Saturday, September 07, 2013

Princess Academy

by Shannon Hale




I loved Hale’s adult novel, Austenland, and have wanted to read this for a while.  Unfortunately, I could have waited a little longer!

Actually, the basic premise of this YA novel is really quite nice:  the girls of a mountain village are informed that the kingdom’s future princess will be chosen from among them.  A makeshift academy (Princess Academy) is created to school the girls and prepare them to meet the prince. 

Of course, the main character, Miri, is a sympathetic figure and would make a great princess.  Alas, she does not wish to leave her family on the mountain.  Such conflict!

When the prince finally visits the girls at the academy, he does not make a quick decision.  This is where the story runs off the rails.  An attack by bandits and a silly set-up for the prince’s eventual choice make for a most unsatisfying finale to an otherwise fine novel for young ladies.

Oh, how I wish that this novel had a different ending!  Shannon Hale:  please rewrite this!

8/27/13

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