50 pages • 1 hour read
Princess Academy
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Background
Authorial Context: Shannon Hale
Shannon Hale is an American author known for her work in children’s fiction, young adult fantasy, and graphic novels. She grew up in Salt Lake City, Utah, where she edited her high school’s literary magazine and participated in theater productions. She earned a Bachelor of Arts degree in English from the University of Utah in 1998 before attending the University of Montana, where she got a Master of Fine Arts degree in creative writing.
Hale is best known for writing the Princess Academy series, the first book of which won a Newbery Award, as well as the Books of Bayern series, beginning with The Goose Girl. She also wrote Austenland, a novel for adults that was adapted into a film starring Keri Russell. In collaboration with her husband, Dean, Hale has co-authored multiple works, including two Squirrel Girl comics for Marvel, the Princess in Black series, and the Rapunzel’s Revenge series. The couple has four children.
A defining characteristic of Hale’s writing is her portrayal of strong, resourceful female characters. In The Goose Girl, Ani, the determined protagonist, harnesses her deep connection with nature to help the kingdom of Bayern. In the Princess in Black series, Princess Magnolia—who is named after Hale’s daughter Magnolia—embodies bravery as she secretly fights monsters disguised as the Princess in Black. In Princess Academy, Miri uses her intelligence—particularly her mastery of quarry-speech—to help her peers enjoy their spring holiday as well as stop a bandit takeover. Furthermore, she uses the knowledge she gains about commerce to help her village thrive, noting, “If the traders dealt fairly, her village could benefit from the heaps of wonders the rest of the kingdom seemed to enjoy” (131). Her ideas help bring prosperity to her village. Additionally, she starts a school to share her knowledge with the other villagers. Through her works, Hale consistently champions themes of resilience, intelligence, and empowerment.
Series Context: The Princess Academy Trilogy
Hale’s Princess Academy series is a trilogy that follows Miri, a young girl from the mountain village of Mount Eskel, as she navigates personal growth and political upheaval. The first book, Princess Academy, introduces Miri and her peers as they are unexpectedly selected to attend a royal academy where one of them may be chosen to be a future princess. Miri initially struggles with self-doubt and her place in the community, but she gradually becomes a leader among the academy girls. She also wrestles with the decision to either remain on Mount Eskel or leave for a new future in the lowlands; this conflict extends to her romantic feelings, as well, as she must choose between pursuing her growing feelings for her childhood friend, Peder, or exploring the possibility of another romantic partner, such as the prince.
In the second book, Princess Academy: Palace of Stone, Miri’s world expands further as she leaves Mount Eskel to study at the capital, Asland. There, her exposure to revolutionary ideas challenges her perceptions of justice and loyalty. She once again feels torn between her loyalties to Mount Eskel and Peder and her growing admiration for Timon, a fellow student with radical ideas. In addition, she struggles to reconcile her desire to reform the political system with her loyalty to her friend Britta, who is about to become the princess.
The final book, Princess Academy: The Forgotten Sisters, takes Miri on a new journey as she is tasked with training three girls—who are the king’s cousins—to be princesses. One of the three is to marry a king who has taken over a neighboring kingdom; thus, the stakes are higher than ever, as a successful political marriage could prevent war. Throughout the trilogy, Miri solidifies her role as a leader. She also actively shapes the world around her, proving that intelligence and compassion are just as powerful as wealth and status.
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