Princess Academy
- Author Shannon Hale
- Narrator Laura Credidio, a full cast
- Publisher Blackstone Publishing
- Publish Date 1 November 2012
- Run Time 14 hours and 31 minutes
- Format Audio
- Genre Children’s / Teenage fiction: Fantasy, Children’s / Teenage fiction: General fiction, Children’s / Teenage general interest: Girls and women, Children’s / Teenage general interest: Queens, kings, princesses, princes etc, Children’s / Teenage personal and social topics: Friends and friendships, Children’s / Teenage: Personal and social topics.
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What to expect
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.
Critics Review
“The booknis a fresh approach to the traditional princess story with unexpected plotntwists and great emotional resonance.”
“Halenoffers us a world full of grief and fear and loneliness—but also full of lovenand trust and decency. There are adventures and dangers, and the mostncompelling, believable, poignant love story I have read in many a year. I wasnmoved to tears and to laughter, and caught up in the grace and beauty.”
“Therenare many pleasures to this satisfying tale: a precise lyricism to the languagenand a rhythm to the story that takes its tropes from many places, but its heartnfrom ours...[A]n unalloyed joy.”
“[In this]nlatest fantasy-cum-tribute to girl-power…Miri and the girls eventually gainnconfidence and knowledge that helps transform their village.”
“Eachngirl’s story is brought to a satisfying conclusion, but this is not a fluffy,npredictable fairy tale, even though it has wonderful moments of humor. Instead,nHale weaves an intricate, multilayered story about families, relationships,neducation, and the place we call home.”
“Halennicely interweaves feminist sensibilities in this quest-for-a-prince-charming,nhistorical-fantasy tale. Strong suspense and plot drive the action.”
“Halenbreathes new life into the fairy tale form with this richly imagined fantasy. Antruly marvelous book, rich with color, adventure and romance.”
“Thenimaginative setting for the story makes it timeless and universal…This newnclassic will have a place with leisure readers and in the classroom.”
“[A]ncharming young-adult fantasy. The mountain setting creates an evocative sensenof a world apart, with just a tantalizing touch of magic.”
“[A]nmagical read!”
“Miri’snculture is deftly drawn…and the harsh yet beautiful physical and culturalndetails of Miri’s world keep this optimistic tale believable. This could be anuseful introduction to fantasy for realistic buffs—the authentic sniping andnbackbiting of jealous girls cooped up together for a year, the character-drivennplot, and the vigorous prose will carry readers of all kinds into the center ofnthe story.”
“Full ofnsuspense...will keep young readers stuck to the page.”
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