Wouldn’t we all like to be princesses, really, underneath it all? Yet
everything is not easy and wonderful for “Ugly duckling” Mia who must
bring herself to accept that her father is not just any politician, but the
Crown Prince of Genovia and that she is now his heir.
Mia regards herself as ordinary, if a bit ungainly (which makes her all the
more endearing,) and she lives in
New York with her bohemian artist
mother and her cat of personality, Fat Louie. This new unexpected
knowledge has plenty of down sides. Mia’s personal trials include
“
princess Classes” with her grandmere, a very superior aristocrat of the
old school, and in the book a tough old martinet compared to Julie
Andrews’ elegant film portrayal. Mia has to learn to walk and talk like a
princess: pantyhose is in and Doc Martens are out.
Then there is her mother’s romance with her Algebra teacher – any
teenager can understand just how embarrassing that situation is. At
school, Mia thinks of herself as just an average student compared to her
clever socialist friend, Lilly, whose broadcasting exploits lead Mia into
deeper and deeper trouble. It is lucky that Lilly has a computer mad,
genius level, totally gorgeous brother, Michael, who turns out to be
equal to dealing with any difficult circumstance.
Events lead to a breakdown of old
friendships. A body guard at school
and home is
probably something most of us have never had to endure,
but then we probably wouldn’t have to deal with the attentions of a
publicity seeking boyfriend, who in the book just happened to be the ex
of Mia’s all-time high-school enemy – a girl who loses no opportunity
to win points off the gawky new princess.
A publicity stunt makes Mia realise the strength of her true
friendships. She ditches the “wrong” boyfriend, and Michael becomes a
safe haven from celebrity-style attention, and a serious contender for
future romance. A sunset briefly unites the various people in her life.
Mia writes her diary to alleviate her angst, emerging as a lively modern
princess-to-be, and strong willed in the values that deep down she is
concerned about. The reader is carried away with her engaging style, the
details of her daily life and is left chuckling at the characters, both
young and old, who inhabit this superbly written book.
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