The Goose Girl (Books of Bayern)

by Shannon Hale

Hardcover, 2003

Status

Available

Series

Books of Bayern (1)

Genres

Publication

Bloomsbury Children's Books (2003), 400 pages

Description

On her way to marry a prince she's never met, Princess Anidori is betrayed by her guards and her lady-in-waiting and must become a goose girl to survive until she can reveal her true identity and reclaim the crown that is rightfully hers.

Rating

(1256 ratings; 4.2)

Media reviews

School Library Journal

Teens who like long, detailed fantasies will also be happy to accompany the heroine of Shannon Hale's The Goose Girl on her quest to recover her identity and her place in the world.

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School Library Journal

Hale's retelling is a wonderfully rich one, full of eloquent description and lovely imagery, and with a complex plot, a large cast of characters, and a strong female protagonist.

Booklist

The engaging plot can certainly carry the tale, but Hale’s likable, introspective heroine makes this also a book about courage and justice in the face of overwhelming odds.

Kirkus

[T]oo long by a fair amount, but ensorcelled teen readers, swept up in the romance and the luscious language, probably won't notice.

Publishers Weekly

In an attempt to weave all of the elements of the original tale, the novel at times bogs down in detail. But those who enjoy getting lost in an enchanted world will discover here a satisfying and richly embellished retelling of a classic that communicates values still pertinent to contemporary

readers.

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User reviews

LibraryThing member lunacat

Ani is a misunderstood Crown Princess. From her birth she knows she is different, a knowledge reinforced by the earlier influence of her aunt who teaches her how to hear the voices of birds and speak back. She also tells Ani stories, tales of speaking with the wind and the earth and all elements of

the world.

But as Ani grows, her differences are surpressed and when Ani turns sixteen, she is forced to abandon her childhood home and travel to a neighbouring country, in order to marry a prince and prevent war. However, things don't go as expected and she finds herself alone, in danger and needing to fight for what is hers.

This was a typical coming of age fairytale plot, with very few surprises. You won't find any unique twists or new ideas within. But this isn't a book to read for plot. Instead, it is the language that sets this alight and makes it glitter.

Every image is exquisite and well realised and the characters and settings easy to see in the mind's eye. Atmosphere, mood and emotion are all beautifully described, without it ever feeling pretentious or conceited.

Put to one side the knowledge that you have heard this story in many different forms, and allow yourself to drown and dream in the pictures created. It also contained my favourite line from a book in a long time when Ani says, while telling a story:

"I'd like it to have a beginning as grand as a ball and an ending in a whisper like a mother tucking in a child for sleep."

This was a pleasure and a delight to read.

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24 more

LibraryThing member DeltaQueen50

They say timing is everything, and I feel that this must have been the exact right time for me to read The Goose Girl by Shannon Hale. I loved this book that was based on a favorite Grimm Brother’s fairy tale. Taking the original story and adding twists and detail, Shannon Hale has enhanced the

original, and by populating it with great characters, vivid descriptions and a juicy plotline she has offered up a book that deserves it’s beloved status.

This is a book that allows you to transport to another world, another time, and get lost in the pages. It is also a tale that has a definite modern outlook toward love and relationships. Yes, it is a romantic princess tale, but with a strong leading character that shapes her world, doesn’t settle and is able to find happiness even when alone. Of course, when she does find her prince, he is just about perfect, being someone who obviously will allow his wife both freedom and her own sense of power.

Written in lyrical, descriptive prose, Hale has build a believable world where these strange and magical happenings actually ring true. An incredibly imaginative and appealing read that has placed Shannon Hale in my must-read-more-of category.

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LibraryThing member keristars

I first read this book when it was newly published and fell in love with Shannon Hale and the Bayern universe. The writing style is just lovely and very evocative of the soft, semi-historical, fantasy setting. And the universe - well, one of the things that really grabbed me with this book is how

well-fleshed-out everything seems to be, from the politics to the local mythology and folklore.

Since that first reading (way back in 2003), I've reread the story several times, but it has never grown old or tedious on me. (Why I waited until late 2008 to actually buy a copy for myself, I don't know - it seems like I always had one from the library.)

There must be some negative aspects of the book, but the only thing I can think of is that it's slow-paced. Or maybe it isn't really, but it feels like a sort of calm and serene story rather than something exciting or adventuresome, even though there are some very exciting and/or frightening scenes. Of course, even saying that it's a negative isn't much, since I really like that kind of story as much as I like crazy adventure books like Bloody Jack (I borrowed both books for the first time on the same day, and I adore them both to pieces).

It's really nice that though The Goose Girl is part of a series, it stands on its own very well as a complete story without the need for a continuation. That there is a sequel is nice, but those who don't like to start in on series needn't worry that they'll have to read it to have a sense of closure.

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LibraryThing member knielsen83

I absolutely loved this book. I picked it up a week or so back and only read a few pages here and there. When I really got into the book, I didn't want to put it down. It's a great fairy tale about a Crown Princess who is strange and is sent away from her to-be throne to marry a prince in a country

three months journey away in order to keep peace. Her only lady-in-waiting plots against her and half of her guard attempts to kill her while the other half defends her. She finds herself wandering the forest of the country she was supposed to marry the prince of, but fate leads her to become an average goose girl, trying to find a way to reclaim her title from her lady-in-waiting. In the novel she finds friendship, love and kindness from those around her. There's lots of action and some heart-pounding romance.

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LibraryThing member katiloo2277

I could read this book over and over again and never tire of it. It is a great read through and through, filled with action, originality, betrayal, romance, and twists and turns on every page. The next book in the series, Enna Burning, is just as good, and any fan of Goose Girl will enjoy it.

LibraryThing member lollypop917

I started this book a couple times before I really got into the story. I typically listen to audio books while working to pass the time and this one I must have had to start three times before I could follow the story, Once I did though I couldn't wait to find what would happen next. I kept wishing

the narrator would read a little faster as I like to do as the book gets better and better, but patiently waited it out. I loved this story which was everything a fairytale should be. I will definately be reading more of Shannon Hale's work. Highly recommend.

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LibraryThing member swingdancefan

Take a girl who is to inherit the throne but lacks the pizazz of her mother--and thus, self-confidence. Add a jealous lady-in-waiting, and arranged marriage, and a coup of sorts. Princess Ani has to discover her own strength, and in so doing, becomes the queen her new country needs, while falling

in love along the way.

I love retold fairy tales, and Shannon Hale is right up there with Robin McKinley for taking a short story and giving novel treatment that doesn't feel like it's being forced to fill pages.
A nice choice especially for girls, with a subtle reminder that it's what you are deep down that counts.

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LibraryThing member woodge

The cover caught my eye and the blurbs drew me in. I found this in the Young Adult section while looking for something else. This fantasy story is a retelling of a Brothers Grimm tale (one I was not aware of beforehand). It's told in simple and poetic language and it's a fast read. Anidori-Kiladra,

"Ani," is a crown princess from Kildenree sent on months-long journey to the kingdom of Bayern to be a bride for that kingdom's crown prince. But along the way, her scheming lady-in-waiting overthrows Ani's loyal guards with her own and assumes Ani's identity. Ani barely escapes with her life and eventually becomes a goose girl in Bayern while she tries to figure out a way to reclaim her name and position. I read the last 100 page all in a rush late into last night. This well-told story has a very exciting denouement and I'm looking forward to reading some of the author's other tales set in the kingdom of Bayern. In an appendix, the author has a Q & A and I learned she wasn't setting out to write a "young adult" novel. That whole genre can be a tricky label. Ofttimes I'd have no idea a book was intended for a younger audience if it wasn't stamped with that label. This would make for a good real aloud story.

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LibraryThing member jennorthcoast

This was a delightful, enjoyable read, a clever reworking of the Brothers Grimm fairy tale. Having said that, let me get the nitpicks over with: Hale’s prose is a formal passive-voice style, like a fairy tale except that it is inconsistent and the writing sometimes leads to less-than-gripping

action scenes. The metaphors seem self-aware, there are several plot holes and loose ends not tied up at the book’s end—but still I was carried along by the suspense. Having read "Austenland" and "Princess Academy," I’m familiar with Hale’s imaginative plots, and enjoyed her mix of characters and the world she has created here, especially her knack for visualizing all the different forms of communication between humans, other animals and nature. This is not, to me, a children’s book because there is violence and torture, but the story works well as a gritty fantasy with fairy tale elements. I know there are sequels; I suspect I’ll be reading them soon!

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LibraryThing member bongobash

I have just finished reading this book last night and I thought that it was unexpected that Geric was the Prince and they'd marry. The Goose Girl is a lovely tale and I can't wait to read the rest of the book of Bayern.

LibraryThing member joyleppin

This book was plain fun. A spunky heroine who is betrayed and abandoned fights back to reclaim her identity.

LibraryThing member kljoh

In The Goose Girl, Shannon Hale retells the Grimm fairy tale of the same name.
Ani, princess of Kilendree, is sent by her mother to Bayern to marry the prince and restore peace between the countries. During the journey, Ani’s lady-in-waiting, Selia, along with many of the guards, attack Ani. She

narrowly escapes and must disguise herself as a goose girl. Selia, meanwhile, takes Ani’s identity and promotes a war in order to cover her secret. Timid Ani must find the courage and trust necessary to take back what is hers and save both countries. This story is an exciting adventure mixed with talking animals, magic, and a little bit of romance. Readers familiar with the original Goose Girl will enjoy all the similarities. Though hard to get into at the beginning, the pace picks up and then remains entertaining until the end. I did not like Ani’s character at first, but she quickly grew on me. This may have been deliberate by Hale, as Ani starts the story a shy, awkward girl, disliked by her peers. As a goose girl, she learns to relate to people, however, and eventually make friends. This is a wonderful book for girls in sixth grade and up. It is highly recommended for the young adult section of public libraries, as well as for middle and high school libraries.

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LibraryThing member kejinglu

This story is about a brave girl, Ani, who faces the challenge of a threat. It all started because she was the crown Princess, or the first born princess. She started learning bird language, and later on, heard and learned the language of the wind.

Then, when she grew up, she had to leave and marry

a prince in a neighboring castle. On the way there, she gets over-thrown by her dreadful lady-in-waiting, Selia, a person who is good at person-talking (good at persuading people with her voice). Then, along with the others, they were either driven away, or killed.

When she finally gets to the city where she ought to be married, she veils herself, and finds a job of tending the king's geese. There she meets and makes many kind and helping friends.

After a few seasons, she meets her true love, a guard at the palace, Geric.

Two years later, her fellow friends discover she's princess, and she finds another friend she thought was slaughtered at the menacing scene battle. She marches her way to the palace. Unfortunately, after successfulness to Ani's plan, she gets caught up with her betrayers, her former guards.

After a lot of challeging words, and a sword at Ani's throat, the king and his guard find out their evil deeds, and they win the battle that was started because of who was princess. Geric, finally recognized by Ani and her friends, is the prince she is supposed to marry, and they lived happily ever after, with a lovely wedding.

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LibraryThing member brenneis

This was a great book I love books that send you to another place, This story of the princess and her long journey, sent me to a great place of what is going to happen, fantasy the immagination, loosing the blood cloth!!

LibraryThing member ladycato

In this retelling of the fairy tale, Ani is raised as the Crown Princess of her kingdom. Even though she knows being queen is her destiny, she is acutely aware of how the role doesn't suit her. She lacks the charismatic people-speaking gift of her mother, and her natural gift for speaking with

animals only frightens those around her. Fortunately, her lady-in-waiting has the gift of people-speaking, and Ani is relieved to have her company as they set out for the distant kingdom where she is to wed her betrothed. But is all is not it seems: her lady-in-waiting is not her friend, and uses her gift to arise a mutiny against the Crown Princess. Ani flees into a strange new land and is forced to hide the bright hair that labels her as an outsider. She soon becomes the goose girl, and plots to stop the impostor from wedding her betrothed - and bringing the two kingdoms into war.

The first half of the book proceeded very slowly. It wasn't bad reading, simply slow. However, once the suspense kicked in, I could barely set the book down. I'm familiar with the fairy tale and knew what to expect, but the suspense still held me. That's good writing. Even for those who don't know the original tale with probably find the plot predictable, but not in a bad way. Just as with another of Hale's books, The Princess Academy, there is a certain coziness to her writing style. Sure, I knew what was coming, but I thoroughly enjoyed the ride. I probably would have read this book to tatters if it had existed when I was a twelve-year-old.

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LibraryThing member jeniferm1314

Hale, Shannon. The Goose Girl. 2003. Bloomsbury: New York.
Genre: Fantasy and Utopia
Themes: Goose girl, speaking to animals, special powers, war, princess, queen, magic, marriage, lady in waiting, foreign land, corrupt
Age/grade appropriate: ages 10-16 grade appropriate for middle school and high

school
Awards: A New York Public Library "100 Titles for Reading and Sharing", A Texas Lone Star Reading List Book, A Josette Frank Award Winner, A Utah State Book Award Winner, and A Utah Speculative Fiction Award Winner.
Censorship Issues: I don’t see any censorship issues for this book. It is perfect for the classroom
Plot summary: Anidori-Kiladra Talianna Isilee, Crown Princess of Kildenree, is raised by her aunt. Her aunt teaches her how to communicate with animals. Anidori aka Ani’s mother is still alive she just lets other people take care of her children. When her aunt goes away Ani is left with another caretaker. Ani’s mother hates the fact that her aunt taught her to speak with animals. She tries to keep Ani away from as many animals as possible. Her mother realizes that her daughter is not suit to be a Queen so she sends her off to be married at age 17, to the prince of a neighboring kingdom-mainly to keep peace. Another girl in waiting steals Ani’s identity and marries the prince. Meanwhile, Ani dodges attempts on her life, is looked after by an older woman in the Forest, and finally makes it to Bayern, to be hired in the palace as a goose girl. Only when she develops humility, a sense of justice, a talent for peacekeeping, an ability to command the wind and the gift of 'people speaking can Ani reclaim her place as the future queen of Bayern.
Critique: This book is great. I loved reading it. It is perfect for young adults. I would recommend this book for anyone. It is such a great read anyone could enjoy such a story. It is kind of predictable but it is great to read something easy and fun sometimes.
Curriculum: This book could definitely be used in the classroom. The plot of the story is great for young readers. I could see this book in the public library as well as the school library.

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LibraryThing member cablesclasses

Just finished this book...and stayed up late to do so because it was that good. The Goose Girl, Ani or Isi--one in the same---she is the "Crown Princess" who was taught in her primary years by her aunt how to converse with animals and the aunt also eludes to the long lost language of the wind and

earth. Perceived as a weakness and abnormal, Ani must hide her skill and try to emulate her future role as ruler of her land. In a blunt and war-avoiding move, her mother arranges for her to marry the prince of the "possible" enemy country.
So Ani relinquishes her rights the crown and consents to her mother's plan; off she begins her nearly 4 month journey. Her entourage includes loyal guards and many soldiers and also her lady-in-waiting. Traveling in unknown lands in rugged terrain brings chaos and turmoil to the plot. No more can be said without giving so much away. Except....her title as Goose Girl is a journey that brings solitude and self-realization that strengthen her beyond measure.

Hale's ability to take the reader (in this case, me) on an unpredictable journey that created a dynamic character set in the "royal" period with a hint of the fairytale realm minced in with a little magic WAS a welcome to my eyes! Hence the beginning attribute about staying up all night to finish. This was fresh plot with fully developed characters with a writing style that was not laborious and tedious. Hale has accomplished much with her writing. More companion books follow some characters--but I have yet to read them. I am savoring the GOOD READ. Her writing is similar to George's Sun and Moon, Ice and Snow.

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LibraryThing member emhromp2

What a great book! It was recommended to me by someone who works at the Dutch publisher. In the Netherlands, no one seems to want to read this book, and I don't know why. It's great!
Firstly, I like the adventure element. Will the princess survive?
Secondly, I like the character development she has

to go through in order to be a good queen.
Thirdly, I like the build up of the story, the magic and all the other characters that are involved.
Definitely one of my favourite books!

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LibraryThing member abella

Ani speaks the wind... and animals. She is a victim of mutiny and sudden poverty but learns to fend for herself, and learns how much potential she really has...

LibraryThing member cbruiz

In this tale about a young to-be princess, awaiting her throne, Ani, has a connection with animals. Having been sent to be princess in the lands of Bayern, Ani is userped by her lady-in-waiting, Selia, and her guards. Fleeing, Ani makes it a cottage in the wild forest, and arrives into Bayern on

marketday. Having very little money, and knowing nobody, Ani gets a job as Goose girl for the castle, while her lady-in-awaiting awaits the throne as princess. Throughout the tale, Ani learns to love being Goose girl, as well as loving all the people she meets. Having lost her horse Falada, she vies to reunite, but finds out the dreary fate of her beloved horse. Having been caught, one of her former mutaneous guards tries to kill her, stabbing her in the back. She is found and reunited with the cottage in the forest that she formerly came upon. Subsequently she is reunited with one of her faithful guards, who was though to have been killed. The two, along with other companions ride horses to where Selia is to marry the prince. Selia's plot is foiled, and the mutaneous guards are killed, Ani marrying her beloved prince, and all ending happily ever-after. I absolutely loved this book. It's prose is a bit slow and simple, but the language is emotive and the story itself is wonderful. The read is good for young adults as it is a pretty easy read, and story itself is quite enchating. Ani, being the animal-speaker she is, is the perfect heroine for a young adult book, as readers can relate to her being. Overall, highly recommendable for child, old and young.

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LibraryThing member the1butterfly

This book is based off a rather strange Grimm's fairy tale involving the talking head of a horse. Shannon Hale takes her tale much farther, creating a character whom we sympathise with and a story that is involved and believable (if you believe in talking to birds and wind and such). This is very

well written and highly recommended.

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LibraryThing member Nikkles

Well-written beautiful prose. I love Shannon Hales writing, which has a great lyrical fairy tales like quality to it. This makes it deceptively simple sounding when read. The characters are sympathetic, interesting, and fun, which makes them match the plot purposely. A great book for young adults

and adults who still like fairy tales.

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LibraryThing member wyvernfriend

A masterfull re-telling of the goose girl story, which is very powerful and very engaging. It's the story of a princess who goes to another kingdom to wed, only to have her servant take her place and for her to become a goose girl. She bides her time to tell the truth, but how does she tell her

truth and be believed. It deals with the issues of truth and magic and friendship.

I really enjoyed reading this story, it left me with a taste for more of Shannon Hales' stuff.

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LibraryThing member snapplechick

This book is a retelling of the classic-fairytale by the Brothers Grimm. Shannon Hale does a fantastic job of recreating this fairytale! When the Princess Ani is sent away o a foriegn land she never expected to be turned into a goose girl! This book is amazing with action, suspnce, comedy, and

romance.

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LibraryThing member tjsjohanna

Echoes of fairy tales float around this likable book. Nice exploration of how someone grows into their talents and strengths when faced with danger and the unknown. Quite enjoyed it.

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