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Princess Academy

(2006, Fiction - Friendship, Written by Shannon Hale)
  • Is it age appropriate?

    About our ratings

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    Not age appropriate for kids under 7, age appropriate for kids over 9; suggested age 9.
  • Is it any good?

    4.0
  • Common Sense says

    Moving, girl-empowerment read gets Newbery honor.

Why We Rated This on for Ages 9 and Up

The good stuff

  • Messages:

    Miri is brave and learns to understand others.
 

What to watch out for

  • Violence:

    Fighting between bandits and villagers, threats of murder, one death.
  • Sex:

    Not an issue.
  • Language:

    Not an issue.
  • Consumerism:

    Not an issue.
  • Drinking, drugs, & smoking:

    Not an issue.
 

What Parents Need to Know

About Princess Academy

Parents need to know that there's not much to worry about here -- one evil bandit falls off a cliff after making threats. All in all, there is lots of girl-empowerment and learning about looking past the masks people wear.

Did this review help you decide?

Families Can Talk About

  • Families can talk about all of the characters who turn out not to be the way they seem. Why did each one act the way he or she did? Why do people hide their feelings behind anger and meanness? How does Miri learn to see past these personas? Also, why is Miri's home, which is a hard place, so important to her? Why does the tutor treat the girls the way she does? And, perhaps most interesting of all, could we apply the rules of diplomacy that are taught to the girls in our own lives?

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Our Members Say

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  • What did you think about Princess Academy?
  •  I think this book is

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See all 35 member reviews

Most Recent Reviews

  1. Teen Reviewer Age 16
    I rate this title on for age 10 and give it 5.0
    • My highlights are:
    • Educational
    • Positive messages
    • Good role models

    perfect for all

    love it i'm 16 & read this book this past summer as a joke my friend gave me it.. but i loved the stroy line & what i got out of it. so i passed it on to my 9yr old sister

  2. Kid Reviewer Age 9
    I rate this title on for age 9 and give it 3.0
    • My highlights are:
    • Educational
    • Positive messages

    vedant

    I Love My Son.

  3. Parent Reviewer
    Lives in Nevada
    I rate this title on for age 10 and give it 4.0
    • My highlights are:
    • Positive messages
    • Good role models

    A great read!

    Great book for girls! It has very strong characters who have morals and want to learn as much as they can.

  4. I rate this title on for age 10 and give it 5.0
    • My highlights are:
    • Positive messages

    My girls and I loved it!

    This is a must read for anyone who likes adventure, fantasy and a little bit young love.

  5. Parent Reviewer
    I rate this title on for age 10 and give it 5.0
    • My highlights are:
    • Positive messages

    Satisfying ending for all!

    Delightful, realistic princess story in fantasy setting.

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