The Goose Girl by Shannon Hale

How I Found:  A girl very much like the protagonist with golden locks and a gift for illuminating ideas first introduced me to Ani and Selia.  When I saw another book by Shannon Hale listed among 15 Books as Enchanting as the Harry Potter series in my never-ending Pinterest search for a series as fulfilling for readers of any age, I felt compelled to give the author a try for a summer read.  Turns out it was the perfect fit:  A breezy read because the plot pulls you in and pushes you through all of Ani's trials, and when she says, "But right now I'd like all my troubles to stand in front of me in a straight line, and one by one I'd give each a black eye,"  I wanted to sucker punch the first as I was entranced by characters and the settings of Kildenree and Bayern.  
Why You Might Read:  It reads like a fairy tale as Ani matures over the course of the novel.  The story is not convoluted or complex, a simple read that left me wanting more from this series which I have already recommended to anyone who likes a bit of magic.  Is it series I have been searching for?  To be determined, but I didn't know what Harry Potter would become after the Sorcerer's Stone either.  

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