![]() ![]() Miri and her friends grapple with romance, friendship, and grave injustices, all woven together so gracefully you'll hardly notice you've just been given a pretty sophisticated lesson in politics, ethics, and class struggle. But it's not treated gratuitously, and the focus here is on how young people become aware of the world and develop compassion for others. There are some intense scenes, some assassination attempts, and threats of violence. This is a terrific coming-of-age story for boys or girls that will entertain them without insulting their intelligence and make learning look (nearly) more seductive than romance. Hale teaches readers to think through all possible points of view, to view everyone compassionately, and to reconcile problems more elegantly - to push beyond seeing issues as simply black and white. There are many pleasures to this satisfying tale: a precise lyricism to the language (The world was as dark as eyes closed or Miris laugh is a tune you. But in the wrong hands, knowledge can be dangerous, especially if it's used by the overzealous to misrepresent the truth in the name of a good cause. ![]() Education is not only a one-way ticket out of sheltered life on the mountain for Miri, it's a chance to study and learn about the world, help other people, light up her brain, and ultimately make things better for her community. Miri is a complicated, headstrong heroine, and, in every new experience she faces, Hale excels at giving readers unexpected depth. ![]() Shannon Hale's PALACE OF STONE is a masterfully complex tale that subverts everything you expect from a princess adventure. ![]()
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