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emily_gaynier's review against another edition
4.0
This book wasn't exactly what I was expecting, but it was still really good.
It's a fantasy that is only a little fantastical. I really liked the story. I actually got really nervous when the year was up and I had to put the book down for a few minutes. I thought Miri was really smart and badass and cool. Some of the girls really suck, but this book has really excellent female friendships. And even though this book is about the girls learning to become princesses, it's really not romance heavy.
Side note: This book saved the job interview I had the day I read it. I was applying to a library in a town I really haven't spent much time in. I went to the library and checked out this book and while chatting with the librarian I learned that the town has two libraries. Turns out that I thought I was applying to the wrong library and was able to do well in my interview.
It's a fantasy that is only a little fantastical. I really liked the story. I actually got really nervous when the year was up and I had to put the book down for a few minutes. I thought Miri was really smart and badass and cool. Some of the girls really suck, but this book has really excellent female friendships. And even though this book is about the girls learning to become princesses, it's really not romance heavy.
Side note: This book saved the job interview I had the day I read it. I was applying to a library in a town I really haven't spent much time in. I went to the library and checked out this book and while chatting with the librarian I learned that the town has two libraries. Turns out that I thought I was applying to the wrong library and was able to do well in my interview.
arsmagicalibrorum's review against another edition
adventurous
funny
inspiring
lighthearted
tense
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
4.0
krichardson's review against another edition
3.5
Cute, loved the messages about unionization and education
champers4days's review against another edition
2.0
Points for having multiple smart female characters, but Hale doesn't explain this new world she creates in Princess Academy AT ALL, and her plot ties together far too neatly. Not that books with 'everything is right in the world' endings are necessarily bad, but the author is clearly invested in creating a spunky female lead, so why not go a step further and write a mildly realistic ending?? In this case, we're talking about the literary equivalent of a powdered sugar pastry -- no nutritional value!
sydnethy's review against another edition
4.0
the selection but for elementary schoolers lol
i used to check this book out of the library at the start of every year in middle school because i loved it so much. i’m actually surprised how well it’s held up over the years ! main character is almost a mary sue but i love her so it’s okay. i remembered some plot points and forgot others but i enjoyed reading this again !
there are two other books in this series that i didn’t even know about so looking forward to reading them!
i used to check this book out of the library at the start of every year in middle school because i loved it so much. i’m actually surprised how well it’s held up over the years ! main character is almost a mary sue but i love her so it’s okay. i remembered some plot points and forgot others but i enjoyed reading this again !
there are two other books in this series that i didn’t even know about so looking forward to reading them!
annesophie_ballerina's review against another edition
1.0
I couldn’t finish the book. Obviously, everyone is going to have a different opinion, but personally I strongly disliked this book.
1) Nothing really happened. There were a couple events, but the rest was very boring and childish
2) It was a very standard middle grade read, and I couldn’t really find anything special about it.
3) This is similar to point 1, but I just felt the book had no plot.
Don’t mean to hate on the author of this book or the book, and obviously if you like it keep on liking it, you own opinion is going to be different from other people’s :). But personally, I didn’t enjoy this book and don’t really recommend it.
1) Nothing really happened. There were a couple events, but the rest was very boring and childish
2) It was a very standard middle grade read, and I couldn’t really find anything special about it.
3) This is similar to point 1, but I just felt the book had no plot.
Don’t mean to hate on the author of this book or the book, and obviously if you like it keep on liking it, you own opinion is going to be different from other people’s :). But personally, I didn’t enjoy this book and don’t really recommend it.
mandykh's review against another edition
I loved this book. It was a little slow at first. But it got better later and even better the second time I read it.
buzzzybooks's review against another edition
I can't believe I finally found this book on here! I remember reading it in middle school and really enjoying it. The Selection by Keira Cass reminded me a little of this book. I kept thinking about Princess Academy while reading it. They have some similarities I believe.
aradne's review against another edition
4.0
Two times I have read this book, and two times I have been charmed by its wholesome story. And just because it's wholesome, don't assume that's it's extremely light. I don't feel that Hale dances around sensitive issues in this middle-grade novel.
This is the sort of book that is safe to recommend to any child, although a girl would likely enjoy it more.
In general I find Shannon Hale's books to be high-quality story telling and full of character.
This is the sort of book that is safe to recommend to any child, although a girl would likely enjoy it more.
In general I find Shannon Hale's books to be high-quality story telling and full of character.