small girl, Miri, becomes a hero.
Hale takes the fantasy of becoming a princess and mixes it with the realities of life and hard work. She shows her readers that there are more noble things to strive for in life than a title, and even the most unlikely person can be a hero to many.

4. AWARDS WON AND REVIEW EXCERPT(S)
NEWBERY HONOR BOOK
SCHOOL LIBRARY JOURNAL starred review: “Hale weaves an intricate, multilayered story about families, relationships, education, and the place we call home.”
BOOKLIST: “Hale nicely interweaves feminist sensibilities in this quest-for-a-prince-charming, historical-fantasy tale. Strong suspense and plot drive the action as the girls outwit would-be kidnappers and explore the boundaries of leadership, competition, and friendship.”

5. CONNECTIONS
*Students may booktalk about the choices Miri made and compare them to what the children would have done
*Look for these other stories:
Armstrong, Alan. WHITTINGTON. ISBN 0375828656
Patron, Susan. THE HIGHER POWER OF LUCKY. ISBN 1416975578
Holm, Jennifer L. PENNY FROM HEAVEN. ISBN 0375836896