Goose Girl

Some have the gift of people speaking, they can make anyone believe them.  Some have the gift of animal speaking and can understand the sparrows, the horses, and the language of all creatures.  Once, long ago, there is a legend that some had the gift of nature speaking-to understand the fire, or the wind, or even the water.  Princess Anidori Kaladra Taliana Isili does not have the gift of people speaking.  She always says the wrong thing at the wrong time.  She is only at home with the animals she loves, she can understand them.  In spite of this she is the crown princess, until tragedy strikes and she learns her mother has made a marriage alliance to send her off to a distant country to marry an unknown prince.  On the way to her groom, Ani's maid usurps her power and her name.  Ani enters a new country alone and as a starving peasant.  She does not have the gift of people speaking, can she possibly reclaim her name and title from someone so beautiful and convincing?  Ani finds her powers of language are more than she thought.  She also finds true friendship does not depend on convincing someone of your worth, it depends on opening up and allowing others to see you.

Audience

I would not go below 12 or 13 on this one.  The language is simple, but it is based on a Grimm Fairytale.  This is decidedly geared toward girls

What I Love About This Book

1) I love that this is a fairy tale with a fun romance plot, but it is not a guy-saves-girl book, nor is it a girl-saves-guy book.  The two of them work together and arrive at the truth and the needed proof.

2)The themes of what makes a family and a mother are explored.  Ani learns that a mother is not a soft place to fall, a mother is the one that will give her own blood in the service of her children
3) I love the friendships and relationships Ani develops, learning how all people are different, but have the same need for acceptance
4) I am a firm believer in the power of words and the need for story, so the ideas of language in this book ring true to me.  Ani is a story teller, and this book talks about why we need stories-and it echos my feelings on the matter

Cautions
1) This book is graphic.  It talks about heads being chopped off, and other violent themes.  Again, this is within the limits of a Grimm fairytale.
2) One female character does use her attractiveness to manipulate the men around her, and the two of them being sexually active is hinted at.  I think that would go over a lot of heads, but adults will catch it.