The Goose Girl (The Books of Bayern, #1)

by Shannon Hale

book data

11,779 ratings, 4.33 average rating, 3,222 reviews (more data...)

rating	frequency	%
5		48%
4		39%
3		11%
2		1%
1		0%

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published

May 13th 2005 (first published 2003) by Bloomsbury USA Children's Books

binding

Paperback, 400 pages

literary awards

New York Public Library "100 Titles for Reading and Sharing", Texas Lone Star Reading List Book, Josette Frank Award Winner, Utah State Book Award Winner, Utah Speculative Fiction Award Winner

isbn

1582349908 (isbn13: 9781582349909)

description

She was born with her eyes closed and a word on her tongue, a word she could not taste.

Anidori-Kiladra Talianna Isilee, Crown Princess of...more

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03/21/08

Chanelle rated it:

bookshelves: book-club, strong-female-character

Read in March, 2008

recommended to Chanelle by: Kari

What a sweet story, it's one you can transport yourself into another world where things like communicating with animals and controlling the wind seem entirely feasible. The characters are really likeable (esp. Geric- I don't think there was enough of him. Every word he said would make a girl smile) I'm classifying this book as strong female because I loved the fact that when Geric wrote Ani off, she was upset and angry, but her world did not collapse (contrast that to Bella in New Moon who did...more

Like this review? yes (10 people liked it)

4 comments

03/02/08

Sesika rated it:

Read in December, 2007

Super fun read. Incredible imagination that was clear and easy to read. Very likeable characters that made the books that followed interesting and appealing.

Like this review? yes (4 people liked it)

1 comment

02/20/09

Sara rated it:

(review of isbn 1932076727)

bookshelves: 2009, challenge-spring-2009, fantasy, favorites, young-adult

Read in April, 2009

recommends it for: YA Lovers, Young Girls, Not-So-Young Girls

In an Austin Powers voice: "One million stars..."

It's been a really long time since I added a book to my favorites bookshelf. It takes quite a special book to earn a spot there.

This is what I think about the book:

If someone had told me before I read this book, "Hey, Sara! You should read this book! It's about a girl who can talk to birds!" I would have (1) tried really hard not to roll my eyes, (2) smiled and nodded, and (3) never ever ...more In an Austin Powers voice: "One million stars..."

It's been a really long time since I added a book to my favorites bookshelf. It takes quite a special book to earn a spot there.

This is what I think about the book:

If someone had told me before I read this book, "Hey, Sara! You should read this book! It's about a girl who can talk to birds!" I would have (1) tried really hard not to roll my eyes, (2) smiled and nodded, and (3) never ever have picked up the book. Things like that are just.... CHEESY, you know? "Oooh... Animal whisperer..."

But this book SUCKED me in. Like a really powerful vortex that even the Star Trek Enterprise could never get out of... (and Captain Janeway got them out of a really bad-ass vortexy-type thing one time) Usually there's kind of a "boring" part of a book--at the beginning.... somewhere in the middle, when it starts dragging... But this book had nonstop suction. (Wow. It sounds like a vacuum cleaner!)

ANYWAY, the book sucked me in. It was just so interesting, with its mythology-type stories/legends at the beginning, and then really quickly, she starts her journey toward Bayern... And all along the way CRAP keeps happening to her. Usually books that make you tear-up do so near the end, you know? But this one... it was like 50 pages into the book, and I'm on the verge of tears. The mere fact that I cared enough about the characters only 50 pages in to cry over stuff that's happening to them REALLY speaks highly of the writing, I'd say.

So ALL THIS CRAP keeps happening to her, and I'm like, "Uhhh... Shannon.... I read your Austenland book, and it had a happy ending... If this book doesn't start turning around, I might go jump off a bridge!" (Nevermind that there aren't any bridges in Bryan other than overpasses...) Parts were just so sad. But it all turned out pretty all right in the end, I'd say. (I can't stop grinning, so that's an understatement...)

I was going to say something else... what.... character development. Ani/Isi shows REMARKABLE character development through the course of the book, which is fabulous! From shy, timid, and with an I'll-never-be-as-good-as-my-mother attitude to what she ends up as.... It's great. Just wonderful.

Anyway, go read the book. The audiobook was AMAZING!! Produced by Full Cast Audio. It had a different reader for every character! It was fabulous! Like listening to a movie with a narrator!

The library's copy of Enna Burning is checked in... I'll have to go pick it up tomorrow morning! :) Then on to River Secrets and Forest Born (less)

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04/21/08

Jamie rated it:

(review of isbn 0747564191)

bookshelves: fantasy-fairy-tale

Read in May, 2008

recommended to Jamie by: Megan B
recommends it for: young adult, fairy tale lovers

This review has been hidden because it contains spoilers. To view it, click here.

I thought that this was a sweet book. I learned from this book that often times it's easier for people to be their best self if unrealistic expectations aren't on them.

Ani was born the first princess of Kildenree. She didn't open her eyes for 3 days until her Aunt came and sung songs and told stories of the old days when people could talk with the animals and some even with the elements. She spends her time with her Aunt and learns to speak with the swans and other birds. Her mother ...more I thought that this was a sweet book. I learned from this book that often times it's easier for people to be their best self if unrealistic expectations aren't on them.

Ani was born the first princess of Kildenree. She didn't open her eyes for 3 days until her Aunt came and sung songs and told stories of the old days when people could talk with the animals and some even with the elements. She spends her time with her Aunt and learns to speak with the swans and other birds. Her mother dislikes this and finds it unfit for the Crown Princess and sends her Aunt away.

Ani doesn't fit in with all of the royalty as much as she tries. Her father dies and immediately following his death she is told that she will be married the the Bayern prince and not become queen of Kildenree. She is dissappointed because she has been trying so hard to be what is expected of her but she leaves for Bayern, over a 3 month trip. On the way their her lady in waiting, Selia, turns on her and has her loyal guards killed. Selia plans on taking on Ani's identity and becoming Queen of Bayern.

Ani escapes and lives with a forest family until she make her way to Bayern and becomes the tender of the kings geese and hence becomes the Goose Girl. She learns to speak with the geese and conceals her identity by keeping her blonde hair always covered and dying her eyebrows. She makes some friends and also meets a handsome man named Geric while tendig the geese. She tells one of her friends, Enna, her story. She has some run ins with Selia's guards, who need her dead if Selia is going to be queen, but is saved by her new friends.

The day comes for Selia to be married and Ani plans as attending as her little sister. Selia's guards catch her but not before the King of Bayern hears of her arrival. Selia and her guards are left alone with Ani and the truth comes out. Geric, who we now know is the prince, and his father are hiding and overhear everything. There is a fight but Ani prevails.

I love the message of this story... "In layer upon layer of detail a beautiful coming-of-age story emerges, a tale about learning to rescue yourself rather than falling accidentally into happily-ever-after."
-The New York Times Book Review (less)

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01/08/08

Cassie rated it:

bookshelves: fairytale, ya-fantasy

Anidori-Kiladra Talianna Isilee was born the Crown Princess of Kildenree, but her mother didn’t feel she was fit to rule and instead arranged a marriage with a neighboring kingdom, passing the title on to Ani’s brother. Ani was always a strange child, she didn’t open her eyes for the first three days after her birth, and her aunt taught her to speak with birds. It’s no wonder her mother didn’t feel that someone who could be considered a witch should sit on the throne. So off Ani goes w...more Anidori-Kiladra Talianna Isilee was born the Crown Princess of Kildenree, but her mother didn’t feel she was fit to rule and instead arranged a marriage with a neighboring kingdom, passing the title on to Ani’s brother. Ani was always a strange child, she didn’t open her eyes for the first three days after her birth, and her aunt taught her to speak with birds. It’s no wonder her mother didn’t feel that someone who could be considered a witch should sit on the throne. So off Ani goes with her Lady-in-Waiting Selia to be married to the prince of Bayern, in order to bring peace to the two neighboring kingdoms.

On her journey, Ani is betrayed by Selia and soon finds herself alone in a foreign land, with Selia’s guards hunting for her and her former Lady-in-Waiting stealing her name. Taking a job as a goose girl (a girl who cares for the king’s geese) puts a roof over her head and allows her to save up money to return home and tell her mother of the betrayal. That is, until she finds out war’s coming and she no longer has time to return home, but must instead take back her name and her heritage to protect her kingdom.

This is the first Shannon Hale book that I’ve read, and I now understand why everyone’s been singing her praises. The story was well-crafted and captivating, and I immediately wanted to go out and buy the next two books that take place in this world. Happily, she’s the not the kind of author who feels the need to rehash a finished story, and the other two books are about secondary characters from The Goose Girl, and I look forward to reading them.

Here’s another fine book with a strong heroine who didn’t exactly ask for her position, but rose to it none the less. Ani as the Crown Princess never really felt like she could fulfill that role—she simply thought she would have to. When she loses her role as the next ruler of Kildenree, she finds herself unsure of who or what she will become next. Even though she’s betrothed to a prince, she knows she’ll never be the ruler, just the wife of one. Still, she doesn’t really think about all of this until she finds herself alone in the woods without her name or royal identity. She redefines herself, becoming a goose girl and finally stepping up and becoming a princess in action, not just in title.

The magic in this book is well worth mentioning. Instead of traditional “wave a magic wand” or have a fairy godmother appear magic, Hale crafts a world of people-speaking, animal-speaking, and nature-speaking. These rare magics allow Queens to command attention and for Ani to learn to talk to the wind. It’s great to see such unique magic woven into an already excellent story. The animal talking was also well crafted; Hale stayed true to the way animals would talk, not letting Ani have long conversations with them, but more getting ideas and things like “danger” or “good grazing land” across. The geese were especially well-written, as anyone who’s been around geese knows that they’re both truly evil and incredibly loyal animals. A goose would make a good attack animal for an evil overlord, now that I think about it.

Read the rest of my review at Bookwyrm Chrysalis :: YA Fantasy Book Reviews (less)

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11/10/07

Beth rated it:

Read in July, 2006

The Goose Girl is an adaptation of the Grimm fairy tale by the same name — which I had never heard of before reading this book. I guess if Disney hasn’t already adapted it, I’m more or less clueless when it comes to fairy tales. ;-)

That comes in handy, though, when reading a new story — I figured that Princess Anidori-Kiladra (a.k.a. Ani; a.k.a. Isi, the Goose Girl; a.k.a. the Yellow Lady … there’s a lot about disguise and identity in this story, if you can’t tell) woul...more

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10/18/07

Lucy rated it:

Read in October, 2007

recommends it for: adolescent girls and women who don't mind remembering what it's like to be an adolescent girl

Poor Shannon Hale. I think the most frequent comment I've heard about her as an author is, "She's LDS and like Stephenie Meyer, doesn't write LDS fiction."

I'm not sure it was a good enough reason to check out her book, Goose Girl, but I did it anyway. My sister, Jen, liked this book and that was one more reason, but a good enough one for me.

It was a nice break from some of the meatier stuff I've been reading. It's not meatless, exactly, but written as a fai...more Poor Shannon Hale. I think the most frequent comment I've heard about her as an author is, "She's LDS and like Stephenie Meyer, doesn't write LDS fiction."

I'm not sure it was a good enough reason to check out her book, Goose Girl, but I did it anyway. My sister, Jen, liked this book and that was one more reason, but a good enough one for me.

It was a nice break from some of the meatier stuff I've been reading. It's not meatless, exactly, but written as a fairy tale in the voice of a young princess so it's about as meaty as Chicken Noodle Soup.

There are some worthwhile themes throughout the book. Ambition, gifts, honesty, work. The princess, whose name was blessedly shortened to Ani for most of the book, lacks the power of persuasion that her mother, the Queen, possesses. The author calls this gift "People Speaking" and while Ani doesn't possess that particular gift, she does possess the rarer, and less esteemed "Animal Speaking" and later "Nature Speaking" gifts. She can talk to swans, as a girl, and later, while in hiding when her lady-in-waiting pulls a coup during their journey to meet her betrothed, learns to speak to the geese she keeps. Ultimately, she uses these gifts, especially her ability to talk with wind, to restore her place as Crown Princess, leaving us with the lesson that we can rely on the gifts we possess to accomplish what is necessary. I think. At least, that's what I'm taking away from it. A la....To Thine Own Self Be True without all the fancy talk.

Those elements create the fairy tale, as well as all the prince and princess stuff, but this felt surprisingly modern to me. There were times the dialogue seemed appropriate to the time of the story, but most of the time, I heard the voices of young, spoiled American teens in my head, especially when the ruthless Selia spoke.

In any light, Goose Girl is an easy read, with some sound moral backbone - as fairy tales usually have, but isn't incredible literature - as fairy tales usually aren't. But sometimes, it's nice to simply read a good story. Goose Girl is that.(less)

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10/20/08

Tanja rated it:

I suppose I am simpleton, but I enjoy these kind of stories. It is an easy read and I could see the end almost from the beginning, but it was fun and entertaining. I look forward to reading the rest of the series.

Like this review? yes (4 people liked it)

2 comments

09/30/08

Maris rated it:

bookshelves: already-read

Read in September, 2008

recommended to Maris by: Molly, and I love you for it!
recommends it for: Anyone, but especially Twilight fans. They need a rude awakening of true literature.

The most fabulous fantasy book that I've ever read! It didn't even seem like fantasy, that's how real Ms. Hale made it seem. I can't boast of it enough. The storyline was extremely bullet-proof, unique and original. The characters were living, and the descriptions...maginfique! The story was beautiful, suspenseful and romantic. Truly any situation, anything, was possible - it's not one of those books where you know nothing bad is going to happen because that would ruin the story. No; the worst i...more

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07/23/08

Woodge rated it:

bookshelves: fantasy, recommended, young-adult

Read in July, 2008

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 ...more

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04/21/08

Heather rated it:

Read in April, 2008

recommended to Heather by: Ward Book Club
recommends it for: ladies

What a wonderful book. I actually read this book in 2 days, since I was so interested in what would happen to the princess Anidori as she journeyed to the Kingdom of Bayern to marry the prince of that land all in the prospect of peace.

As the story begins, Andori feels that she is not very gifted in the fact that she cannot use the language of People speaking when it comes to talking with people, but she has the gift of
speaking with horses and with swans and also the wind as th...more

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03/20/08

bookbutterfly rated it:

bookshelves: all-time-favorites, books-i-own, fairy-tale-retellings, fantasy, reviews-on-blog, school-and-required-reading

Read in February, 2009

recommended to bookbutterfly by: LRRHers, who pushed me to read this a LOT
recommends it for: Everyone who likes a satisfying, absolutely beautiful fairytale retelling

Imagine that you are a princess–you live in a luxurious palace that is filled with hundreds of servants, you can go on exciting rides on your very own horse, who is also your closest friend, any time you want. But think again: what if, even with all the riches surrounding you, you were lonely and constantly self-conscious of your actions? And, just what would you do if your own mother commanded you to marry a prince from a faraway land, a prince you’ve never even met? Or perhaps worse: wha...more

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13 comments

01/14/08

Jessica rated it:

Read in June, 2008

Last fall, in a Newberry Award streak, I picked up Princess Academy, by Shannon Hale (a 2006 Newberry Honor book). I loved the book, and the fact that Shannon Hales lives near me. In fact, I recently went to one of her signings. Anyway, after Princess Academy, I read Book of a Thousand Days and Austenland. I hadn’t, though, delved into her Bayern series. Thus, when my book club picked the first Bayern book, The Goose Girl, for this month’s read, I was thrilled.

The Goose Girl...more

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02/19/08

Allen Garvin rated it:

bookshelves: fairy-and-folk-tale-retelling, ya-fantasy

Read in October, 2007

A retelling of the Grimm tale 'The Goose Girl'. Princess Ani learns from her aunt to talk to birds as a child, but then her aunt disappears (and later dies), and her overbearing mother isolates her to keep her away from all animals and friends. She grows up shy and passive and at age 18 is married off to the kingdom to the north. On the way there, her maid-in-waiting carries out a plot to get rid of Ani and present herself to the king as the true princess. Ani escapes and circumstances force her...more

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01/08/09

Cortney rated it:

Read in January, 2009

I jumped right into it and couldn't stop. All I thought about was finding out what happened next. I even had dreams about it as if I were in it. It pulled me in and I have to say I would read it again. Such a cute story with a great outcome.

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12/30/08

Kris rated it:

This is a cute YA story cleverly written by Shannon Hale. If I were judging it by adult standard, it would merit 3 stars, but I think a 13 year old girl would be charmed by the story line and characters.

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04/30/08

Andrea rated it:

Read in May, 2008

Ok, seriously I need to stop reading for a while and be a better mother and wife. I could not put this book down! It was such a cute fairytale. Something I love about how Shannon Hale writes is that the conversations between people are so real. In a lot of books (and movies), even books that I really like I find myself thinking a lot "People don't really talk like this". I loved how Ani changed and matured through her experiences. I'm so excited to read the next one. I really li...more

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01/29/09

Stacy rated it:

Read in January, 2008

This is my second favorite of the Shannon Hale books. An easy read and very good story.

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09/26/08

Rebecca rated it:

Read in February, 2009

This is a book I would have read to tatters as a teenage girl. Self discovery, magic, and justice served in the end? Delicious. I love Hale's poetic writing style and the eerie, magical but grounded world she invents. Yes, it's a fairy tale so yes it is s bit predictable-- but I found that soothing. Those familiar archetypes of noble simple forests and dangerous dazzling cities, maidens and crones, mothers and daughters-- carry you through the story like a dream.
This book gets a five for b...more

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08/20/08

Mandy rated it:

Read in September, 2008

recommended to Mandy by: Teea
recommends it for: everyone

i loved this book! the reformed fairy tale format combined with characters so real that you can feel their pain and count their heartbeats made this story hard to put down. actually, i liked Ani (the goose girl) so much in the beginning that i had a hard time making it past the first few chapters - i just knew that something bad was going to happen to her and i didn't want it to! i almost hid this book in my freezer, Joey (from Friends) style. but, like any fairy tale worth telling, Ani's happil...more

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polls

Which is your favorite book by Shannon Hale?

Princess Academy

12 votes, 19.0%

The Goose Girl

28 votes, 44.4%

Enna Burning

3 votes, 4.8%

River Secrets

2 votes, 3.2%

Book of a Thousand Days

12 votes, 19.0%

Austenland

6 votes, 9.5%

63 total votes

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quotes from this book

"Poor gosling. It hurts to be lost. And worse to be home with no kind of homecoming...I'll be lucky if I can do as well as you when all this's done, just a bit out of breath, a bit bruised and scratched, a bit wiser and sadder for it all." More quotes...