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Review: I am Princess X by Cherie Priest

Title: I am Princess X
Author: Cherie Priest
Year Published: 2015

Genre: YA Fiction
Pages: 227
Rating: 5 out of 5

Location (my 2016 Google Reading map)USA (Washington)

FTC Disclosure: I borrowed this book from my school library

Summary (from the back of the book):
 Once upon a time two best friends created a princess together. Libby drew the comics, May wrote the stories and Princess X fought monsters, ghosts, and other assorted creepazoids from her haunted house on a hill.

Once upon a few years later Libby was in the car with her mom, driving across a bridge on a rainy night. When the car went over the side, Libby passed away, and Princess X died with her.

One upon a now May is sixteen and lonely when she sees a sticker slapped in a corner window--a figure in a gold crown, pink dress, red Chucks, and a long katana sword...

Princess X? Suddenly, May sees the princess everywhere: stickers, patches, graffiti--an entire underground world built around a webcomic at IAmPrincessX.com. The more May explores the comic, the more shocking connections she finds between Libby's death and Princess X's adventures. And that means only one person could have started this phenomenon--her best friend, Libby, who lives.

Review: My Librarian friend told me how great this book is and she is right! After finishing Orbiting Jupiter in the morning, I read this book in one day (yay for Spring Break!). I was drawn into the story on page one. The lure of a strong female character, a bit of the superhero good versus evil, and characters I cared about all combined to make this a wonderful red.

The loss of a loved one, especially a best friend, at the age of 13 is unimaginable. For May that's the situation and we know it within the first few pages. What would it be like to learn that she might be alive? Mix in a mysterious posting of the cartoon the two of you created, internet intrigue, IT genius, and a new friends and you've got a super successful storyline.

I also liked the characters a ton; May is smart, caring, and persistent while Trick is a bit dorky, super smart, and trying to find his way. Together they go on an adventure that is exciting, dangerous, and frustrating. I really felt I was on the edge of my seat, never quite sure if Libby was alive or not. And I'm not going to tell you what happens, either. You've got to read this one for yourself. I am going to hand it off to my fifteen-year-old daughter today so she can enjoy it as well.

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