Reviews

The Goose Girl by Shannon Hale

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lilcatlovingactress's review against another edition

adventurous emotional funny hopeful fast-paced

Plot- or character-driven? A mix
Strong character development? Yes
Loveable characters? Yes
Diverse cast of characters? N/A
Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

5.0

I ADORE this book. I read it as a child years and years ago and it’s even better than I remember. I loved finding new metaphors and allegories within it—the new interpretations I’ve gained from rereading this story 10+ years later bring me such joy.

Content Warnings

robbynjreeve's review against another edition

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4.0

Genre(s): YA, middle-grade, fantasy

Theme(s): fairytale retelling, romance

Award(s): Utah Book Award for Children/Young Adults, Josette Frank Award

Recommended for ages: 10+

Summary: Crown Princess Anidori-Kiladra Talianna Isilee has a special gift, a secret gift, the gift of bird-speaking. She is sent off to marry the prince of a neighboring kingdom in order to prevent war from breaking out between her kingdom and theirs. On the way, her life is turned upside-down as she is forced into hiding and instead of entering Bayern as the princess, she shows up and asks for a job tending the king's geese.

Review: I forgot how good this series was until I re-read it. I enjoy the whole series and love that this book is based on a not well known Hans Christian Andersen fairytale. I find the characters are relatable and the relationships are developed nicely. I think this series continues to get more interesting and complex as it goes on.

Recommended for fans of: Ella Enchanted

If you loved this book then you should try.... Princess Academy, Book of a Thousand Days

shorty_320's review against another edition

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5.0

Loved, loved, loved this book! Hale has an uncanny ability of taking fairy tales and totally endearing you to the characters.

I was unfamiliar with The Goose Girl fairy tale, which I'm sure added to my enjoyment of the tale! Really want to pick up a collection of Grimm fairy tales to see what other tales I'm unfamiliar with.

clockworkbook's review against another edition

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4.0

4.25 - I have received several recommendations for The Goose Girl and it has been on my TBR for quite some time. Thankfully, it fit a task for a challenge and I am glad that it did, as I really enjoyed it.

book_concierge's review against another edition

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4.0

Book on CD narrated by Cynthia Bishop and The Full Cast Family

An expanded story based on the Grimm’s fairy tale of the same name, about a princess who became a goose girl before she could become queen.

Hale includes the basic elements of most fairy tales – love, betrayal, wicked enemies, loyal helpers, a little magic, and a heroine I wanted to see succeed.

I have to admit that I was initially frustrated by Princess Anidori (Ani). She was such a dreamer and so passive. I thought the evil Selia was an even stronger woman – more self-assured and in charge than our heroine. But I realized Princess Ani had been raised in privilege and sheltered from adversity, so she was not prepared for the challenges she faced. She eventually found inner strength and used her intelligence and creativity to overcome her enemies, although she did rely rather heavily on a few strong men to help her out of that final jam.

The audio book was narrated by Cynthia Bishop and a large cast of actors who took on various supplementary roles – soldiers, guards, townspeople, geese, her horse, the king, even the wind. This made for a dynamic and exciting performance. I could have done without the mood music, but I’m sure the younger audience (at whom this is aimed) would find it very effective.