The Goose Girl (Books of Bayern) by Shannon Hale Summary and Reviews
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Book Reviews of The Goose Girl (Books of Bayern)
Book Review: Delicate and Magical Fairytale
Summary: 5 Stars
What a lovely and lyrical retelling of the old Grimm's fairytale in this fantasy book for middle school readers! I remember the story well from childhood, especially the spell that the goose girl casts to get rid of the boy who tends the geese:
"O wind, blow Conrad's hat away
And make him chase it as it flies
I with my golden hair will play
And bind it up in seemly wise"
The spell doesn't appear in Hale's version of "The Goose Girl," but Ani, the princess turned goose girl, does have a way with the wind.
The story begins as many fairytales do, with a birth. As soon as Princess Ani can talk, her aunt secretly teaches her how to talk with the swans in the nearby lake. It's a talent that will serve her well later when she becomes a goose girl. Most of the time, though, she's learning how to be a queen, a difficult task because she's sadly lacking in confidence.
After Ani's sixteenth birthday, her mother tells her that instead of becoming queen, she must marry the prince of a neighboring country. Soon Ani, her lady-in-waiting, and a number of palace guards set off through the forest. After weeks of journeying, Ani learns of a plot against her and barely escapes with her life. She travels to the neighboring country on her own and ends up working as a goose girl. She passes through many trials and dangers before she finds the strength to claim her rightful place as the princess.
I felt immersed in the delicate, magical, and poetic writing style of this fantasy book for middle school readers (as well as teens and adults), while the clearly drawn and complex characters clashed in a compelling story. A wonderful read by Shannon Hale, who has written several other books set in the kingdom of Bayern, where Ani lives.
Book Review: Didn't reach my expectations...
Summary: 3 Stars
After reading Princess Academy, I was eager to read anything else by the amazing Shannon Hale. However, Goose Girls didn't reach my high expectations. It was medicore and much too long. After reading about ten pages, I knew that Goose Girl was going nowhere fast. Although I enjoyed Shannon Hale's beautiful sensory details, the plot didn't catch me at all. When I came to the part about "talking with the wind", I lost all interest in the book. It was only respect for Shannon Hale that kept me reading to the end.Book Review: Eloquent, beautiful, heart-warming
Summary: 5 Stars
If ever there was a world to find solace in, it is here.
The perfect fantasy book if there ever was one.
Book Review: Engaging!
Summary: 5 Stars
This book was emotionally engaging and absolutley terrific. It is the tale of a hesitent princess who comes into her own through the most interesting ways. It is a tale of growth, strength, and fantasy. A masterpiece! Hale is a genius!Book Review: Enjoyed it on 1st Reading, Loved it on 2nd Reading
Summary: 5 Stars
The first time I read this story, I thought it was fun and enjoyed the development of the characters and the relationship between the princess and the prince. There were parts of the story I didn't really get why they were included and seemed like they didn't fit in the story. It seemed to drag in the beginning, and I was annoyed with how wimpy Princess Ani is in the start of the book. I recently reread the story and really loved it. I understood why everything was included in the book and pushed the story along. It no longer dragged, but I saw the development of Ani's personality.
The Goose Girl starts with the birth of Crown Princess Ani who grows up in the shadows of her beautiful Mother who is talented in people-speaking. Her mother the Queen never quite approves of Ani who has the gift of animal-speaking in a Kingdom that scorns such a gift. Her mother the Queen has little value in Ani and gives the crown to Ani's younger brother then sends Ani off to a distant Kingdom to marry the Prince there, thus being rid of Ani. Ani's lady-in-waiting, Selia, is also gifted with people-speaking and sees that Ani does nothing to reclaim her crown from her Mother and thinks to steal Ani's future crown. On the 3-month trip to the Kingdom next door, Selia initiates a coup and takes Ani's clothes, name, and all to present herself as the Princess to the betrothed Prince. Ani survives the slaughter and makes her way to her new Kingdom only to see Selia in her place. Ani takes a job as a goose girl tending the King's geese. She does this to hide from Selia's guards and to earn money to return to her mother and have her mother fix this for her.
Ani starts out as a young girl who is never comfortable in her own skin. She is self-conscience, unsure, dependent, and naive. In her defense, she's never had a friend that wasn't paid to be her friend nor ever had a helpful or praising word from her mother. Through her experience as the goose girl, she finds true friends and finds her own true voice. She grows up. She starts as a timid girl wanting mom to fix her problems and grows into a young woman with confidence, determination, and love--love of self, of true friends, and of a handsome fellow.
This book is well written with a great story to tell. I've read the follow-up book Enna Burning (Books of Bayern) and enjoyed it as well. I highly recommend this book to all!
Hales continues writing books set in the same world, but from different character's point of view.
Enna Burning (Books of Bayern)
River Secrets (The Books of Bayern)
Forest Born (Books of Bayern)