Book Description

Just when Mia thinks life will be back to normal (as normal as life can get for the Princess of Genovia), her indomitable "grandmere" schedules a national TV interview for Mia and her mother is having her algebra teacher's baby.

Amazon.com

Fifteen-year-old Mia Thermopolis, the witty, lovable star of Meg Cabot's The Princess Diaries, has had it with princess lessons, also known as torture sessions: "Do they really think anyone in Genovia cares whether I know how to use a fish fork? Or if I can sit down without getting wrinkles in the back of my skirt? Or if I know how to say 'thank you' in Swahili? Shouldn't my future countrymen be more concerned with my views on the environment? And gun control? And overpopulation?" To make matters worse, she's getting these lessons from Grandmère, a rather judgmental woman who dresses her pet in chinchilla bolero jackets and has eyeliner permanently tattooed on her eyelids. Princess in the Spotlight further records Mia's path to princessdom: her artist mother's relationship with her algebra teacher (how awkward), her forced television interview, broadcast to all of America (how humiliating), and her crush on her best friend Lilly's brother Michael (how excruciating). The result is another thoroughly entertaining diary of a very human, very self-deprecating, very unprincesslike princess. (Ages 12 and older)

　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　--Karin Snelson

From Publishers Weekly

This follow-up to the Princess Diaries, the inspiration for the film starring Julie Andrews, chronicles Mai's crowning as princess of Geneva. The new monarch quickly discovers the power of an interview, as she nearly gets a teacher fired and manages to alienate her best friend and her royal subjects with a few simple sentences. Ages 12-up.

From School Library Journal

Grade 6-9-A sequel to The Princess Diaries (HarperCollins, 2000), in which Mia, 14, discovered that she is a princess. Now she is reluctantly adjusting to the trappings of royalty: she has a bodyguard, she rides to school in a limousine, and she takes "princess lessons" from her paternal grandmother. Written in diary format, the story opens with a bombshell: the teen learns that her mother is pregnant. Worse yet, the baby's father is Mia's algebra teacher. They soon announce that they are getting married. At first, Mia is a little apprehensive, but slowly she becomes accustomed to the idea. When Grandm?re learns about the wedding, she begins to plan a huge state affair. The plot careens along with outrageous characters doing outrageous things, but in the context of the story, "outrageous" seems quite normal. In the end, mother and algebra teacher elope, and even though Mia's secret admirer is not who she hoped he would be, her friend's brother does seem interested in her. With The Princess Diaries a Disney movie released during the summer, this title should be popular.

　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　Marlyn K. Roberts, Torrance Public Library, CA

From Booklist

Gr. 7-10. In the Princess Diaries (2000) (now a movie), readers were treated to 27 days of Mia Thermopolis' musings and ranting about her mother's dating habits; her life as a flat-chested, five-foot, nine-inch high-school freshman living in Greenwich Village; and the discovery that she's heir to the throne of a tiny European principality. This book covers the next 13 days in Mia's life, and it's just as good as its predecessor. The action is fast, furious, and laugh-out-loud funny as Mia takes more princess lessons and flirts online with an admirer she hopes is Lilly's brother, Michael; Mia's mother and Mr. Gianini announce they are going to have a baby; and Grandmere plans the wedding. Through it all, Mia remains as smart, sassy, self-absorbed, worried, and wistful as ever. Readers who loved the first volume will be equally pleased with this one and eagerly await the four books to come. After all, there's a month till Mia is presented to her subjects, and she still doesn't realize that Michael likes her.

　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　Chris Sherman

From AudioFile

Fifteen-year-old Mia Thermopolis thinks things are finally calming down after the hectic month when she became heir to the throne of Genovia. Then she finds out that her grandm?re, the Dowager Princess, has arranged for her to appear on the most popular talk show in the U.S. And her unwed mother is expecting a baby with her algebra teacher! Anne Hathaway, who stars in the movie based on Cabot's first novel about Mia, sounds entirely realistic as the teen heroine. With thoughtful presentations and credible accents. Hathaway develops characters varying from pompous European royals to Mia's country grandparents. It's a hilarious journey fit for the whole family. E.J.F.

Book Dimension

length: (cm)17.5 　　　 　　　　　 　　　　　 width:(cm)11.5