Princess Academy

Princess Academy is a amazing book by Shannon Hale. Shannon Hale is also the writer of the well know Goose girl Trilogy. She is a very fun and interesting author that loves to put little details into books, and she sure did an amazing job on the Princess Academy! The Princess Academy takes place when Kings and Queens had magnificent balls and parties. However, this is not your typical fairy-tale.
The main character Miri lives high up in the Mountains of Eskel. Here her little village mines linder, and very white, shiny stone that resembles marble. They rely on this stone to keep them alive. Twice a year traders come up to their village and trade them for their linder, but are very rude and often give them small portions of food and other necessities that they need in exchange for huge amounts of linder. One year though, the traders don't come alone, a royal messenger comes with them, and explains that all of the villages girls, ages twelve to seventeen are required to attend the Princess Academy. This includes Miri, who is excited to escape the boring life of the village. The messenger informs them that the royal prieset got together to discuss what region the princes wife would be in, and got the answer of the People of Mount. Eskel. Because of this the girls would need to attend a academy six miles away down the mountain that will teach them Poise, Manners, and basic math, geography, and history.
All the girls agree to go and learn at the academy. When they arrive they met their mean and strict instructor, Tutor Olana. Tutor Olana punishes the girls by locking them into a rat infested closet, giving them no meals and often spaking them. She explains that they will all be competing for the hand of the prince. Whoever gets chosen will get to be come queen and live a life of luxury. But between all of the jealousy and competition, Tutor Olana manages to open Miri and all of the mountains girls minds and pour knowledge into them.
They learn more over that year then they have in their whole lives. Miri, however, learns some extremely interesting and important information. Linder, the rock that her village mines, is very valuable to the king and is worth TONS of money. She relizes that her village should be living like nobles, not servants and that the traders have been ripping her and her village off for hundreds of years.However, before she can go and tell her village, bandits come and lock her and all of her friends, Tutor Olana, and the chef into a room. The bandits harass the students, eat all of the food an discuss when to go and raid the girls village.
I loved this book a ton! It is defiantly an enchanting, breathtaking and interesting book . It has great descriptions and a fun theme! It teaches people that they shouldn't judge people by social ranking and looks. It also talks about how good friends are forever friends and that you need to be grateful for them. This is definitely a A+ book!