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A review by rwalker101
Princess Academy by Shannon Hale
adventurous
emotional
hopeful
inspiring
lighthearted
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
5.0
I think I was one of the most lucky kids in the world to have grown up as I did - a little girl in Utah, exactly the right age to follow the careers of Shannon Hale, Jessica Day George, and other Utah-based female authors during the heyday of "retold fairy tales". Princess Academy was the first of these types of books that I read. (Though, it should be noted, Princess Academy is entirely original, not based off of an existing fairy tale.)
I received a first-edition copy of this book for my 10th birthday. I was instantly enchanted with the illustration on the cover - Alison Jay's art will forever hold a special place in my heart - but nothing could have prepared me for the deep impact this story would have on my growing psyche.
Miri's story is heartbreakingly relatable - her father forbids her from working in the quarries of their little mountain village, something all the rest of the kids her age do - and as a result she feels alienated, differentiated from the people she's known and loved her entire life. She does her best to forge her own path in this tiny mountain town, but deep down she aches for more, though what that more is, she does not know.
Then a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity is offered to her and the other village girls, and despite intolerances leveled at her because of her lower-class upbringing, Miri is able to learn, for the first time in her life. She learns to read, and then she reads about faraway places and how the systems in those places work. She discovers secrets about her dear mountain. She builds true and lasting friendships with the other girls. She grows comfortable with the idea that there is more out there for her, and with the idea of wanting it. She learns that growing up does not mean having to compromise your values, and that changing does not mean that who you used to be was any less worthy of love.
Miri's story has so deeply mirrored my own upbringing that I find myself returning to it again and again, even 15 years after I first read it. As I grew up, it was (and is) tempting to belittle who I was and where I come from. Young adults and emerging professionals seem to have this idea that we must reject our old selves entirely to become our new, better selves. It's simply not true. Growth is possible even when you love your origins. The inverse is also true; it is still possible to love your roots even as you strive to better the garden where they are kept.
At its heart, Princess Academy is a book about learning, exploration, friendship, love, and self-esteem. It is eminently hopeful and joyful, and a wonderful read for kids and adults of all ages, genders, races, and backgrounds.
I received a first-edition copy of this book for my 10th birthday. I was instantly enchanted with the illustration on the cover - Alison Jay's art will forever hold a special place in my heart - but nothing could have prepared me for the deep impact this story would have on my growing psyche.
Miri's story is heartbreakingly relatable - her father forbids her from working in the quarries of their little mountain village, something all the rest of the kids her age do - and as a result she feels alienated, differentiated from the people she's known and loved her entire life. She does her best to forge her own path in this tiny mountain town, but deep down she aches for more, though what that more is, she does not know.
Then a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity is offered to her and the other village girls, and despite intolerances leveled at her because of her lower-class upbringing, Miri is able to learn, for the first time in her life. She learns to read, and then she reads about faraway places and how the systems in those places work. She discovers secrets about her dear mountain. She builds true and lasting friendships with the other girls. She grows comfortable with the idea that there is more out there for her, and with the idea of wanting it. She learns that growing up does not mean having to compromise your values, and that changing does not mean that who you used to be was any less worthy of love.
Miri's story has so deeply mirrored my own upbringing that I find myself returning to it again and again, even 15 years after I first read it. As I grew up, it was (and is) tempting to belittle who I was and where I come from. Young adults and emerging professionals seem to have this idea that we must reject our old selves entirely to become our new, better selves. It's simply not true. Growth is possible even when you love your origins. The inverse is also true; it is still possible to love your roots even as you strive to better the garden where they are kept.
At its heart, Princess Academy is a book about learning, exploration, friendship, love, and self-esteem. It is eminently hopeful and joyful, and a wonderful read for kids and adults of all ages, genders, races, and backgrounds.