Princess In The Spotlight (2002) - Plot & Excerpts
Let me tell you a story. Almost five years ago, I was an eleven year old just discovering the wonder known as the school library. My friends recommended me a book series and I tentatively decided to pick it up. This series was The Princess Diaries. Along with the Confessions of Georgia Nicholson, this series is the one that reminds me so strongly of my first year of secondary school. My last exam is next Friday, and then it'll all be over, but it's actually kind of nice to relive my first moments at school. Though, lets not relive the first book recommendations I had (my friend gave me Twilight and the first time I read it... I liked it *shudders* Never again) I decided to reread this series because the eleventh book was just released, and I'm so glad that I did. I remember gasping with my friends when they mentioned sex no matter how lightly, and I remember finishing a Princess Diaries book in a single night, and then finishing another the next. True, I haven't been in the school library for years, and I don't really talk to some of those friends who I shared this series with. That doesn't matter, because I just love it. What does it matter that it is not a linear equation if any variable is raised to a power? We're all going to die anyway. This book is utterly hilarious. Yes, it's an extremely fictionalised version of reality, but I found myself laughing and relating to the jokes. Whilst Mia is prone to make stupid decisions, I just love her and all the characters so much. I love the references to feminism, and I love that there is a diverse cast that doesn't consist of supermodels. I think I prefer the first instalment in the series a little more, but I just flew through this. It's so fast paced and addictive, and is definitely the best way to spend procrastinating a maths exam. Some things are a little predictable, but I just love it. I really do. "Sorry about that," he said. "But do you really think you'd be happy, Mia, being Nancy Normal Teenager?" Um. Yes. Except I wouldn't want my name to be Nancy. This book isn't perfect. It's not deep or profound, but I don't think that it needs to be. There is a very subtle message to it, but it's written so you won't notice it at all whilst reading. I think that Cabot is trying to express that it is okay to be yourself no matter how much of a 'freak' you are, and that there you'll always make mistakes. On the topic of flaws, there wasn't nearly enough of Fat Louis, Mia's cat, in this book. Seriously, Louis where you at? Mia's Grandmere just got better in Take Two. She's perfectly tyrannous (with heart, of course) but she showed a slightly different side to herself at the end. Almost. Okay not really, but it was close enough. It is horrifying enough to see a person wearing fur, but it is a thousand times worse to see an animal wearing another animals fur.I definitely want to read the rest of the series, and I'm so excited to return to the brief memories of these books that I have. From what I can remember they keep on getting better and better, and the books grow with Mia. I'm finding it hard to do a normal review because this series is making me feel so nostalgic, and I'm sorry if you wanted something that talked about the book in a bit more detail. Let me say this: Take Two is a hilarious book with a lot of heart. You get to see more of the characters that you love from the first book, and see Mia make even more mistakes. Oh yes. If you're looking for something deep, this series isn't for you. But, if you want something in a similar vein to Geek Girl or The Confessions of Georgia Nicholson, pick up this series. The second book doesn't disappoint, and neither does the first.
Note there are a few spoilers so be careful if you plan on reading this book.**spolier alert** Has your mom ever surprised told you that she was pregnant? Mia`s mom has! The genre of this book is fiction.this book is better than the first book.Much more drama.It is my favorite by far.It is kinda like a fantasy but has no magic or unicorns.This could probably never happen.A normal girl finds out she's a princess after thirteen years.It's not likely.Every girl wishes this will happen to her.Mia not that much.It has caused major drama in Mia`s life. This book is mostly about Mia trying to find out who is sending her anonymous emails.Mia has a secret admirer!Mia thinks it is Micheal Lilly's brother.The setting of the story is in New York City and Mia is mostly in her apartment where she lives.She is also at her grandma`s apartment.Mia wanted look good on tv.But exposed some secrets about her school.Like what shouldn't be happening there.So Mia is trying to clear up the things she said about her school.The conflict of the story is person vs person,by person it is her grandma.Mia tryies to prevent a wedding that her grandma is trying to have for Mia`s mom and Mr.Gianni Mia`s algebra teacher.The theme of the story would be what doesn't kill you makes you stronger because **spolier alert** Kenny is Mia`s secret admired but Mia doesn't like him like that.Kenny asked Mia on a date so the book ends with Mia accepting thinking it will only be one date.Mia thought that was a way of not hurting Kenny`s feelings. The first person point of view affects the story because it helps to show Mia`s feeling and thoughts about each event.An example of this is when Mia exposes secrets about her school."I screwed up.I REALLY screwed up.I don't know what happened.I honestly don't.Everything was going along fine.I mean, that Beverly Bellerieve, she's so...nice.I was really,really nervous, and she did her very best to try to calm me down. Still,I think I did some major babbling. Think???I know I did. I didn't mean for it to happen. I really didn't."(skipped to main part)"I felt like...I don't know .Like I was back in Principal Gupta`s office,living through that whole codeine cough-syrup thing again." Having the story told as first person helps explain Mia`s feelings. I was surprised when Mia`s secret admirer was Kenny her lab partner because throughout the book Mia was certain,even I was certain her secret admirer was Michael Moscovitz." Dear Mia,(the letter went) I know you will think it's strange ,receiving a letter like this.I feel strange writing it. And yet I am too shy to tell you face-face what I'm about to tell you now :You are the Josiest girl I've her met. I just want to make sure you know that there's one person,anyway, who liked you long before he found out you were a princess... And will keep on liking on you, no matter what. Sincerely,A Friend"(Skipped)"But if the chances of a guy like Micheal Moscovitz ever actually liking me as more than a friend are like zero."That is why it surprised me. I rate this book 5 stars because is leaves you wondering what's going to take place.It's one of the best books by far from the series.It reminds me of Diary of a Wimpy Kid but being told by a girl and Mia is royalty.I recommend his book to mostly girl's who like romance books and comedy.What doesn't kill you makes you stronger because if you read this book it will make you stronger.You will definitely have more ideas to think about from this book!
What do You think about Princess In The Spotlight (2002)?
This volume is getting better and better. Won’t you just love receiving love letters from a secret lover? In my younger years, I did receive anonymous love letters and I was in heaven! Especially when I learned that those came from the one I secretly had a crush on. But enough about me.On Mia’s case, she got a bad case of sore throat so she didn’t go to school, but that didn’t excuse her in her princess lessons. Oh, and there’s Grandmere who was always urging Mia to give interviews to Hollywood reporters and the like. Maybe her sore throat was a perfect reason she could use to avoid that interview.But then, she started receiving love letters from an anonymous lover. Did the letters come from someone she’s been eyeing on (Michael perhaps?) or is it from someone from her school? Whoever that was, it surely made Mia’s swollen throat heal and soon she was back to school in no time. But will she ever discover where the love letters came from?and before I forget – Mia’s Mom and Algebra teacher are getting married! Exciting!I’m on a roll, if you’ve noticed. Once I started Princess Diaries, I don’t want to stop anymore. Book 2 was promising, so I’m definitely looking forward to Book 3!
—Claire - The Coffeeholic Bookworm
Grade: B+Oh Meg Cabot, I love you, I really, really do. So charming, so funny, so witty, so ironic. If I had read this series when it was first published when I was ten years younger, it would definitely had been a different experience for me. This is a book for young girls, but Meg Cabot never fails to throw in things for us "adults" that we might have missed the first time around while reading as preteens/teenagers. And that is one of the many reasons I love her!Meg Cabot has a very distinct writing style. It is so straightforward and simple, but conveys wittiness and sarcasm brilliantly. She always manages to create extremely likable protagonists that you want to root for. Best of all, she manages to make her stories fun. There are not too many authors that simply create "fun" stories anymore. Granted, this was published ten years ago, but still, most of us know and love Meg Cabot's storytelling abilities.This novel is the second in the Princess Diaries series. Yes, I'm way behind with my books, but I figured this was a classic series that I couldn't not read.I just love the fun diary format that Meg Cabot uses. I love the quirkiness of the characters. I love Mia's sense of humor.It did take me a little longer to get through this book than I expected, but I still liked it nonetheless. I can't wait to read the rest of the series and catch up with modern times ;)
—Jessica
3.5 stars. "Princess in the Spotlight" is the second book in the Princess Diaries series. I loved the movies when I was younger but I think I only read the first book of the series. I decided to go back and read the rest of the series so I could get to the royal wedding book that came out earlier this year. It's no wonder why this series is so popular and why so many people enjoy it. This book looks at Mia after she's discovered that she is a princess of a small country in Europe. She has to go back to being a normal student but now bears the weight of having to learn how to be a princess as well. In this book, several things happen to drive the action along. First off, Mia receives a email and chat messages from a secret admirer. She thinks that she knows who it is but spends most of the book trying to find out who it is only to be surprised in the end. She is also dealing with her mom getting pregnant by her algebra teacher and getting married.Mia deals with all of this and her very Mia, which means often sticking her foot in her mouth. This definitely makes for some funny and awkward situations throughout the book which had me laughing. Oh, to be a teenager again! This is a fun read it and it was definitely a nostalgic read for me. I'm looking forward to reading the next book!
—Meg - A Bookish Affair
