Palace of Stone: Princess Academy, Book 2
By Tracy Moore,
Common Sense Media Reviewer
Common Sense Media Reviewers
Exciting, complex sequel a mix of politics and compassion.
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What's the Story?
Miri and her friends are guests at the palace to see Lady Britta finally married off. While they're there, she will attend the Queen's Castle for scholarly pursuits, while boyfriend Peder hones his carving skills as an apprentice. But just as Miri makes exciting new friends and joins in on wedding festivities, she learns the "shoeless" masses, angry over high taxes and forced payments to the king, have planned a revolt, and her new peers at school are part of the plan. As Miri becomes enchanted with city life and learning, she also must reconcile her compassion for the commoners, her loyalty to her noble friends, new troubling questions of ethics, and her longing for family, all of which complicate the biggest question of all: Can you ever really go home again?
Is It Any Good?
Shannon Hale's PALACE OF STONE is a masterfully complex tale that subverts everything you expect from a princess adventure. Miri is a complicated, headstrong heroine, and, in every new experience she faces, Hale excels at giving readers unexpected depth. Education is not only a one-way ticket out of sheltered life on the mountain for Miri, it's a chance to study and learn about the world, help other people, light up her brain, and ultimately make things better for her community. But in the wrong hands, knowledge can be dangerous, especially if it's used by the overzealous to misrepresent the truth in the name of a good cause.
Hale teaches readers to think through all possible points of view, to view everyone compassionately, and to reconcile problems more elegantly -- to push beyond seeing issues as simply black and white. This is a terrific coming-of-age story for boys or girls that will entertain them without insulting their intelligence and make learning look (nearly) more seductive than romance. There are some intense scenes, some assassination attempts, and threats of violence. There's also a lot of hardship and loss. But it's not treated gratuitously, and the focus here is on how young people become aware of the world and develop compassion for others. Miri and her friends grapple with romance, friendship, and grave injustices, all woven together so gracefully you'll hardly notice you've just been given a pretty sophisticated lesson in politics, ethics, and class struggle.
Talk to Your Kids About ...
Families can talk about the central ethical question in Palace of Stone: whether to save a prisoner or a painting in a fire. Which would you choose, and why?
Is education powerful or dangerous? Can it be both? Explain.
Is it ever a bad idea to tell the truth? Why, or why not? Has telling the truth ever caused more harm than good in your experience? If so, how?
Book Details
- Author: Shannon Hale
- Genre: Fantasy
- Topics: Magic and Fantasy, Princesses, Fairies, Mermaids, and More, Brothers and Sisters, Great Girl Role Models
- Book type: Fiction
- Publisher: Bloomsbury Children's Books
- Publication date: August 21, 2012
- Publisher's recommended age(s): 10 - 14
- Number of pages: 336
- Available on: Paperback, Nook, Audiobook (unabridged), Audiobook (abridged), Hardback, iBooks, Kindle
- Last updated: October 18, 2017
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