Princess Academy -- Shannon Hale

<p><b>A Newbery Honor Winner</b><br><b>A <i>New York Times</i> Bestseller<br></b><br><b>In this first book in </b><b><i>New York Times</i> bestselling, Newbery Honor-winning author Shannon Hale's Princess Academy series</b><b>, </b><b> Miri finds herself a sudden participant in a contest to find the next princess of the realm.</b> <p/>Miri lives on a mountain where, for generations, her ancestors have lived a simple life. Then word comes that the king's priests have divined her village the home of the future princess. In a year's time, the prince will choose his bride from among the village girls. <p/>The king's ministers set up an academy on the mountain, and every teenage girl must attend and learn how to become a princess. Soon Miri finds herself confronted with a harsh academy mistress, bitter competition among the girls, and her own conflicting desires. Winning the contest could give her everything she ever wanted--but it would mean leaving her home and family behind. <p/><b>Don't miss any of these other books from <i>New York Times </i>bestselling author Shannon Hale: </b> <p/><b>The Princess Academy trilogy</b><br><i>Princess Academy</i><br><i>Princess Academy: Palace of Stone</i><br><i>Princess Academy: The Forgotten Sisters</i> <p/><b>The Books of Bayern</b><br><i>The Goose Girl</i><br><i>Enna Burning</i><br><i>River Secrets</i><br><i>Forest Born</i> <p/><i>Book of a Thousand Days</i><br><i><br>Dangerous</i> <p/><b>Graphic Novels</b><br>with Dean Hale, illustrated b