In Cherie Priest’s I am Princess X, we are introduced to middle-schooler May, and her first true friend, Libby. The two girls quickly bond over a love of writing and drawing, and combined, they create Princess X, a fearless comic hero who slays dragons and goes on the boldest adventures.
When Libby and her mom die in a car accident, May feels as if Princess X died too, so she stows away all of the illustrations and stories and simply tries to mend her broken heart. When May unexpectedly sees these same illustrations start popping up around town a few years later, she quickly grows suspicious. Only she and Libby knew about the comic, so either this means May is going crazy….or Libby is still out there somewhere, alive.
As May unravels the mystery behind Libby’s supposed death and its aftermath, the Princess X comic strips scattered throughout the book hype up the suspense and add a new dimension of interpretation for the reader, especially as you begin to see Libby fleshed out in the Princess X character. Stories become entwined until you can hardly wait to see when the two meet up.
If you were judging a book by its cover you might assume this reads as a total Fantasy, but it’s actually a contemporary, realistic story with an engrossing mystery that celebrates the strength of friendship and the joy of combining graphic novels with text to create an awesome hybrid. It’s perfect for those seeking the unexpected.
You can place a hold on the book in the Deerfield Public Library catalog right now. If you have to wait, be sure to check out “You Might Also Like These…” at the bottom of the book’s catalog page.
