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Suze Simon is a well-developed character although she changes vastly over the five books in the series, developing into a fashion girl compared to the tough girl in the first book. In HAUNTED the story picks up on the first day of Suze's junior year and the return of an old enemy. While dealing with the return of **suspenseful music** Paul Slater, her not-quite-boyfreind, who, for all intents and purposes, is dead, and a new ghostly pal bent on the destruction of his brother, Suze has to cope with the norms of being a typical sixteen-year-old girl.
While her life is not a piece of cake, there are moments that are laugh-out-loud funny. Over all, this is a book for anyone who enjoys a simple read and doesn't try to "pick" the book apart. Try it out!
Written in the language of your average fourteen-year-old, the hilarious events in Mia's life make me wish that my freshman year of high school had been a heck of a lot more fun! Filled with over-the-top characters (such as Grandmère and Lilly) and hilariously funny situations (like Mia biting a hole through her tongue at Rockefeller Center's skating rink or having her boyfriend express his love to her in the middle of the hallway), Princess in Love is not to be overlooked.
You should definetly read this book but it would help if you read the two before this first.
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This was another great book by Meg Cabot. I liked it even better than her first Avon True Romance!
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Then her life takes the most dramatic turn yet: Mia finds out she's a princess!
Follow Mia's life from her day-by-day installments in her journal, complete with many amusing notes and observations. I think anyone who wants to read a light, enjoyable story should try this one. I read this book nearly a year ago and I still find pleasure in reading it.
However, there is emphasis on the word light. One of my main problems with this story is that it lacks depth. Mia isn't exactly the most intelligent teenager, and while she is congenial enough, she isn't on of my favorite characters in literature. Besides that, the plot of this book stems from such an overused idea: loser teen becomes famous and gets a makeover; now she goes through major changes at school. Josh Richter, the most popular guy in school, really turns out to be a jerk. Hmm, maybe I've heard that before?
Yet the ironic thing about this book is that despite its faults, it still manages to be a good read. I suppose one reson is the backdrop of the book; it has an interesting cast of characters and the environment Mia lives in is extremely entertaining. So, particularly if you're a teen girl or slightly younger, try reading The Princess Diaries. But keep in this in mind: it is in no way a profound story.
A bunch of people in my language arts class were reading this book, so I found it and read it, even though I didn't think I would like it much. I was SO wrong!
What happens in this book is that Mia Thermopolis, a flat-chested, ski-feated, ugly-haired Freshman living in a loft next to Greenwich village (not Green Witch) with her single mom, just discovered that she's the heir to a small European country! Every girl's dream, when she's little at least, right? WRONG!
Mia is totally shocked at first, and then it gets worse: She has to take princess lessons from her strict grandmother, who believes that it's more important to know how to say "No thank you" and "thank you" in a dozen different languages than, say, world politics.
Did I mention Mia's the most unpopular girl in the school, and her mom is dating her algebra teacher, which is a subject she's failing?
Oh, and to the people that say that this book should be read by people 12 and up, I say: PAH! You people are obviously adults. I reccomend 10 and up, since it's not like you don't know the things they talk about by at least the middle of 4th grade.
This book is pretty much more of the same. If you liked the first one you'll like this one. It's kind of a transition book leading up to the major plot advancement of Mia's love life in the third book. What I love about this series is how the trivial stuff almost totally makes me forget about the princess plot, which would make a pretty boring book by itself. You may not enjoy this one quite as much as the first but it's still a really fun read.
Mia's life is getting more complicated by the minute. First, she finds out that she's the princess of a country which is population 50,000, and has to take princess lessons from her strict grandmother. As if that's not enough, her mom is seeing her algebra teacher (that all happened in Book 1, just reminding you)--and her mom's pregnant now, too!
Mia thinks that her life can't get any worse now, but it turns out that her grandmother organized a national primetime interview--which of course, Mia totally doesn't live through.
BUT WAIT! Is there a bright light in the end of the hallway? Someone's sending Mia love letters--well, a love letter and several love emails. But she can't even figure out who it is!!!
This book's full of surprises. I'm going to read book #3 as soon as I can!
This book is about a girl named, Mia Thermopolis, who finds out that she's actually a princess (her princess name is Amelia Mignonette Grimaldi Thermopolis Renaldo) of Genovia in Europe, after fifteen years! After being suprised and depressed of her mother of not telling her sooner, she realizes that her mother is pregnant with her Algebra teacher's baby! What could go worse! In her diary, she writes that many horrible things already happen to her, and she still has another thing to worry about. In Mia's words: she's flat-chested, doesn't have a boyfriend, is responsible of groceries in the family, has to help her friend make an interesting show on television, finish her always un-done homework, and many more. When her Algebra teacher or father moves in, she'll have to move her furniture and objects back to her room, dump her mother's beer, buy baby foods, and others. Sometimes she and I wonder how come a princess has all these responsilbilities. Her Grandm`ere (grandmother) the queen, has even decided to plan a wedding for her parents! Mia, who has tried to do everything she can, cannot take any more responsibiities. Poor Mia!
In this book (diary), I'm sure a lot of girls can somehow relate themselves with this. Mia goes through a lot of problems, and girls at my age do too, especially when they're growing up. I think every girl should read this book because if they do, they'll be sure to know that they're not the only ones in this world who go throught those kinds of problems.
The problem is that it's so much like the books from The Princess Diaries series: something drastic changes the life of and ordinary, flat-chested girl, who has to juggle her new fame as well as the normal issues of being a teen. The main character, Sam Madison, thinks she loves one guy, then in the end discovers that someone else is meant for her. Surprise, surprise.
And the voice of the story screamed Mia Thermopolis. Both girls wallow in their own self-pity and use a confusing mixture of sophisticated and dreadful language. Meg Cabot made some clever changes when she created Sam, such as making her an artist and a middle child with somewhat normal parents-but still, Sam and Mia were a lot alike.
I'd say you should pick up this book at the library or borrow it from a friend first, and then if you see yourself re-reading it, by all means go buy it. I've read it twice, the second time for the quirky little details, like all of Sam's Top Ten lists, and my conclusion is: this book is enjoyable but nothing new.
PLOT SUMMARY: 15-year-old Samantha Madison lives in Washington DC with her mother, father, and two sisters (she's the middle child). Sam describes herself as total redheaded outcast--always dressing in black, listening to punk/rock music, etc. Her older sister, Lucy, is the most popular girl (cheerleader, nonetheless) at her high school and is dating the guy of Sam's dreams, high school rebel, Jack Ryder. Sam's younger sister, Rebecca, is a genius who attends a special school for gifted children. Sam's life abruptly changes when she saves the president of the United States from an assassination...while cutting her art lessons. Not only does Sam receive a broken arm, but she also becomes famous when the president himself announces that she is teen ambassador to the UN. Things couldn't get worse, right? Wrong! Because now she thinks the president's own son, David, may be in love with her and all she wants is for Jack to love her!
OVERALL THOUGHTS: I'm a little old for Meg Cabot's teen books but I must say that I am always amazed by her well-written/described characters and witty sense of humor. This book is well-written, and should be enjoyed by all teenage girls. If you like romantic-comedy novels with a little bit of fantasy twisted into it, then you should definitely read "All-American Girl". The plots are always simple, straight-forward, and a little bit predictable but it doesn't matter because these books are too good not to read.
I highly recommend "All-American Girl" by Meg Cabot.
Score:
98/100
A+
The president was walking in this Cookie store with his "security guard-men", so this Billy Joel fan guy near Sam takes this gun out of his coat and then...KABLAM!!! Technically, the "Kablam!" wasn't what happened at all. Instead, Sam saves the president by making the Billy Joel fan assasssinator shoot his gun in a different direction!
Since the guy was heavy, he landed on top of Sam and she injuries her wrist. So these people come and take her to the hospital. And then Miss Samantha's life changes forever! By becoming a hero, totally popular and famous, becomes US Teen Ambassador, gets invited by her enemy's party, and even the president's son David falls in love with her!
There are some big surprises and laughs and dramatic moments in this American book too! Sam's life goes good to bad then so on.... But, I had also liked when Meg Cabot dedicated this novel to the heroes of the September 11th attack!
I was impressed, all right! So All-American Girl is one of the best Young Adult Books to get at the library or at the bookstore. It might have been really different than Cabot's Princess Diaries series, but this book was better, to be honest. I mean, she put some good things in it. Like things about art. The "listening and hearing" and the "seeing and imagining" parts was pretty creative, in fact. If you like books about love, semi-drama, laughs, surprises, and especially about America, then you'll this book.
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Meg Cabot has another hit with "Nicola and the Viscount." Her characters are strong and original, and the main plot mixes both mystery and romance into one. A must have for all fans of Meg Cabot, romance, or mystery.
After a horrying discovery, Nicola is unsure of what to do.
Marry Lord Sebastian? Break the engagement? Run away?
You must read this book to find out, its a great addition to Avon Romance!
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In this Mia and Michael are finally together and totally happy. For the first part of the book Mia is in Genovia on her royal visit and then she goes back to New York looking forward to her first date with Michael. Then her interfering Grandmere announces that Mia is to go a black and white dance on the night of her date. If that's not bad enough she has a date lined up for Mia who is definitely not Michael!
I thought the fourth book was great. It may not have been as funny as the previous books but it made up for it with Mia and Michael acting so darn cute. Although they are the main focus of the book there are a million other interesting things to look out for. Like the gang using Jane Eyre as their relationship philosophy and wrecking one of the girl's relationships, Shameeka trying out for the cheerleading squad, Mia's missing underwear, Lilly protesting against her character in the movie of Mia's life, Mia trying to figure out her talent, Grandmere having an equivalent of Lana Weinberger and more.
This is a great lighthearted book that everyone should read even if it doesn't have the strength of Meg Cabot's previous books.
Happy Reading :)
Things don't get much better when she returns home. Her insecurities are blazing out of control, especially now when she realizes something important. Unlike all of her friends and acquaintances she has no noticeable talent. She knows nothing about computers. She's not musically talented. She can't memorize teen romance novels word-for-word. She can't seem to do anything right. She can barely pass algebra! What if Michael will break up with her because of that? To top it up, grandmere is screaming something that will make Mia's life absolutely miserable.
Although it starts out a bit slow, Princess in Waiting is just as good as the first three books in the series: The Princess Diaries, Princess in the Spotlight and Princess in Love. Mia is such an amazing character. She's so easy to relate to. Who hasn't felt insecure about themselves from time to time? I loved to watch her relationship with her boyfriend Michael and her best friend Lilly (who somehow manages to [anger me] and then redeem herself by the end of each book) develop even further. The character of Rene is also very interesting. I couldn't stand him in the beginning but now I'm not too sure. I have a feeling that in the books to come, we'll learn even more about him. If you're a fan of the Princess Diary series, read this! Trust me, if you can get through the first section it will be well worth your time! It's such a fun book! I can't wait to see what happens to Mia next!
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This book is pure fun. It manages to provide a sort of self help book for teenage girls while throwing in much humor from the characters from the series. Mia is always there, writing in pink and commenting about the things she agrees and disagrees about. Some of my favorite parts has to be Paolo's humorous part on makeup and Sebastinano commenting on fashion, with his poor accented English. Another favorite part of mine has to be Michael's brief but amusing interview.
This book is not necessary for fans of the Princess Diary to read. It must have taken place after the fourth book but it doesn't really continue the story at all. If you're a fan of the series you don't have to read it. Personally I think that it's just pure fun. You'll read it in one sitting. Still it is not a real Princess Diary book, and I'd prefer another edition to the series than a self help book any day. Reading page after page of "how to"s gets annoying after a while but it's still a great thing for fans of the Princess Diaries to read while they're waiting for The Princess Diaries Volume Four and a Half: Project Princess to come out.
So some of the stuff is cute and fun to read with commentary from our favorite Princess Diary characters and with some definite hints about Prince Rene's involvement in further novels (hello, he's like her cousin! excuse me, but please don't set Mia up with him!)
...
So, three stars because it did have some fun stuff in it, but had nothing substantial for a reader to feast upon.
Happy Reading!
This was a pretty good book, but certainly was not long enough. I did like the cute pink cover and the crown on the front, though I felt it was written for a lower age group than intended.
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