A feminist fable awarded the prestigious Newbery Honor award, Princess Academy by Shannon Hale is not your typical princess story.
Miri may be the smallest girl in her village, but she certainly has the biggest heart. And when her tiny mountain village is selected as the home of the prince’s future bride, Miri is elated to be sent to the newly built ‘Princess Academy’. There, all the eligible village girls are instructed on how to become a proper princess, after which one of them will be selected to marry the prince. However, these are mountain girls, and though they squeal at the opportunity to wear ball gowns and meet a prince, there’s more to them than meets the eye.
An empowering and uplifting tale that encourages friendship, intellect, and courage above all else, Princess Academy has been one of my favorite books since middle school. Featuring a passionate, diverse, and fiery cast of female leads in a seemingly traditional tale, Miri’s story is one I consider to be among the ranks of young adult classics such as Little Women and Anne of Green Gables.
Though generally recommended for ages eight to twelve, this heartwarming and well-written story proves that you are never too old to be a Mount Eskel girl.