About the Author:
Shannon Hale is the New York Times best-selling author of over twenty-five children’s and young adult novels, including a popular Ever After High series, graphic novel memoir Real Friends, and multiple award winners The Goose Girl, Book of a Thousand Days, and Newbery Honor recipient Princess Academy. She also penned three books for adults, beginning with Austenland, which is now a major motion picture starring Keri Russell. With her husband Dean Hale she co-wrote Eisner-nominated graphic novel Rapunzel’s Revenge, illustrated chapter book series The Princess in Black, and two novels about Marvel’s unbeatable superhero, Squirrel Girl. They live with their four children near Salt Lake City, Utah.
My Story:
I distinctly remember finding The Goose Girl in my school library years ago. They don’t use those covers anymore. I don’t own those covers. But, man, I would buy them just for nostalgia. They were so unique. So…compelling. The cover just radiated “folk tale” or “fable” vibes. And, of course, I love the original story of The Goose Girl.
I powered through the three books in that series, the Books of Bayern, and 
then at some point stumbled upon Princess Academy. The rest was history at that point. I looked for her books at every bookstore right alongside Gail Carson Levine and Margaret Peterson Haddix. I’d scour the stores for any new books out. (This was before the time of Goodreads or even email newsletters!) She wrote such compelling stories in such a distinct tone. I gobbled them up. I still remember when 
the fourth, and final, Book of Bayern came out. I was so incredibly excited. And boy did it ever pack a punch! Forest Born did not disappoint!
After years of devouring her MG and YA, I found she’d written a few adult novels. So I gave those a shot, too! Austenland was quirky and right up my alley as an Austen fan, and The Actor and the Housewife was one of the first books that led me to start reading outside of my normal genres.
My Favorites:
Hale has been writing children’s books over the last several years and, 
though I have read some of those and will likely read them all eventually, I’m in less of a hurry to do so. The ones I’ve read are cute, don’t get me wrong. I enjoyed the Ever After High books that she wrote, but never read any spin off series by other authors, and the Princess in Black series is cute, too. Those I would like to buy to add to my children’s books collection at some point.
But the real Hale magic for me was her YA. I absolutely love
it. I go back to her books to reread over and over again. She has an incredibly unique voice as a writer and I love the style with which she tells her stories. It makes me feel like I’m sitting by the fire as the village storyteller winds her spell around the crowd.
Clearly, The Goose Girl is one of my favorite Shannon Hale books, but I actually really enjoyed the entire four-book series very much. I also really, really enjoyed Princess Academy and consider it a childhood favorite read, too. The sequels were great reads, too. I’d probably 
also put Austenland up there pretty high, too; though it isn’t up to Goose Girl standards, I appreciated it as something in a new (to me) genre. Book of a Thousand Days was different, but I do really remember enjoying it. It was one of the first more obscure fairy tales I’d ever been exposed to, which led me down a path of incredible stories!
Links and More:
Her website is a little out of date, so instead of there, you can find a full list of Hale’s works here.
Find Hale on Goodreads.
Find Hale’s books on Amazon or in any bookstore near you, including Barnes and Noble, Books-a-Million, and more.
I’ve rated many of Hale’s books on Goodreads, but not all have reviews because I read them before Goodreads was a thing. I am a re-reader, so as I reread any of her books, I will be sure to post detailed reviews on them.
Disclaimer: The pictures are all from Goodreads and the author’s biography is from her website.