Shannon Hale Books in Order
Explore Shannon Hale books in order, with short summaries, series guides, and tips on where to start across her fantasy, graphic novels, and more.
Last updated: July 1, 2026
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Publication Order
55 books
The Goose Girl
by Shannon Hale
2003
Princess Ani is robbed of her name and place on the road to Bayern and must survive in hiding as a goose girl. To reclaim her life, she has to trust her own strange gifts.
Enna Burning
by Shannon Hale
2004
Enna discovers a dangerous power over fire just as war reaches Bayern. The gift could protect the people she loves, or consume her before she learns how to master it.
Princess Academy
by Shannon Hale
2005
Miri of Mount Eskel is sent to an academy after a prophecy says the prince's future bride will come from her village. Lessons, rivalry, and homesickness force her to imagine a bigger life.
River Secrets
by Shannon Hale
2006
Razo joins Bayern's delegation to Tira expecting adventure and finding murder, suspicion, and political danger. To prevent another war, he must use wit, friendship, and a gift he never planned on needing.
Austenland
by Shannon Hale
2007
Jane Hayes is so attached to Mr. Darcy that real men cannot compete. A trip to an immersive Regency resort promises fantasy and flirtation, but she may have to choose between performance and real feeling.
Book of a Thousand Days
by Shannon Hale
2007
When Lady Saren is locked in a tower, her maid Dashti is sealed inside with her. Survival, disguise, and danger push Dashti to discover how resourceful and brave she really is.
Rapunzel's Revenge
by Shannon Hale
2008
Rapunzel escapes her garden prison and discovers a harsh world ruled by magic and fear. Armed with her long hair and a fierce sense of justice, she rides out to right what went wrong.
Forest Born
by Shannon Hale
2009
Rin longs for peace, but her bond with the forest and her sensitivity to other people's feelings make that hard to find. A dangerous journey forces her to decide what kind of strength she wants.
The Actor and the Housewife
by Shannon Hale
2009
A chance meeting throws Utah wife and mother Becky Jack into an unlikely friendship with movie star Felix Callahan. Their bond is funny, messy, and unexpectedly important to both of them.
Calamity Jack
by Shannon Hale
2010
Jack is trying to leave his past behind in a rough western city, but trouble keeps finding him. Teaming with Rapunzel again, he faces old lies, giant danger, and the hard work of becoming better.
Midnight in Austenland
by Shannon Hale
2012
Charlotte Kinder heads to a Jane Austen themed retreat hoping for escape and finds a tangle of romance, mystery, and gothic unease instead. At Pembrook Park, even the performances start to feel risky.
Palace of Stone
by Shannon Hale
2012
Miri leaves Mount Eskel for city life in Asland, where she helps Princess Britta prepare for marriage and attends a prestigious school. New ideas and rising unrest force her to question where she belongs.
Bouncing the Grinning Goat
by Shannon Hale
2013
Spark steals her brother's armor and sword and goes looking for work. The job she finds is far more dangerous than expected, and wit may be the only thing that gets her through.
The Storybook of Legends
by Shannon Hale
2013
At Ever After High, students are expected to sign away their futures and repeat their parents' fairy tales. Raven Queen's refusal puts her at odds with Apple White and shakes the whole school.
The Unfairest of Them All
by Shannon Hale
2013
After Legacy Day falls apart, Ever After High splits into Royals and Rebels. Raven and Apple must put aside their feud when the chaos threatens more than their school politics.
A Wonderlandiful World
by Shannon Hale
2014
Wonderland takes center stage as Madeline Hatter, Lizzie Hearts, Kitty Cheshire, and Cedar Wood get pulled into a twisty story crisis. What starts as playful chaos could change everyone's happily ever after.
Dangerous
by Shannon Hale
2014
Maisie Danger Brown wins a trip to science camp hoping it might finally get her closer to space. Instead she collides with alien powers, hidden agendas, and a threat that turns her dream trip into a fight for Earth.
Fire and Ice
by Shannon Hale
2014
Conor, Abeke, Meilin, and Rollan head into the frozen North chasing a lead against the Conquerors. A quiet village hides danger, and the team has almost no time left to uncover the truth.
Once Upon a Time
by Shannon Hale
2014
This companion collection expands the world of Ever After High with extra tales about Raven, Apple, and their classmates. It is a good pick if you want more backstory, side adventures, and fairy tale atmosphere.
The Princess in Black
by Shannon Hale
2014
Princess Magnolia looks perfectly proper, but whenever monsters threaten the goat pasture she becomes the Princess in Black. Secret identities, fast action, and silly monsters make this a strong series opener.
The Forgotten Sisters
by Shannon Hale
2015
Miri is sent to a distant swamp to create a princess academy for three rough-edged royal cousins. Teaching them is hard enough, but a buried family secret makes the assignment far more dangerous.
The Princess in Black and the Perfect Princess Party
by Shannon Hale
2015
Princess Magnolia wants a perfect birthday party, but a monster attack keeps pulling her away from the cake and games. She must save the day without letting her guests discover her secret identity.
The Princess in Black and the Hungry Bunny Horde
by Shannon Hale
2016
A wave of ravenous bunny monsters interrupts Princess Magnolia's brunch plans. The Princess in Black and Blacky race to protect the goats before the fluffy invaders eat everything in sight.
The Princess in Black Takes a Vacation
by Shannon Hale
2016
After too many late-night monster battles, Princess Magnolia decides she needs a seaside break. Rest proves impossible when trouble follows her, even with the Goat Avenger trying to cover the home front.
Monster High/Ever After High: The Legend of Shadow High
by Shannon Hale
2017
After Frankie and Draculaura are swept into Ever After High, fairy tale kids and Monster High students must face spreading cracks in the World of Stories. The escaped Evil Queen wants the power hidden in Shadow High.
Real Friends
by Shannon Hale
2017
Shannon and Adrienne have always been best friends, until school cliques start shifting the ground under both of them. This memoir captures the confusion, hurt, and hope of trying to figure out where you belong.
Squirrel Meets World
by Shannon Hale
2017
Doreen Green moves to New Jersey, starts a new school, and tries to hide the fact that she has squirrel powers and a tail. Loneliness and local trouble nudge her toward becoming the hero Squirrel Girl.
The Princess in Black and the Mysterious Playdate
by Shannon Hale
2017
Princess Magnolia is excited for a playdate, but secret identities and monster trouble make a normal afternoon impossible. A new friendship is tested when keeping the kingdom safe means keeping secrets too.
2 Fuzzy, 2 Furious
by Shannon Hale
2018
Doreen Green is finally settling into life as Squirrel Girl, but middle school and superhero work are both demanding full attention. A new villain and everyday chaos keep pushing her in every direction at once.
The Princess in Black and the Science Fair Scare
by Shannon Hale
2018
Princess Magnolia heads to the Interkingdom Science Fair hoping for a normal day of exhibits and excitement. A surprise goo monster changes that fast, and the Princess in Blankets joins the rescue.
Best Friends
by Shannon Hale
2019
Sixth grade is full of new rules, shifting loyalties, and the exhausting politics of popularity. Shannon wants to belong, but the more she tries to keep up, the less sure she is of herself.
The Princess in Black and the Bathtime Battle
by Shannon Hale
2019
A terrible stink is sweeping across the kingdoms, and sword swings are not much help against a smell. Princess Magnolia and her fellow masked heroes have to outthink a very unusual monster.
Diana: Princess of the Amazons
by Shannon Hale
2020
Young Diana loves life on Themyscira, but being the island's only child leaves her lonely and restless. When she tries to fix that problem herself, the consequences are bigger and stranger than she imagined.
Kind of a Big Deal
by Shannon Hale
2020
Josie Pie's Broadway dreams have crashed, and real life keeps getting worse. Then she discovers she can literally fall into books, but escaping into stories may become harder than leaving them.
The Princess in Black and the Case of the Coronavirus
by Shannon Hale
2020
In this short special, Princess Magnolia explains the coronavirus in calm, kid-friendly terms. It offers reassurance, practical safety habits, and a gentle reminder that small acts of care help protect a whole community.
The Princess in Black and the Giant Problem
by Shannon Hale
2020
A giant stomps through the snow just as Princess Magnolia and her friends are ready for a fun winter playdate. The problem is too big for one hero, so the Sparkle Signal calls in the whole team.
Amethyst: Princess of Gemworld
by Shannon Hale
2021
Amaya was sent to Earth as a punishment and grew up as ordinary Amy, with no memory of Gemworld. When magic and destiny call her back, she has to face the princess life she forgot.
Friends Forever
by Shannon Hale
2021
In eighth grade, Shannon is dealing with dating drama, insecurity, and the heavy feeling that happiness should be easier than it is. This memoir turns inward, tracing her struggle to understand depression and accept herself.
Itty-Bitty Kitty-Corn
by Shannon Hale
2021
Kitty is sure she is a unicorn, until meeting a real one makes her feel very small. What follows is a sweet, funny story about being seen for who you are.
Diana and Nubia: Princesses of the Amazons
by Shannon Hale
2022
Diana is thrilled when Nubia comes to Themyscira, but becoming sisters is messier than she imagined. A growing mystery tests both girls and forces them to rethink family, loyalty, and trust.
Pretty Perfect Kitty-Corn
by Shannon Hale
2022
Unicorn seems perfect, but one clumsy moment leaves him feeling foolish and unlovable. Kitty helps him see that real friendship has room for mess, mistakes, and imperfection.
The Princess in Black and the Mermaid Princess
by Shannon Hale
2022
A day at sea turns into a rescue mission when a mermaid princess asks for help protecting her sea goats from a hungry kraken. Underwater heroics prove trickier than they look.
This Book Is Not for You!
by Shannon Hale
2022
Stanley is told he cannot borrow the story he wants because it is a so-called girl book. His pushback becomes a funny, pointed reminder that good stories are for anyone who loves them.
Party Hearty Kitty-Corn
by Shannon Hale
2023
Kitty plans the perfect party, then Puppy arrives and steals attention from Unicorn. Jealousy and hurt feelings crash the fun until Kitty learns friendship is not a limited supply.
The Princess in Black and the Prince in Pink
by Shannon Hale
2023
Princess Magnolia is preparing for a grand ball when a grumpy emu wrecks her plans. Luckily Prince Valerian has a glittery secret identity of his own, and the two heroes may need to team up.
Bubbly Beautiful Kitty-Corn
by Shannon Hale
2024
Unicorn dreams of being a mermaid, and Kitty throws herself into making that dream come true. A beach trip gone wrong turns into a sweet story about self-esteem and cheering on a friend's imagination.
The Princess in Black and the Kitty Catastrophe
by Shannon Hale
2024
Princess Magnolia is thrilled to care for a kitten until monster alarms keep pulling her away. Each rescue leaves more castle chaos behind, and the tiny troublemaker may be her toughest match yet.
Things That Go
by Shannon Hale
2024
Kitty, Unicorn, and friends explore things that zoom, fly, pedal, paddle, and roll in a bright board book for the youngest Kitty-Corn fans. It is quick, cheerful, and built for reading aloud.
Dream On
by Shannon Hale
2025
Cassie thinks a sweepstakes letter might fix her family's money troubles and make life easier with her best friend. Her big hopes run headfirst into the harder truth that prizes cannot solve everything.
Holly Jolly Kitty-Corn
by Shannon Hale
2025
Kitty and Unicorn cannot wait to celebrate Christmas together, but they keep clashing over the best holiday traditions. A festive mess helps them remember that friendship matters more than getting everything perfect.
Parts of Us
by Shannon Hale
2025
Kitty and Unicorn lead a cheerful board-book tour of bodies, from head to toe and horn to tail. It celebrates difference, curiosity, and the idea that every body is just right.
Christmas in Austenland
by Shannon Hale
2026
Heartbroken Kestrel Klein wins a Christmas trip to Pembrook Park and finds warmth, roleplay, and the possibility of a different kind of love. The holiday setting makes every feeling a little brighter and messier.
Dream Big
by Shannon Hale
2026
A movie is filming in Cassie's neighborhood, and being hired as an extra sounds like a dream come true. Then the set gets scary, the other kids get mean, and courage becomes the real challenge.
Princess Academy: The Graphic Novel
by Shannon Hale
2026
This graphic retelling brings Miri's Mount Eskel story to a new format without losing the academy rivalry, mountain setting, and hard choices at its center. It is the same strong premise with a visual twist.
The Princess in Black and the Trick-or-Treating Trouble
by Shannon Hale
2026
On Halloween night, Princess Magnolia joins the trick-or-treat crowd in a hurry-made Princess in Black costume. When one little monster turns out to be very real, costume confusion becomes a full rescue mission.
Where should I start?
If you want classic fairy tale fantasy: The Goose Girl → Enna Burning → River Secrets → Forest Born
If you want smart middle grade fantasy: Princess Academy → Palace of Stone → The Forgotten Sisters
If you want funny early chapter books: The Princess in Black → The Princess in Black and the Perfect Princess Party → The Princess in Black and the Hungry Bunny Horde
If you want graphic memoir: Real Friends → Best Friends → Friends Forever
If you want grown-up romantic comedy: Austenland → Midnight in Austenland → Christmas in Austenland
Author bio
Shannon Hale grew up in Salt Lake City, Utah, in a big family where stories were already part of the furniture. She started writing when she was about ten, usually fantasy, usually ambitious, and often with herself tucked somewhere inside the adventure. An elementary school teacher helped turn that urge to make things up into a real love of books.
She also loved theater.
For a long time, writing felt like the private dream while acting, improv, and school took up the visible space. Hale earned a bachelor's degree in English from the University of Utah and later completed an MFA in creative writing at the University of Montana. Before that, and around those college years, she also spent significant time away from home, including 18 months in Paraguay, experiences that widened the way she thought about language, place, and people.
The big turning point came when graduate school pushed her back toward the kind of story she had loved most as a young reader. She worked on The Goose Girl for years, through rejections and rewrites, trying to bring fairy tale wonder together with grounded emotion. When the novel was finally published in 2003, it became her first book and the start of a career that reached far beyond one shelf.
She never really stopped trying new forms.
Some readers know Hale best for Princess Academy, with its mountain village setting, fierce friendships, and belief that learning can change a life. Others come to her through the funny secret heroics of The Princess in Black, the sharp and deeply recognizable middle school memoir of Real Friends, or the grown-up romantic comedy of Austenland. That range is one of the pleasures of reading her. She can move from fairy tale retelling to graphic memoir to superhero comedy without losing the warmth that holds it all together.
Across her books, certain interests keep returning. She writes a lot about girls trying to name what they want, about friendship under pressure, about home and belonging, and about the distance between the role people expect you to play and the person you actually are. Even in her lightest books, there is usually a real emotional knot underneath the jokes.
She also likes collaboration. With her husband Dean Hale, she has co-written projects including Rapunzel's Revenge, the prose Squirrel Girl books, and the Princess Magnolia adventures. With LeUyen Pham, she created the Real Friends memoir trilogy and the Kitty-Corn books. Her adult novel Austenland was adapted for film, and her work now reaches preschoolers, middle grade readers, teens, and adults.
These days Hale lives in Utah with Dean Hale, their four children, and cats. She still writes the way a lot of readers first meet her, with humor, heart, fantasy, and a strong belief that stories can be both comforting and brave.
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