Princess Academy by Shannon Hale

Princess Academy
By Shannon Hale
Newbery Honor Book

Have you ever wondered what it took to be a princess? Could you imagine leaving your family to find out? Miri was a 14 year old girl living in the territory on Mount Eskel with her sister and her father. They were all quarry members. They worked hard for the stone they collected and were in turn treated unfairly by the lowland tradesmen. One day all of the girls were taken against their will to the princess academy. Faced with complying or returning to Mount Eskel as a disgrace to their family, the girls went through the program all secretly dreaming about wanting to marry the Prince.

This book is filled with many twist and turns. It keeps you on your toes and completely engaged. I really connected with some of the girls in the book. We all know what it feels like to be disliked for sticking up for something you believe in of for speaking out when someone is treating you unfairly. This book would be great to show how the character develops and learns from her mistakes. It is also a great book about friendship and working hard to achieve what you want! While I was reading the book, in my head I had a picture of how I wanted it to go (in a perfect world), but the author, Shannon Hale, had another idea that left you guessing what was going to happen. It was well written and you were able to see all of the characters and picture the mountain and the lowlands. Princess Academy is a great realistic fiction book, it keeps its reader engaged and there is never a dull moment it the book!!