Back in 2006, readers were introduced to Princess Academy by Shannon Hale when
it gained attention for acquiring a Newbery Honor Award. It was loved
considerably more than the Newbery Award Winner that year, Criss Cross by Lynne Rae Perkins
which I could no longer summarize for you without taking a gander at the book
jacket. But Princess Academy? All of the girls and
their mothers and grandmothers were enchanted. Even the cover art from the original
publishing was endearing. It was no surprise that it ended up on the Rebecca
Caudill list of nominees two years later. Before you pick up the sequel, Palace of Stone, you simply must start with the
best.
In the first novel, we meet Miri, a common mountain girl born in the poor community of Mount Eskel. While her mind is sharp, her body is small and she must stay at home and tend the goats while the rest of the family heads to the quarry to mine the local stone known as linder. When traders arrive to exchange supplies for linder, they have a guest among them. It is a royal magistrate, speaking on behalf of the royal family, and he has an announcement to make. On the prince’s last birthday, the priests divined that his bride-to-be would be found on the steps of Mount Eskel.
In the first novel, we meet Miri, a common mountain girl born in the poor community of Mount Eskel. While her mind is sharp, her body is small and she must stay at home and tend the goats while the rest of the family heads to the quarry to mine the local stone known as linder. When traders arrive to exchange supplies for linder, they have a guest among them. It is a royal magistrate, speaking on behalf of the royal family, and he has an announcement to make. On the prince’s last birthday, the priests divined that his bride-to-be would be found on the steps of Mount Eskel.
The next day, the
girls of eligible age from each home are rounded up and marched off to a
makeshift Princess Academy. Miri is among them. All of the Eskelite girls are
required to learn the history of their kingdom, Danland, as well as the
etiquette of a noble’s life in court. More importantly, they also learn to
read. Miri’s sharp mind absorbs the information readily and quickly. Not only
is she able to save the students of the Princess Academy when disaster strikes,
but she is also able to improve the economy of Eskel. She discovers that the
traders have been cheating the Eskelites for centuries. Linder is precious in
the lowlands and fetches a pretty price.
Princess Academy was perfect as a stand-alone. It
was delightful and nothing additional was required. But it did leave you hungry
for more novels written by Shannon Hale. Thankfully, there
have been plenty! And if you have a penchant for princess tales, look no
further! Ms. Hale is your author. And yet seven years later, the story of Miri
continues. While it is not quite as brilliant as the first, I still loved it.
And while it could also stand on its own… why skip one of the best children’s/YA
books published recently?
Not long after the
princess elect was chosen and spirited off to Asland, the royal seat of the
kingdom, the graduates of the Princess Academy are called upon to be
ladies-in-waiting and assist the bride-to-be for her upcoming nuptials. They
are brought down from their mountain and introduced to the life of lowland
nobles. The girls are given a dorm room in the castle and are expected to help
in creating a trousseau for the princess-to-be.
The girls are
overwhelmed by the glory that is the castle. It is made entirely out of linder
from Mount Eskel. Walking upon and under and through and around the castle is
like being at home. They are also overwhelmed by the tasks at hand. Very
shortly, the girls are given respite from sowing and embroidery to look after
their own skills and amusements. One girl goes to work in a forge. One girl
begins to play with the musicians. One girl seeks a noble husband and another
discovers medicine within the books of the Queen’s library!
Then there is Miri who
is fortunate to be able to attend the Queen’s Castle, a University, because of
the bridal dowry. She is introduced to mathematics, science, engineering, law,
music, art, astronomy, history, logic, rhetoric, theology, and ethics. But she
is also made aware of the inequality between the nobles and the common people –
the privileged and the shoeless. Miri’s reputation has preceded her. She is
already a hero and a legend among the common man for standing up to the traders
for a fair market value in trade for the linder stone. And the would-be
revolutionaries are looking for someone to lead them.
As much as Miri agrees
that things must change before the King seeks an impossible tribute of the
still humble people of Mount Eskel, she doesn’t want to do anything to
jeopardize the already tenuous position of the bride-elect…
I agree with my
sister. I do not care for the new covers. They are dull and will quickly date
themselves. However, there is so much more than a fairy tale within the cover
of this sequel. Learn a bit about ethics, economy, rebels and revolutionaries!
Highly recommended SERIES to girls 6th grade and above!