Princess Academy :: Education by Design Store

Customer Reviews

WOW

2008-04-17
I read this book outloud to my 11 year old son, 9 and 2 year old daugthers and they all loved it. Ok, it took my son a few chapters to get past the title and reading a "girl" book but it didn't take long for him to be hooked and begging for just one more chapter! It really is a must read. I recommend reading it to your children if they'll let you!

Wonderful Story!

2008-04-10
I read this after Goose Girl, and found this as enjoyable, but not as long. It is wonderful for all ages to read and I recommend it to all.

LOVELY

2008-03-20
Words cannot express how much I loved this delightful coming of age story. I was thrilled with the beauty of the prose, fell in love with some characters, had compassion for others, and was terrified of more still. I laughed, I cried, I sighed, I LOVED THIS BOOK!!!

Good morals, strong female characters

2008-02-12
I loved it! This book teaches about how to get along with people, and about how people you don't like might be quite similar to you, in reality. It also teaches self-reliance, as Miri makes her way through difficult situations. Now that I think about it, I'd say that the theme: "They may look different but they're not really" is quite strong in this book. Great book for anyone to read!

My 6 Year Old Son Wouldn't Let Me Stop Reading

2008-01-20
I shouldn't have to say more. I read aloud to my children. "The Tale of Desperaux", "Here Be Monsters", and "Goose Girl" have been winners. "Edward Tulane" is among the sordid, forgotten tales that never engage their imagination.

Getting and keeping the interest of a 5 and 6 year old without pictures is not always easy. Keeping the interest of a 6-year old boy in a story about Princesses is a textbook case in lunacy. But my son wouldn't let me stop. It only took 7 nights to read the entire book.

Yes, it is about a girl at an academy for training rough-hewn mountain girls to be Princess candidates, but it is really about learning and power. It is about finding connection in your home and family and friends and finding strength through knowledge and a strong sense of justice.

It was hard for me to resist reading ahead after they had fallen asleep. Read this book to your children.

This book was another of Shannon's great work.

2008-07-01
This was a great book by Shannon Hale. Her books keep you interested from beginning to end. Great Price too.

Hard Realities in a Soft Fantasy

2008-06-17
More a story about work ethic, facing reality, and ability to adapt to changes with whatever talent one posesses, this is a wonderful "fairy tale" for people of any age to read. Rather than the glossy Cinderella pablum that has everyone fast-forwarding to "happily ever after," here the heroine embraces her own physical and character flaws, understands the importance of education, hard work, and communication. She adopts a "one-world" mentality that we must all eventually come to realize; especially our politicians! The title may be unfortunately misleading to our pre-conceived biases, but have faith in Shannon Hale's ability as an author, and you won't be disappointed. It's a can't-put-down page turner.

Enchanting

2008-06-08
This was the first book I ever read from Shannon Hale, I really got hooked with her books after reading this one. SHe seems to make things almost believable. THis book shows her talent.

The remarkable Shannon Hale

2008-05-30
After reading the Goose Girl series, and Book of a Thousand Days, I was dismayed to discover that I'd never heard of Princess Academy. I immediately went out and grabbed a copy.

As usual, Ms. Hale's lyrical prose, strong character development, an exceptional story telling has once again left me wanting more.

I won't take time re-telling the story (many other posts here do a great job), but I do encourage anyone (regardless of age!!!) to pick up a Shannon Hale book. They are all wonderful!

Amazing coming-of-age tale!

2008-04-21
Are you looking for adventure? Relaxation? Maybe a little bit of tension? Princess Academy, by Shannon Hale, is the right book for you. This book is filled with excitement, adventure, and so much more.
The story starts in a quarry on Mount Eskel, but most of the story takes place at the academy on Mount Eskel. The setting is quite believable. I always envision the academy as a large, square, one-story building. Not much grows on Mount Eskel but the miri flower.
The book is about a girl named Miri who has to go to an academy with all of the girls from Mount Eskel who are the right age to become princess of Danland and its kingdom. Tutor Olana is terribly strict. She has understandable rules, but what I don't like is that she is very much a linguistic precisionist about the rules and her punishments are unbearable for the girls: terrible and senseless. will Miri and the other girls find a way to make time at the academy easier and get more visits home for themselves? Or will they get trapped into more hand lashings, visits to the closet, and other punishments of Olana's invention? To find out, read Princess Academy, by Shannon Hale.