Wednesday, January 9, 2008

The Goose Girl (Shannon Hale)

(review by Cori)

This is a retelling of a Grimm fairy tale. Whether or not you know the original tale, it's a fun interpretation and an entertaining read. It seems a bit slow at first and sometimes a little predictable. But overall, it is well written and a fun story. It's about a crown princess who ends up as a goose girl in a foreign country fighting to regain her identity. I actually listened to the book on CD - there is a full-cast recording that is fabulous.

Anyway, it's an admirable first novel and a nice break when your brain hurts and you just need something fun. It reminds me of "Ella Enchanted." Check out the author's website if you want to read the original tale or find out more about her: http://www.squeetus.com/stage/main.html

2 comments:

Mimi said...

I loved how she added magic to the fairy tale. Ani's live was shaped by the stories she heard and the morals they taught.
I also liked the fact that the author kept some Grimm-ism in the story (some cruelty to the ones who deserve it).
There were movies about this tale in Germany. Is there one here?

Jenn S. said...

I really liked this too - I think it would be a great "bedtime story" book to read with kids when they are a bit older.