SOLVED. 2010s YA girls fantasy book about a creature in a lake and something with jewels

[Margaux]

I read this book around 2008-2010 when I was in late elementary/early middle school. It was a trilogy and the main character was a teenage girl (~15). She was a a princess and there might have been a situation where she didn't know she was a princess at first. The series had something to do with jewels (I specifically remember emerald and sapphire) and I also specifically remember there was a plastic "jewel" embedded in the hardcover. Each book in the series had its own jewel. There was also a situation with an evil creature in a lake that the girl found out was not actually evil. I remember a picnic. Please let me know if this sounds familiar :)

[Mai]

Maybe one of the books in the Jewel Kingdom series? (according to Goodreads there are 13 books in the series) It came up in a search.

This review of the second book, The Sapphire Princess Meets a Monster by Jahnna N. Malcolm, sounds very similar to your description!
"When Sabrina sees a big and ugly monster in the waters of her kingdom, all hell breaks loose - especially when it tries to 'attack' her during her picnic. All of Sabrina's people (and sisters) are convinced that the monster is evil because, well, it's a monster. But loving-hearted Sabrina isn't convinced."

[Kris]

Mai's suggestion of The Sapphire Princess Meets a Monster by Jahnna N. Malcolm sounds like your book series.

One Amazon reviewer says: "The series’ original publication back in the nineties released each book with a plastic gemstone, though these re-releases opt for a sheet of [holographic] stickers instead. More pertinently, the princesses themselves are now of different races. Originally all white, the (very cute) illustrations by Sumiti Collina depict Roxanna as Latino, Demetra as Inuit and Sabrina as Black – it’s an elegant way to update the stories and cater to a wider audience."

Google Books preview:
https://books.google.com/books?id=VP2... There are different cover images.

The Emerald Princess Plays a Trick is another book in the "Jewel Kingdom" series - https://www.goodreads.com/series/6911...

[Margaux]

That's got to be it! I definitely had the old 90s version - that would explain why I didn't recognize the cover earlier. Thank you both so much!!

[Kris]

Great. Glad you found your book series, Margaux. The first book is The Ruby Princess Runs Away by Jahnna N. Malcolm which we'll add to the bookshelf to represent this series.