Princess in Pink

To be perfectly honest, it is time for me to take an extended break from Mia Thermopolis. I am beginning to become concerned about what young girls could be learning Mia's insecurities. In this book, Mia, a freshman who is dating a senior, desperately wants him to ask her to prom.

But, at her birthday party at a swanky New York restaurant, Mia's Grandmere brings her dog and he trips a busboy who gets fired. Lilly, Mia's "best friend" starts a city-wide restaurant worker strike. Further than Mia's insecurities, Lilly is a terrible friend and Mia always takes her back.

Nevertheless, I always enjoy the narrative and get a good laugh at Mia's ability to observe. That makes her a good writer, but it gets her in trouble when she shares personal family information in a public way. Students, who keep blogs and make online posts, could learn from Mia's experience but so much of the plot of this book is wrapped up in Mia's insecurities, younger readers will most likely not find that moral.

Cabot, Meg. Princess in Pink. Harper Trophy: New York, 2004.