Last fall, in a Newberry Award streak, I picked up Princess Academy, by Shannon Hale (a 2006 Newberry Honor book).  I loved the book, and the fact that Shannon Hales lives near me.  In fact, I recently went to one of her signings.  Anyway, after Princess Academy, I read Book of a Thousand Days and Austenland.  I hadn’t, though, delved into her Bayern series.  Thus, when my book club picked the first Bayern book, The Goose Girl, for this month’s read, I was thrilled.

The Goose Girl is based on the fairy tale of the same name.  I knew the basic plot of the fairy tale (princess goes to marry a prince in a foreign land, her lady-in-waiting switches places and tells everyone she is the princess, the princess becomes a goose-keeper, eventually the true princess is restored to her rightful place and the lady-in-waiting is killed), but Hale’s retelling of the book was intruiging and magical and heartfelt.  I was swept along with Ani/Isi (the goose girl) and her tale of becoming a princess by being a commoner.  The character development was a little spotty with regard to most of the other characters, as with most fairy tales, but the development of Ani was amazing.  I felt her uncertainty and longing and the building of her character and sense of self.  (Also, I loved the prince.)

Some of the more fantastical elements, like Ani’s the communications with the wind, were a little much for me.  But I loved Ani’s mystical aunt and Ani’s communications with Jok, the goose, and Falada, her horse.  There was a bit of everything in this story: heartbreak, intrigue, murder, royalty, love, friendship, betrayal, loyalty, bravery, and self-discovery.  And, most importantly, they all lived happily ever after.  At least until the next book starts.  Sigh.  I’ll read this book again.  And again.

The Goose Girl, by Shannon Hale (75) * * * * *

Other reviews:

A Striped Armchair

The Written Word

Melody’s Reading Corner

Things Mean a Lot