What is the author's style in Princess Academy by Shannon Hale?

"Princess Academy" is written in the third person, meaning the author refers to the characters as "he" or "she" and never "I" or "we." The author is able to share the thoughts and feelings of Miri, the main character, but none of the other characters. Everything in the story is filtered through Miri's perspective, so the reader has a limited knowledge of the events of the narrative. This point of view allows the reader to go through the journey of the story with no more information than Miri has, and thus to identify more fully with Miri and her experiences. This is effective because the reader is able to finish the book and feel as if they have learned all Miri's lessons alongside her. It also aids with other elements in the story, such as the shock and surprise when the bandits take over the school: the reader knows only what Miri knows, instead of being privy to the bandits' trek up the mountain and takeover of the school. This point of view makes Miri's isolation from the other girls even more dramatic, and allows for poignant realizations for both Miri and the reader. She is the protagonist and because of the point of view, the reader is put right into the thick of the story with her.