Princess Lessons

The Princess Diaries #4.1

by Meg Cabot, Chesley McLaren (Illustrator)

ALL YOU NEED TO KNOW TO BE A PRINCESS --

OR

JUST LIVE LIKE ONE

Compiled by
MIA THERMOPOLIS
aka
Princess
Amelia
Mignonette
Grimaldi
Thermopolis
Renaldo
of Genovia

Genres: Young Adult, Romance, Chick Lit, Fiction, Contemporary, Teen, Childrens

128 pages, Hardcover

First published January 1, 2003

About the author

Librarian note: AKA Jenny Carroll (1-800-Where-R-You series), AKA Patricia Cabot (historical romance novels).

Meg Cabot was born on February 1, 1967, during the Chinese astrological year of the Fire Horse, a notoriously unlucky sign. Fortunately she grew up in Bloomington, Indiana, where few people were aware of the stigma of being a fire horse -- at least until Meg became a teenager, when she flunked freshman Algebra twice, then decided to cut her own bangs. After six years as an undergrad at Indiana University, Meg moved to New York City (in the middle of a sanitation worker strike) to pursue a career as an illustrator, at which she failed miserably, forcing her to turn to her favorite hobby--writing novels--for emotional succor. She worked various jobs to pay the rent, including a decade-long stint as the assistant manager of a 700 bed freshmen dormitory at NYU, a position she still occasionally misses.

She is now the author of nearly fifty books for both adults and teens, selling fifteen million copies worldwide, many of which have been #1 New York Times bestsellers, most notably The Princess Diaries series, which is currently being published in over 38 countries, and was made into two hit movies by Disney. In addition, Meg wrote the Mediator and 1-800-Where-R-You? series (on which the television series, Missing, was based), two All-American Girl books, Teen Idol, Avalon High, How to Be Popular, Pants on Fire, Jinx, a series of novels written entirely in email format (Boy Next Door, Boy Meets Girl, and Every Boy's Got One), a mystery series (Size 12 Is Not Fat/ Size 14 Is Not Fat Either/Big Boned), and a chick-lit series called Queen of Babble.

Meg is now writing a new children's series called Allie Finkle's Rules for Girls. Her new paranormal series, Abandon, debuts in Summer of 2011.

Meg currently divides her time between Key West, Indiana, and New York City with a primary cat (one-eyed Henrietta), various back-up cats, and her husband, who doesn't know he married a fire horse. Please don't tell him.


Series:
* Airhead
* The Princess Diaries
* Mediator

Reviews

[Jess | FairyTale Pages · Rating 4 out of 5]

3.5 stars. This was pretty good! I think it's more directed at younger girls and how to dress and act and stuff to be a "princess". But really, Meg Cabot is just writing "princess" to mean a nice, young, caring girl basically haha

[Anusha Narasimhan · Rating 3 out of 5]

If you watched the Princess Diaries movie and liked the scenes featuring princess lessons, then this book is for you. Though it claims to teach how to look and act like a princess, it is filled with basic etiquette everyone should know and attitude everyone should possess. The underlying message of the book is good and I applaud the intention.

[catherine ♡ · Rating 3 out of 5]

Definitely targeted towards a younger audience, but cute nevertheless - I liked the chapter about being environmentally friendly.

[Shinjini · Rating 3 out of 5]

Now this one was fun! It's a guidebook on how to start acting like a princess and it is perfect for little girls who are just beginning to find themselves. There were some really relevant information and I would have to say I learnt quite a few things from it! And since it wasn't preachy and textbook-y, I enjoyed it very much!

The interview of Michael by Tina and Mia's commentaries were quite funny. This was a fun filler book and well, it taught me a thing or two so I feel like I'm ready to be a princess now. Must ask Dad if he is also hiding the fact that he is the ruler of a small principality like Mia's dad did. ;)

[Reg Mars · Rating 3 out of 5]

This book was cute cause it has pictures and teaches you how to act like a proper princess. Pretty quick read and have tips from a bunch of characters that have popped up in the series so far.

[Srividya Vijapure · Rating 3 out of 5]

If you are looking for something light and breezy, something that will make you laugh while also giving you little nuggets of wisdom - this is the perfect book! I had a wonderful time laughing and enjoying these simple princess lessons or should I say life lessons, even if you are not a princess? ;)

Total hoot! :)

[Amanda [Novel Addiction] · Rating 3 out of 5]

This was cute, and had some good general notes. Read it mostly because I've been missing the early Princess Diaries books - getting all nostalgic and stuff.

[Sara Saif · Rating 4 out of 5]

It was an amusing and quick read. I love illustrations in books and the ones in Princess Lessons were really neat. It had commentaries from Mia and her friends to her grandmother, father, stylist and designer. I am astounded by the extensiveness of the author's knowledge about these things. It comprised of the things that every girl, princess or no princess, should do in order to act like one. Personally, I would prefer starving to death than having 5 forks and 5 knives, 2 glasses and 3 plates and remembering which to pick first, which to use when, but it was still highly entertaining to read.

[Lisa · Rating 5 out of 5]

This is a "non-fiction" book instructing readers on proper princess behavior. (Hint: The takeaway message for all princesses-in-training is just to be themselves.) Written by the fictional characters from The Princess Diaries series, this how-to manual is awesome and hilarious and awesome. Five stars!

[Alyssa Nelson · Rating 4 out of 5]

Princess Lessons is a compilation of tips and tricks on how to be a princess from our favorite Princess Diaries characters. It includes beauty tips from Paolo, etiquette from Grandmere, and other fun advice and facts about real princesses from various people in the Princess Diaries world.

I really loved this. I think Princess Lessons would be the perfect gift to give a tween or young teen who is a fan of the series. Even if they're not fans of the series they might enjoy it, but it's better to be familiar with the characters in order to understand some of the humor involved. Some of the tips were actually really good. There's a mix of actual advice and silly things such as the proper way to curtsy or wear a crown. So, it doesn't read like a manual because of the humor and side-notes from Mia. It stresses confidence, good hygiene, kindness, and just being yourself. A great message to young people who are under constant pressure to look and act a certain way.

This is by no means necessary to the series in general. It doesn't further the story or have any plot points, but it's a great companion that provides awesome tips all the while making you laugh.

[Brooke ♥booklife4life♥ · Rating 4 out of 5]

Short Review for a Short Book

This was so cute! It's basically all the stuff she learns in the movie, like crossing the ankles, and then more stuff we didn't "see" in the movie!

I really liked how it had chapters and tips from others such as her grandma, and her stylist!

I would probably starve to death if i was a princess, wayyyyyy too hard to remember which forks goes with what, and i know for sure i would end up drinking the stuff you're supposed to rinse your hands in or eat the stuff that you're supposed to use to clean your taste buds.

The thank you notes part was cute as well, i know in this day in age, Thank You notes are pretty much gone, but i think we need to bring them back!

[Julie · Rating 3 out of 5]

This is really an etiquette/beauty/fashion advice book for young girls, sprinkled with some references to the Princess Diaries series.

It's actually a pretty good guide on these matters, emphasizing self-confidence, manners, hygiene, etc. and would be a good advice book for girls at that confusing age where you're learning how to dress yourself, etc.

There were a few cute parts relating to the series, but you could read the book without having read any of the others and still get something out of it.

[Sophia · Rating 4 out of 5]

This short book was all about the different characteristics of what it means to be a princess and how to act like one. I liked that this included little appearances from some of the other characters in the main series. What I enjoyed most about this book was the main goal which was to make whoever was reading this feel better about themselves, no matter what they looked like or what they wanted in life.

[Cindy Huskey · Rating 4 out of 5]

Despite some of the obvious silliness geared towards a younger audience, this book has some real merit. Essentially, it’s a teen’s guide to etiquette written under the guise of the characters in the Princess Diaries series. I have to say the the chapter about character was quite enlightening. Including the Jungian Tree of Self-Actualization . . . Impressive!

[Monina · Rating 5 out of 5]

if u wanna be a princess !! haha =]

[Mya · Rating 4 out of 5]

This book was surprisingly good. I'm not a big fan of princesses and stuff. The book was funny at some parts. It tells you how to be a princess. Quite interesting. Lots of info.

[Cyndi · Rating 4 out of 5]

Cute book. The bits on manners and thank you notes would be good for young people to read.

[Longhairpanda · Rating 4 out of 5]

Okay I was bored and this was fun to read.

[sage (semi-hiatus)]

1.) The Princess Diaries ★★★★
2.) Princess in the Spotlight ★★★★
3.) Princess in Love ★★★★
4.) Princess in Waiting ★★★★

3.5*

It’s so fun and refreshing to read something outside of Mia’s POV

[Dinnu Reads Books · Rating 4 out of 5]

Cute little guidebook to being a bit more princessy. This short story doesn't add anything to the main story but it was still fun to read the small tricks in the voices of the "authors" (Grandmere, Tina, Lilly, Lana etc). 😆

[Helen · Rating 4 out of 5]

This book has lots of good information for children and teens. It includes info. about manners, clothing, fashion, makeup, and social skills!

[Camila Barrio de Mendoza · Rating 3 out of 5]

Was this necessary? Not really.

[Arisha (Free Palestine 🇵🇸) · Rating 4 out of 5]

Meg Cabot ate this up

This was so fun and I loved getting a deeper look into Mia’s character. Lowkey might rewatch princess diaries after this

[shannon✨ · Rating 3 out of 5]

This was a fun novella with tips on how to be a princess. It definitely had some fun things in there and it actually felt pretty inclusive.

[LT · Rating 4 out of 5]

3.5 Stars

[The Story Girl (Serenity) · Rating 2 out of 5]

This was a pretty short book consisting of Grandmere going over the various etiquettes of how to be a princess, with short essays with other characters from the series such as Tina, Mia's cousin Howard (?), and even a short snippet with Michael at the end. It's not a badly written book, it's just not for me - and I'm clearly way out of the age range of it. I feel like maybe little girls would enjoy this more. I didn't really have much interest in reading it beyond wanting to have read all of the books in The Princess Diaries series. Apparently, this was one I had overlooked when I originally read the series in high school.

[Lauren Wallace · Rating 3 out of 5]

"I figured I would share what I've learned during the long, grueling hours I've putting with Grandmere, so that you, too, can practice being a princess." (1)

This book was a pretty funny tell all about what is learned in princess lessons. It was super funny to see how all the charters were incorporated. I learned something new.

This book was a quick read, as I read it in about a hour!

I would recommend this book to anyone into teen rom coms!

[Tara · Rating 4 out of 5]

This is a fun, lighthearted guide to being a Princess in life. It’s really funny, especially because a lot of the characters in the Princess Diaries, write essays on their specialities, and they are hilarious!

[Jennifer · Rating 4 out of 5]

More like 3.5* This was a cute, fun, quick little read that actually had a really good message. To be a princess you have to do your best, be true to yourself, and try to help others. Sometimes we all need to be reminded of those things, and that they do not just apply to royalty.

[Denise Lauron · Rating 3 out of 5]

This was more an etiquette book than part of the rest of the series. Each of the characters wrote a chapter. Most were not humorous. It was worth the read as it was part of the series, hurt not of much interest, otherwise.