The Goose Girl by Shannon Hale is a story based on a German fairy tale by The Brothers Grimm. It describes the most impactful part of the life of Anidori Kiladra Talianna Isilee. Having stolen the right to rule in her kingdom, she was sent to marry the crown prince of a foreign land and become their queen, oblivious to many fatal enemies that stood in her way. Soon her royal life plummets when the enemies strike. From witnessing her friends slaughtered to getting a knife held in her back, she was sorely doomed for a painful future. But as people say, you can always find hope if you believe it. She allied herself with devoted friends, brought her power of "nature speaking" to use, fueled her need for revenge, and defeated those who wronged her, reclaiming what was rightfully hers.

The transformation of Ani(dori) was most impressive. She began as a princess destined to be a ruling queen of her kingdom, with servants at her beck and call and protected inside the palace walls. When she emerged from her haven, she discovered that the world was not of the safety that she had lived in. The perilous world changed Ani from a frightened child to a fearless woman. Although this may seem unrelated, this book reminded me that one day, I would grow up and be without adults' protection. I would have to accept my new role as an adult with my responsibilities and challenges to face. Just like Ani, there would be many elements in the world that I would discover, and I should accept that obstacles would exist and I would have to defeat them courageously. A book with a story derived from a fairy tale should have been for casual reading, but I find The Goose Girl to be much more than that. With Shannon Hale's exhilarating plots and stunning writing style, I see Princess Anidori as a leading example for my own life.

Review by: Yelena Z.

Yelena is an eighth grader at Geffen Academy at UCLA.

—Ruth Chung, Young Adult Librarian, Westwood Branch Library