Synopses & Reviews
In this royal adventure, Princess Juniper learns what it means to rule a kingdomat least for the summer.
For her thirteenth nameday all Princess Juniper wants is a country of her own. So when rumblings of unrest start in his kindgom, Juniper's father decides to grant his daughter's wish and sends her to a small, idyllic corner of the Hourglass Mountains until trouble blows over. Once there, Juniper discovers that ruling a small countryeven just for the summeris a bit harder than she'd expected, especially when cousin Cyril challenges her rule. Still, the most difficult part is to come. Juniper and her friends discover that her father's kingdom is at war. The only way to stay safe is to remain in the Hourglass Mountains much longer than planned. Juniper may have her own country after all . . . but what will that mean for the kingdom of Torr?
This book is perfect for fans of Frozen and Brave, who like their princess strong and smart as well as sparkly.
Advance praise for Princess Juniper of the Hourglass:
"I absolutely loved Princess Juniper of the Hourglass! It's fantastically delightful, delicious, and satisfying. You'll want to follow Juniper to her kingdom -- or even better, start your own!"--Sarah Beth Durst, author of Enchanted Ivy and Ice
I adored Princess Juniper! Readers will cheer as she leads and defends her hidden kingdom in this deliciously charming fantasy.”--Julie Berry, author of The Secondhand Charm and The Amaranth Enchantment
Princess Juniper proves that you can love your silk dresses and still be a hero. This is a smart, feisty kid with a thirst for experiences, and I loved watching her learn to lead. A fun and insightful coming-of-age tale.”Ellen Booraem, author of Small Persons With Wings
Ammi-Joan Paquette Awards and Reviews:
Ghost in the House
A Huffington Post Best Halloween Books of 2013”, School Library Journal Great Books for Halloween” pick; and Canadian Childrens Book Centre Best Books for Kids and Teens” 2014 pick.
Petey and Pru and the Hullabaloo
Starred review, Kirkus
The Tiptoe Guide to Tracking Fairies
A "Best Books for Children 2009" choice by the Association of Booksellers for Children
Featured in Scholastic: Parent and Child magazines Fun Finds”
Review
"Shannon Hale's books reignite my love of reading—that joy of having the time of my life with a great story." —Stephenie Meyer, author of Twilight
"This is not a fluffy, predictable fairy tale . . . . Instead Hale weaves an intricate, multilayered story about families, relationships, education, and the place we call home." —School Library Journal, starred review
"The book is a fresh approach to the traditional princess story with unexpected plot twists and great emotional resonance." —2006 Newbery Committee
"Palace of Stone . . . proves once again that with quick wit and brave words, one person really can change the world." —School Library Journal on Princess Academy: Palace of Stone
"Powerful and deeply engaging." —Kirkus Reviews on Princess Academy: Palace of Stone
Review
Praise for M. A. Larsons Pennyroyal Academy:
Amazon Best Book of the Month, October 2014!
“M. A. Larson has created a magical world of adventure—a world that shows who princesses truly are: people of character and courage and strength. No one rescues Pennyroyal princesses; they rescue themselves.”—Reese Witherspoon
“Flashes of inspiration light up a protagonist with plenty of spine… A sequel-worthy debut…”—Kirkus Reviews
Review
A Newbery Honor Book
A New York Times Bestseller
A Publishers Weekly Bestseller
A Book Sense Bestseller
An ALA Notable Children's Book
A NECBA Top 10 Fall Book
A Book Sense Children's Pick "The most compelling, believable, poignant love story I have read in many a year. Shannon Hale is already, after only a few books, one of our best writers of fantasy. She is also one of those rare storytellers who can bring a jaded old reviewer like me to well-earned tears." --Orson Scott Card, New York Times bestselling author
"Shannon Hale writes deft, lyrical, wonderful fantasy." --Holly Black, author of The Spiderwick Chronicles and Tithe
"When it comes to contemporary classics, Shannon Hale has the makings of someone whose books will be read and reread for decades to come." --The 2006 Newbery Committee
"Princess Academy is the strong, well-written story of one girl's determination to show that even a small mountain flower can be as valuable as a gold crown."
--Teenreads.com
"[A] magical read!" --Discovery Girls
"An unalloyed joy." --Kirkus Reviews, starred review
" "This is not a fluffy, predictable fairy tale . . . Instead, Hale weaves an intricate, multilayered story about families, relationships, education, and the place we call home."
--School Library Journal, starred review
Review
Advance praise for Princess Juniper of the Hourglass:
"I absolutely loved Princess Juniper of the Hourglass! It's fantastically delightful, delicious, and satisfying. You'll want to follow Juniper to her kingdom -- or even better, start your own!"--Sarah Beth Durst, author of Enchanted Ivy and Ice
“I adored Princess Juniper! Readers will cheer as she leads and defends her hidden kingdom in this deliciously charming fantasy.”--Julie Berry, author of The Secondhand Charm and The Amaranth Enchantment
“Princess Juniper proves that you can love your silk dresses and still be a hero. This is a smart, feisty kid with a thirst for experiences, and I loved watching her learn to lead. A fun and insightful coming-of-age tale.”—Ellen Booraem, author of Small Persons With Wings
Review
Praise for M. A. Larsons PENNYROYAL ACADEMY:
“M. A. Larson has created a magical world of adventure—a world that shows who princesses truly are: people of character and courage and strength. No one rescues Pennyroyal princesses; they rescue themselves.”—Reese Witherspoon
“‘Pennyroyal Academy is one of those books you want to parse out and make last. It is a breathtakingly exciting novel, and Evie deserves a special place in a new pantheon of capable, feisty, and yes, admirable literary princesses.”—The New York Times Book Review
“Flashes of inspiration light up a protagonist with plenty of spine… A sequel-worthy debut…”—Kirkus Reviews
“Forget the notion of traditional princesses… Larson has crafted a dark Grimm-like fairy tale, with teens training to defeat evil, save villages, and find their own identities in the process… Larson has left the door open for a welcome second year at Pennyroyal with Evie and her friends.”—Booklist
“[Larson] playfully nods to classic fairy tales… but he also imbues the fantasy with an important, affirming message for readers: ‘You get to decide what you want to be. No one else. ”—Publishers Weekly
“A perfect fit for fans of Hales Princess Academy and the novels of Gail Carson Levine.”—BCCB
Review
"A delicious confection for fans of the previous operettas, reminiscent in tone and content to Patricia Wrede's Enchanted Forest Chronicles."
—Kirkus
"An upbeat fairy-tale adventure, this final installment in the trilogy is sure to entertain fans of the first two books."
—School Library Journal
"Ferris leisurely combines elements of adventure, fantasy, romance, and humor."
—Booklist
Synopsis
Miri lives on a mountain where, for generations, her ancestors have quarried stone and lived a simple life. Then word comes that the king's priests have divined her small village the home of the future princess. In a year's time, the prince himself will come and choose his bride from among the girls of the village. The king's ministers set up an academy on the mountain, and every teenage girl must attend and learn how to become a princess.
Miri soon finds herself confronted with a harsh academy mistress, bitter competition among the girls, and her own conflicting desires to be chosen and win the heart of her childhood best friend. But when bandits seek out the academy to kidnap the future princess, Miri must rally the girls together and use a power unique to the mountain dwellers to save herself and her classmates.
Synopsis
Shannon Hale's Newbery-Honor winning novel is the story of Miri, a simple mountain girl whose family has always quarried stone and lived a simple life. Then word comes that the king's priests have chosen her small village as the home of the future princess. In a year's time, the prince of Danland will come and choose his bride from among the girls of the village. To prepare the village girls, the king's ministers set up an academy on the mountain, and every teenage girl must attend and learn how to become a princess. Soon Miri finds herself confronted with a harsh academy mistress, bitter competition among the girls, and her own conflicting desires. Filled with just a hint of magical realism, Shannon Hale shows all her great talent for original fairy tale stories in this incredible novel.
Synopsis
Celebrate the 10th anniversary of this Newbery Honor winning, New York Times bestselling book—now with a gorgeous new cover!
Synopsis
A dazzling new novel about would-be princesses and destiny
Synopsis
Pennyroyal Academy: Seeking bold, courageous youths to become tomorrow's princesses and knights
.Come one, come all! A girl from the forest arrives in a bustling kingdom with no name and no idea why she is there, only to find herself at the center of a world at war. She enlists at Pennyroyal Academy, where princesses and knights are trained to battle the two great menaces of the day: witches and dragons. There, given the name Evie,” she must endure a harsh training regimen under the steel glare of her Fairy Drillsergeant, while also navigating an entirely new world of friends and enemies. As Evie learns what it truly means to be a princess, she realizes surprising things about herself and her family, about human compassion and inhuman cruelty. And with the witch forces moving nearer, she discovers that the war between princesses and witches is much more personal than she could ever have imagined.
Set in Grimms fairytale world, M.A. Larsons Pennyroyal Academy masterfully combines adventure, humor, and magical mischief.
Synopsis
The companion to Jean Ferris's madcap Once Upon a Marigold and Twice Upon a Marigold offers evil plot-twists, sweet romance, and the kidnapping of the royal princess.
Synopsis
Princess Poppy, the bouncing baby daughter of Queen Marigold and King Christian of Zandelphia-Beaurivage, is in terrible danger. The kingdoms former torturer-in-chief and poisoner-in-chief have joined forces to kidnap the baby as an act of revenge for their exile! Can a ragtag parade of rescuers—including the king and queen, the evil kidnappers mortified children, five dogs, a white elephant, and a washed-up wizard—save Princess Poppy in time?
About the Author
Shannons mother says she was a storyteller from birth, jabbering endlessly in her carriage as the two strolled through the neighborhood; once she could form complete sentences, she made up stories, bribing her younger siblings to perform them in mini plays. When she was ten, she began writing books, mostly fantasy stories where she was the heroine, and she continued writing secretly for years while pursuing acting in stage and improv comedy. After detours studying in Mexico, the U. K., and Paraguay, Shannon earned a bachelors degree in English from the University of Utah and a Masters in Creative Writing from the University of Montana. In the interim, she submitted short stories and novels to magazines and publishers, saving all her rejection letters which she has since laminated into one continuous 60-foot roll which she proudly unfurls to audiences as a testament to her dedication and determination.
Since the publication of her first book, The Goose Girl, in 2003, Shannon has become a beloved author to young readers as well as booksellers and educators. Her third novel, Princess Academy, earned her a Newbery Honor and is a The New York Times, Book Sense, and Publishers Weekly bestseller. Shannon has also written two books for adults, Austenland and The Actor and the Housewife. Shannon lives in Salt Lake City, Utah, with her husband, Dean, their children, and their pet, a small plastic pig.
www.shannonhale.com
Kids Q&A
Read the Kids' Q&A with Shannon Hale