I Am Princess X by Cherie Priest

I Am Princess X by Cherie Priest
My rating: 4 of 5 stars

Maryland Black-Eyed Susan Nominee 2016-17

Two girls met on the school playground and not only was a friendship born, but also a comic strip. A girl comic strip. A warrior with a ninja sword and red Chucks. Princess X was born. May wrote the words and Libby drew the pictures. For three years the girls created a world for Princess X until Libby and her mom drove off of a bridge. Libby’s mom was found dead strapped into her seat, but Libby wasn’t found until a week later virtually unrecognizable. May never got over Libby. She missed her friend so much it hurt and no one ever took her place until three years later when May saw a Princess X sticker on a skateboard and then on a pole and then someone’s book bag. May suddenly realized that Princess X was everywhere and there was even a website, but who was running it. There was only one person she could think of, but that person died in a car accident three years ago…or did she?
I Am Princess X by Cherie Priest is an interesting hybrid of graphic novel and chapter book. It’s hard to imagine a combo like that working, but in this case it worked flawlessly. At first glance I thought this book was going to be boring. I had to read it for a state award book club and kind of did so hesitantly. I can say that I was definitely surprised. I Am Princess X had a great story line with a lot of adventure. I loved the clues and found the characters realistic and interesting especially Jackdaw. I really like characters that are well developed and in I Am Princess X the characters had their own stories within the main story. The one criticism that I would have for this book is the cover. I really love it and think the variations of shades of purple are pretty, but that may be the problem. I think I Am Princess X would be a really good book for boys and I think the cover may turn them off. It’s great a story and should be enjoyed by everyone. I would recommend I Am Princess X by Cherie Priest to higher reading 6th graders up to about 10th grade.

View all my reviews