Spinoff from a Beloved Series

Royal Day Out: From the Notebooks of a Middle School Princess

By Meg Cabot

Print Length: 33 pages

Publisher: Feiwel & Friends (May 10, 2016)

Sold by: Macmillan

ASIN: B01EFJQBQS

Approximate Lexile: 850

 

Publisher’s Blurb:

Olivia Grace Clarisse Mignonette Harrison never thought that being a real life PRINCESS OF GENOVIA could ever be boring, but with all of the new vans and paparazzi staked out in front of the palace, the whole family has been on lockdown for weeks. So when Grandmere suggests a shopping trip to buy a small present for Princess Mia, Olivia jumps at the chance—especially since the shopping trip comes with the promise of lunch at the Royal Genovian Yacht Club (makers of the best ice cream sundae in the world)! Surely nothing could go wrong with such a simple day out, could it?

A quick shopping trip with her royal Grandmere turns into a much bigger deal than Olivia Grace, the newest Princess of Genovia expected in this e-short edition to Meg Cabot's illustrated chapter book series From the Notebooks of a Middle School Princess.

My Thoughts:

I’ve read the first couple of Princess Diaries books; my 20-something daughter has them all, but I wasn’t aware of this spinoff series. I did a quick Wikipedia check to catch up on the goings-on in Genovia to see where this much-younger half-sister came from. I don’t want to give too much away, but there you have it.

 

This is a cute spinoff, and it’s nice to see that Grandmere is her old salty self. This is an “e-short”, so don’t expect a lot of plot development; there’s just not time. That said, it’s a fun interlude as preparations for Mia’s wedding hit high gear.

 

I feel like Olivia’s voice in this first-person account comes off as a little too young. She is supposed to be 12, but she sounds younger in her wide-eyed wonder.

 

This book would come before Royal Wedding if you are trying to read the books in chronological order.

 

Possible Objectionable Material:

Grandmere does enjoy a good cocktail. Mia’s pregnant (with twins) before the wedding. Guess I need to read the rest of the books and find out just what goes on!

 

Who Might Like This Book:

It is aimed at middle grades, but I think my third-grader could understand the goings-on just fine. Like all its sister books, it’s definitely targeted at girls, but there’s nothing to say a boy couldn’t enjoy it.

 

Thank you, NetGalley, for the ARC.