I am Princess X by Cherie Priest illustrated by Kali Ciesemier

I cannot explain how much that I genuinely enjoyed and loved I am Princess X by Cherie Priest and illustrated by Kali Ciesemier!!!!!

This book, while much more lighthearted than others I have read (We Were Liars, I am looking at you), it does not mean that this story is not as valuable as the others. Within this book, which is a hybrid traditional book and graphic novel/manga lies a sparse yet suspenseful story.

Image Credit: Hirai, R. (2015, January 11). The Ryurouni Kenshin pose. Retrieved June 26, 2016, from https://goo.gl/IFtJXU. Maybe not Princess X, but a young Libby?

In this story, we meet May Harper and her best friend Libby Deaton, who met up in fifth grade when they were both sidelined from participating in PE. May and Libby pooled their collective talents of storytelling (May) and drawing (Libby) to create Princess X. Unfortunately, right around the beginning of this story, Libby passed away (or DID she?). After Libby's death, May also experienced the traumatic breakup of her parent's marriage was unfortunately shuffled back and forth between Atlanta and Seattle. Three years later May is coping with these traumatic events as much as possible when she sees a sticker for Princess X. May is shocked to say the very least. She enlists the help of her neighbor, "Trick" to locate Libby. What follows is an incredibly suspenseful ride. 

What I liked: 

This book flowed so very easily. I read it in essentially one sitting. 

I believe that reluctant readers would engage with this work very quickly and very easily. 

The hybrid format I think it was a breath of fresh air. I visited some of the websites within this text, enjoyed the graphics, and also enjoyed the story. I think it takes a delicate balance to make this type of novel well-written and enjoyable, and I could see how it could become bogged down in the details. 

Memorable Quotes or Passages

May's laptop conks out and she finds a flyer about "Trick's" computer abilities. This struck me because my hubby always asks me this question:

"....You go home and keep reading. 

I can't, remember? My laptop crapped out. 

Did you try turning it off and on again? 

She scowled, because she hadn't even tried and it was the most obvious thing ever--next to plugging it in and letting it charge. "I barely know you and, and I already hate you" (Priest, 2015 p. 65). 

Patrick explained technology thusly when speaking about the Needle Man "Maybe he was useful IT, maybe he was just there to answer the phones. Not everybody in a headset knows anything" (Priest, 2015 p. 149). 

Patrick explained a mausoleum by saying "I know there's a building back on the far right side of the hill, so maybe that's it--kind of like a library for dead people" (Priest, 2015 p. 156). 

Final Thoughts

This book was so exciting that even the most difficult to engage reluctant reader would probably love it to pieces. I eagerly look forward to Ms. Priest's additions to the YA genre and will contemplate reading her Sci-Fi (not my favorite genre AT ALL).