By Shannon Hale
Crown Princess Anidori-Kiladra Talianna Isilee was not what her mother wanted. Instead of flattering people, she spent her time learning how to talk to the swans, and listening to her Aunt’s stories about the languages of the animals. Ani has a gift, but a gift that many distrust and hate; including her mother. So her mother decides for the good of the kingdom to send Ani away to marry a complete stranger and be queen of a different kingdom entirely. Ani is crushed but knows her duty, and so travels to Bayern, where she starts on the greatest adventure of her life; where she learns who she is and where a person’s true strength lies.
The Goose Girl is one of my all-time favorite books for young adults. It struck true with me mostly because Ani is the most like me of any character I have ever read about. I harmonized with everything she thought and felt and it was like having constant déjà-vu. Following her quest to be both herself and a respectable princess was amazing and delightful. As she finds her strengths and weaknesses, as she falls in love for the first time, and as she makes the first true friends she has ever had, I was right there laughing and crying and cheering her on. Shannon Hale is one of my favorite authors, as I have read all but one of her books and they are all excellent! The Goose Girl is definitely worth your time.
Fun Fact: The Goose Girl is based on a fairy tale by the Brothers Grim, which Hale has masterfully written in a whole new world and context. If you like fairy-tale adaptations, this is the best one I’ve read by far.
Interesting Info: The story of Ani and the people of Bayern continues in Enna Burning, and River Secrets. While these two tales are told from different characters, they are still quite good and entertaining to read as you find out what happens to the characters you come to know in The Goose Girl.
Crown Princess Anidori-Kiladra Talianna Isilee was not what her mother wanted. Instead of flattering people, she spent her time learning how to talk to the swans, and listening to her Aunt’s stories about the languages of the animals. Ani has a gift, but a gift that many distrust and hate; including her mother. So her mother decides for the good of the kingdom to send Ani away to marry a complete stranger and be queen of a different kingdom entirely. Ani is crushed but knows her duty, and so travels to Bayern, where she starts on the greatest adventure of her life; where she learns who she is and where a person’s true strength lies.
The Goose Girl is one of my all-time favorite books for young adults. It struck true with me mostly because Ani is the most like me of any character I have ever read about. I harmonized with everything she thought and felt and it was like having constant déjà-vu. Following her quest to be both herself and a respectable princess was amazing and delightful. As she finds her strengths and weaknesses, as she falls in love for the first time, and as she makes the first true friends she has ever had, I was right there laughing and crying and cheering her on. Shannon Hale is one of my favorite authors, as I have read all but one of her books and they are all excellent! The Goose Girl is definitely worth your time.
Fun Fact: The Goose Girl is based on a fairy tale by the Brothers Grim, which Hale has masterfully written in a whole new world and context. If you like fairy-tale adaptations, this is the best one I’ve read by far.
Interesting Info: The story of Ani and the people of Bayern continues in Enna Burning, and River Secrets. While these two tales are told from different characters, they are still quite good and entertaining to read as you find out what happens to the characters you come to know in The Goose Girl.
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