The Goose Girl (Books of Bayern) (alkuperäinen julkaisuvuosi 2003; vuoden 2005 painos)

This was a wonderful retelling, or perhaps reworking is a better description, of an old fairy tale. In enjoyed seeing Ani/Isi grow into herself. ( )

In Hale's satisfying fantasy inspired by the Grimm fairytale "The Goose Girl," Crown Princess Ani is traveling from her home in Kildenree to marry a prince in Bayern - but on the way, her lady-in-waiting Selia and more than half Ani's guard turns traitor, and Ani flees into the forest alone, believing her faithful captain Talone dead, and separated from her horse, Falada. Ani finds help from a forest family and makes her way into the city, where she goes to the palace to plead her case, but is frightened away by Selia, who has stolen her identity. Ani finds work as a goose girl, and slowly makes friends with the other animal workers, most of whom come from the forest. But Selia's traitorous soldiers come after Ani, and she flees the city, again finding help from Finn and his mother in the forest, and planning to walk home to Kildenree to tell her mother of Selia's plot - which includes bringing a war from Bayern to Kildenree. But in a fortunate twist, Ani discovers that another forest family took in the wounded Talone; now that he's recovered, they return together to the city. Ani's worker friends believe her story and come with them as they rush to stop Selia from marrying the prince and attacking Kildenree.

Ani begins as an unconfident, sheltered girl, easily instructed by "people-speakers" like her mother and Selia. Ani's gifts are different: she has learned the language of birds, and has a special bond with her horse, Falada. As her journey progresses, she begins to understand the voice of the wind, as well, and be able to harness some of its power. But an equal amount of her power comes from what she has learned from living as a common worker, and developing the strength to stand up for what is peaceful and right for her people as well as herself.

See also: Graceling by Kristin Cashore, Ella Enchanted by Gail Carson Levine, Princess Academy by Shannon Hale

Quotes

She had leaned against the idea of her mother's perfection all her childhood, as though it were the cane to her lameness. But that crutch had not served her. (166)

"I, like you, decided that for the time there was no remedy but perseverance." (Ani to Talone, 284) ( )

I loved this book as a middle-schooler, but having re-read it, it's still good! It's a lovely fairy tale retelling with great characters, a unique world and magic system, and a suspenseful plot. Definitely recommend! ( )

I loved this book as a middle-schooler, but having re-read it, it's still good! It's a lovely fairy tale retelling with great characters, a unique world and magic system, and a suspenseful plot. Definitely recommend! ( )

I loved this book as a middle-schooler, but having re-read it, it's still good! It's a lovely fairy tale retelling with great characters, a unique world and magic system, and a suspenseful plot. Definitely recommend! ( )