Princess Academy by Shannon Hale

Looks and titles can be deceiving. Seriously, look at the cover of this book and read the title. Who would really want to even consider reading this book. Obviously I did and I'm glad I took the chance. I kept seeing this book on reading lists and on 'customer's who read/bought this book also liked..." You have Miri, a young 14 year old who lives in a poor mountain village that mines linder (stone). No one in the kingdom thinks highly of this territory because they are not a province in the kingdom and therefore do not have any nobles or educated people. When it is time for the prince to marry, by tradition, the priests read the stars and determine which area of the kingdom the new princess will come from. Of course, Miri's area is chosen and since there are no ladies, the Princess Academy is formed and all girls 12-18 must attend. There are 20 in all and they are taken from their homes and forced to live in this academy with a very strict and mean teacher. You follow the girls throughout the year as they learn about all aspects of being a queen and competding against eachother to be the star academy princess and be the first to dance with the prince. There's love, fights, and kidnapping that keep the book interesting.