Publishers Weekly
03/09/2015
The nation of Genovia gains a new resident in this amusing spin-off of Cabot’s Princess Diaries series: self-effacing, biracial Olivia, a 12-year-old aspiring wildlife artist who discovers that she is the half-sister of Princess Mia Thermopolis. Because Olivia’s long-dead mother insisted that Olivia live in New Jersey with her aunt and uncle (who are only slightly more benign than Harry Potter’s kin), Olivia doesn’t know that the father she has never met is the prince of Genovia. Princess Mia dramatically appears at Olivia’s private school just as an angry classmate, Annabelle, is preparing to pummel her; she whisks Olivia off to Manhattan to meet her father and Grandmère, who wastes no time in informing Olivia how a princess ought to comport herself. Though there’s a bump in the road to Olivia’s new royal digs, she at last lands in Genovia, where plans for Mia’s wedding are in full swing. Text-message exchanges and Cabot’s own b&w cartoons further enliven Olivia’s entertaining and candid notebook entries, which will have readers looking forward to her future escapades. Ages 8–12. Agent: Laura Langlie. (May)
From the Publisher
The nation of Genovia gains a new resident in this amusing spin-off...Cabot's own black and white cartoons further enliven Olivia's entertaining and candid notebook entries, which will have readers looking forward to her future escapades.” —Publishers Weekly
“Olivia, who's biracial, is a lively, engaging character whose peppy, often-wry diary-style narrative details her experiences and progressive discoveries about her background, royal life, and the true meaning of family....this entertaining, quickly absorbing read will have readers anticipating the sequel.” —Booklist
“This sweet and sassy spin-off featuring the younger half-sister of Princess Mia Thermopolis ...will be a perfect fit for Fancy Nancy alumni and readers not quite ready for Cabot's longer novels.” —School Library Journal
“Author Meg Cabot is ready to put her tiara back on [with] a new character, Olivia Grace. She's a middle-school girl in New Jersey who discovers she is Princess Mia's long-lost half-sister. And much like her older sister, she will be thrust into the royal spotlight and will chronicle the adventure in a journal, complete with drawings.” —USA Today
“Olivia has an amusing and self-deprecating wit that makes the narration breezy and accessible, and Cabot's black and white illustrations liven up the tale. Youngsters who aspire to be the next Kate Middleton will find this enchanting and perhaps instructional.” —BCCB
USA Today
Author Meg Cabot is ready to put her tiara back on [with] a new character, Olivia Grace. She's a middle-school girl in New Jersey who discovers she is Princess Mia's long-lost half-sister. And much like her older sister, she will be thrust into the royal spotlight and will chronicle the adventure in a journal, complete with drawings.
School Library Journal - Audio
10/01/2015
Gr 3–7—Young listeners will rejoice to return to the kingdom of Genovia with Princess Mia and her 12-year-old sister, Olivia Grace Clarisse Mignonette Harrison. Despite her royal name, Olivia always considered herself to be completely average. Since her mother died, she has lived with her maternal aunt and uncle; she doesn't enjoy all of the luxuries that her two cousins have, but she is treated well. Things start to change, however, the day that popular Annabelle starts to bully her and threatens to beat her up after school. Olivia is rescued by none other than Princess Mia, who whisks Olivia away in a limousine to meet her father for the first time and introduce her to the royal lifestyle. Kathleen McInerney gives Olivia an exuberant, youthful voice that fits her personality, and effectively portrays the regal Princess Mia, Grandmère, and even the king himself with appropriate inflection. A conversation with Cabot is included in the recording. Although this is a good, if slim, introduction to the series to come, a few questions about Olivia's situation remain unanswered. VERDICT Those who loved the movies will be thrilled to be able to read more about this royal family. ["This bubble-gum flavored contemporary tale will be a perfect fit for Fancy Nancy alumni and readers not quite ready for Cabot's longer novels": SLJ 6/1/15 review of the Feiwel & Friends book.]—MaryAnn Karre, formerly of Binghamton City School District, NY
School Library Journal
06/01/2015
Gr 3–5—Return to the world of Cabot's widely popular series in this sweet and sassy spin-off featuring the younger half sister of Princess Mia Thermopolis, Olivia Grace Clarisse Mignonette Harrison. Olivia, a biracial sixth grader with dreams of growing up to be a wildlife illustrator, believes herself to be completely ordinary and average. In fact, that's how she's being raised by her Aunt and Uncle O'Toole. Consumed with texting her BFF Nishi and avoiding an afternoon scrape with Annabeth, the most popular girl in middle school, Olivia's world is about to become a reality show when her sister Mia arrives in a chauffeured limousine, ready to whisk her back to her rightful home in Genovia. Readers familiar with Cabot's previous books know that these princesses are made of tough stuff and use their brains (as well as their bodyguards and limousines) to save themselves and make the world a better place. Olivia's voice comes through strongly in the text, though her overuse of exclamatory phrases can be a bit off-putting. VERDICT This bubble-gum flavored contemporary tale will be a perfect fit for Fancy Nancy alumni and readers not quite ready for Cabot's longer novels.—Meg Allison, The Moretown School, VT
Kirkus Reviews
2015-03-17
Olivia's middle school worries get a lot easier when she gets the surprise of a lifetime. The most exotic things about Olivia Grace Clarisse Mignonette Harrison are her long name, her talent for drawing, and the facts that her mother died when she was a baby and she's never actually met her father, who sends letters and gifts from all over the world. Other than that, she's pretty average. At least, that's what she thinks until a sister she's never met arrives in the schoolyard just in time to save Olivia from getting beaten up by Anabelle Jenkins, who used to be nice but whose desire for popularity is sprouting into bullying behavior. What's even more shocking is her lineage: pure princess! The best part of all? Meeting her dad for the first time. Cabot turns her Princess Diaries brand to a younger crowd, who will be thrilled to fall into the age-old fantasy of kids everywhere: what if my real mom or dad lived in a palace? Cabot manages to combine wit and lavish details to positive effect, as evidenced by a royal grandmother who manages to be both familiar and surprising. While readers who already know the Princess Diaries might find this fairy tale a bit too retold, young newcomers to the Cabot magic will be charmed. A sweet fantasy, both funny and highly satisfying. (Fiction. 8-12)
