The Princess Diaries – Meg Cabot

The Princess Diaries by Meg Cabot

My rating: 4 of 5 stars
Received: Bought
Published: 2000
Publisher: HarperCollins
Recommended Age: 10+
Pacing: Fast
Genres & Themes: Young Adult, High School, Drama, Family, Romance, Friendship

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BLURB:

Mia Thermopolis is pretty sure there’s nothing worse than being a five-foot-nine, flat-chested freshman, who also happens to be flunking Algebra. Is she ever in for a surprise. First Mom announces that she’s dating Mia’s Algebra teacher. Then Dad has to go and reveal that he is the crown prince of Genovia. And guess who still doesn’t have a date for the Cultural Diversity Dance?

There’s a reason why this series has such low ratings but has been read by so many people.

It has a unique concept. Unpopular high school girl becomes a princess overnight? A dream come true for many girls… just not Mia.

Mia is ‘‘struggling’’, and her struggles are hella entertaining. Of course, her struggles consist of being single, unpopular, forced to go to princess lessons with her dreadful (and one-dimensional) grandmother, as well sucking at maths… among other equally life-altering struggles.

Snort. It’s ridiculous. It really is.

But the thing is, although there is no lesson to take from this book, except maybe that a princess’ life is not perfect – and some of its content CAN be seen as offensive, it was never written to teach or impress.

It was never written to claim a spot in your list of TOP 10 BOOKS YOU HAVE TO READ BEFORE YOU DIE.

No.

It almost reads like a parody of an American teenage girl’s life. It was written to remind you that sometimes it’s good to let your reasonable mind take a break and plunge into something so bad it’s actually good. If you’re able to do that.

Mia is naïve, immature, close-minded and dramatic – so not the kind of heroine I admire – but she grows on you, one way or another, as imperfect as she may be. Because she feels so much and because she is herself through and through. Many people are telling her all that she should do better and all that is wrong with her – and maybe she SHOULD listen – but she’s struggling to understand who she is, and you can only do that if you allow yourself to be who you are first.

Basically, it’s trashy, repetitive, cliché, under-developed, poorly-written, cheesy + corny, unrealistic…

I shouldn’t even be giving it a four-star-rating, but so sue me. I HAD SO MUCH FUN READING IT.

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