Autumn 2005 Reviews:

Miri woke early in the morning, to find her sister Marda and her father asleep. She started to get dressed when her father stirred, woke, and stopped her. Miri's dream was to work in the quarry, but her father would not let her. Marda was thirteen before she was allowed to work with her father. Instead, Miri stayed at home on top of their mountain, away from the lowlanders, and tended the family goats. Her childhood friend, Peder came over later that day and brought his family's goats to tend with Miri. In the afternoon, the traders were supposed to come over the mountain to trade with the quarry workers. It was the last trade of the year, therefore it was the most important. As soon as they brought the goats home, they heard the horn that meant that it was an urgent, the traders were there! But, there was something else waiting for them.

There was a bright blue carriage standing in the square, and out walked an imperial messenger from the palace. He announced that the prince was to marry a girl from Mount Eskel. They were to pack, and the next day they would be rounded up to go to an academy, to be taught proper manners. All the girls went, to the arduous academy, to be away from their families for a year. Britta was the only non-mountain girl, she was from the lowlands. The girls were constantly in trouble and were not allowed to visit their families on rest days. Finally they were fed up with waiting, and they fled. Then they went back with a pact that their tutor and they would have to live by for the rest of the year.

Then the time came for the ball, and to meet the prince. Excitement and nervousness was everywhere in the academy. After the ball, the prince left without making a decision and bandits came to the academy. They stayed with the girls, waiting for them to say which one was the princess, but none were. Through quarry speech and deep concentration, Miri contacted Peder and told him to get help. Later, their parents came in the middle of the night and waited for the bandits. Most of the girls escaped, but nine did not. The bandits left, and they went home safe, sound, and alive. A month later, the prince came back to see the girls again, and he choose his life long friend.

I really enjoyed this book because it was like I had gone back in time, it was a mix of ancient Mesopotamian life and modern life, with a happy ending. I would recommend this book for middle school students because I think most would enjoy the twist like I did.

 ~ Ashley Aldan, grade 7, Boardman Center Middle School