Princess Academy

Goodreads Description:    Miri lives on a mountain where, for generations, her ancestors have quarried stone and lived a simple life. Then word comes that the king's priests have divined her small village the home of the future princess. In a year's time, the prince himself will come and choose his bride from among the girls of the village. The king's ministers set up an academy on the mountain, and every teenage girl must attend and learn how to become a princess.

Miri soon finds herself confronted with a harsh academy mistress, bitter competition among the girls, and her own conflicting desires to be chosen and win the heart of her childhood best friend. But when bandits seek out the academy to kidnap the future princess, Miri must rally the girls together and use a power unique to the mountain dwellers to save herself and her classmates.


My Thoughts:

-    Miri is a good person.  I loved her character.  She was wise, spunky, studied hard, stood up for herself, etc.  I want to be her friend! 

-    This book had a lot of the same elements as the Bayern books.  The feel was the same, and it had a "speech" in it.  It could almost be part of the same series.

-    I loved the ending!  From the bandits til the end is so great!!  The beginning is a tad slow, but the ending is awesome!!

-    I loved that Miri wanted to share her love for reading with everyone!  She wanted to teach the whole village to read!  I admire that.

-    I think any girl can relate to this book.  There is something in here for everyone.

-    It was a really fun read.  It was a typical Shannon Hale book, so you know it will be good, and it will make you feel happy.