From the notebooks of a middle school princess / written & illustrated by Meg Cabot.

Enhanced descriptions from Syndetics:

R eturn to the world of Meg Cabot's bestselling and beloved Princess Diaries series in From the Notebooks of a Middle School Princess-- this time through the illustrated diary of a spunky new heroine: Princess Mia's long lost half-sister, Olivia!

Olivia Grace Clarisse Mignonette Harrison is a completely average twelve-year-old: average height, average weight, average brown hair of average length, average brown skin and average hazel eyes. The only things about her that aren't average are her name (too long and princess themed), her ability to draw animals (useful for her future career as a wildlife illustrator), and the fact that she is a half-orphan who has never met her father and is forced to live with her aunt and uncle (who treat her almost like their own kids, so she doesn't want to complain).

Then one completely average day, everything goes wrong: the most popular girl in school, Annabelle Jenkins, threatens to beat her up, the principal gives her a demerit, and she's knocked down at the bus stop . . .

Until a limo containing Princess Mia Thermopolis of Genovia pulls up to invite her to New York to finally meet her father, who promptly invites her to come live with him, Mia, Grandmère and her two fabulous poodles . . . .

Maybe Olivia Grace Clarisse Mignonette Harrison isn't so average after all!

Reviews provided by Syndetics

Publishers Weekly Review

The nation of Genovia gains a new resident in this amusing spin-off of Cabot's Princess Diaries series: self-effacing, biracial Olivia, a 12-year-old aspiring wildlife artist who discovers that she is the half-sister of Princess Mia Thermopolis. Because Olivia's long-dead mother insisted that Olivia live in New Jersey with her aunt and uncle (who are only slightly more benign than Harry Potter's kin), Olivia doesn't know that the father she has never met is the prince of Genovia. Princess Mia dramatically appears at Olivia's private school just as an angry classmate, Annabelle, is preparing to pummel her; she whisks Olivia off to Manhattan to meet her father and Grandmère, who wastes no time in informing Olivia how a princess ought to comport herself. Though there's a bump in the road to Olivia's new royal digs, she at last lands in Genovia, where plans for Mia's wedding are in full swing. Text-message exchanges and Cabot's own b&w cartoons further enliven Olivia's entertaining and candid notebook entries, which will have readers looking forward to her future escapades. Ages 8-12. Agent: Laura Langlie. (May) © Copyright PWxyz, LLC. All rights reserved.

School Library Journal Review

Gr 3-7-Young listeners will rejoice to return to the kingdom of Genovia with Princess Mia and her 12-year-old sister, Olivia Grace Clarisse Mignonette Harrison. Despite her royal name, Olivia always considered herself to be completely average. Since her mother died, she has lived with her maternal aunt and uncle; she doesn't enjoy all of the luxuries that her two cousins have, but she is treated well. Things start to change, however, the day that popular Annabelle starts to bully her and threatens to beat her up after school. Olivia is rescued by none other than Princess Mia, who whisks Olivia away in a limousine to meet her father for the first time and introduce her to the royal lifestyle. Kathleen McInerney gives Olivia an exuberant, youthful voice that fits her personality, and effectively portrays the regal Princess Mia, Grandmère, and even the king himself with appropriate inflection. A conversation with Cabot is included in the recording. Although this is a good, if slim, introduction to the series to come, a few questions about Olivia's situation remain unanswered. VERDICT Those who loved the movies will be thrilled to be able to read more about this royal family. ["This bubble-gum flavored contemporary tale will be a perfect fit for Fancy Nancy alumni and readers not quite ready for Cabot's longer novels": SLJ 6/1/15 review of the Feiwel & Friends book.]-MaryAnn Karre, formerly of Binghamton City School District, NY © Copyright 2015. Library Journals LLC, a wholly owned subsidiary of Media Source, Inc. No redistribution permitted.

Booklist Review

The popular Cabot introduces a delightful new protagonist in this Princess Diaries offshoot for younger readers. Since her mom died when she was a baby, 12-year-old Olivia has had to live with her aunt Catherine's family in New Jersey. Though life is not always easy including dealing with her not-so-charming stepcousins aspiring wildlife-illustrator Olivia considers her life, and herself, pretty average. Then one fateful day, life changes again when superceleb Princess Mia Thermopolis of Genovia appears, reveals she's Olivia's half sister, and takes Olivia to Manhattan to happily meet, and be invited to live with, their royal dad in Genovia. However, not everyone supports Olivia's good fortune, as intrigue and opportunists are revealed. Ultimately, though, exciting times await, as Olivia's Genovian adventure begins. Olivia is a lively, biracial character whose wry, diary-style narrative details her experiences and progressive discoveries about her background, royal life, and the true meaning of family. Interspersed with Cabot's black-and-white illustrations, Olivia's texts with BFF Nishi, and contemporary pop-culture references, this entertaining, quickly absorbing read will have readers anticipating the sequel. HIGH-DEMAND BACKSTORY: Cabot's perennial popularity ensures that younger readers will receive strong word of mouth from moms and big sisters. Be sure to have a couple of copies on hand.--Rosenfeld, Shelle Copyright 2015 Booklist

Horn Book Review

Sixth grader Olivia feels extremely average, so she's shocked to learn she's a princess. Her long-lost sister Mia (The Princess Diaries) takes her to meet Grandmhre and their father, whom Olivia has never met. Olivia receives a crash course in being a royal--everything from press attention to etiquette. This spinoff story will feel delightfully familiar to fans of the original series (or the movies). (c) Copyright 2015. The Horn Book, Inc., a wholly owned subsidiary of Media Source, Inc. No redistribution permitted.

Kirkus Book Review

Olivia's middle school worries get a lot easier when she gets the surprise of a lifetime. The most exotic things about Olivia Grace Clarisse Mignonette Harrison are her long name, her talent for drawing, and the facts that her mother died when she was a baby and she's never actually met her father, who sends letters and gifts from all over the world. Other than that, she's pretty average. At least, that's what she thinks until a sister she's never met arrives in the schoolyard just in time to save Olivia from getting beaten up by Anabelle Jenkins, who used to be nice but whose desire for popularity is sprouting into bullying behavior. What's even more shocking is her lineage: pure princess! The best part of all? Meeting her dad for the first time. Cabot turns her Princess Diaries brand to a younger crowd, who will be thrilled to fall into the age-old fantasy of kids everywhere: what if my real mom or dad lived in a palace? Cabot manages to combine wit and lavish details to positive effect, as evidenced by a royal grandmother who manages to be both familiar and surprising. While readers who already know the Princess Diaries might find this fairy tale a bit too retold, young newcomers to the Cabot magic will be charmed. A sweet fantasy, both funny and highly satisfying. (Fiction. 8-12) Copyright Kirkus Reviews, used with permission.

Author notes provided by Syndetics

Meg Cabot was born in Bloomington, Indiana on February 1, 1967. She recieved a fine arts degree from Indiana University, Meg moved to New York City, intent upon pursuing a career in freelance illustration. Illustrating, however, soon got in the way of Meg's true love, writing, and so she abandoned it and got a job as the assistant manager of an undergraduate dormitory at New York University, and writing on the weekends.

Meg wrote both The Princess Diaries and The Mediator: Shadowland (under the name Jenny Carroll), the first books in two series for young adults which happen to be about, among other things, teenage girls dealing with unsettling family issues. Her latest book is entitled, Insatiable.

Meg now writes full time, and lives in Key West, Florida with her husband.

(Bowker Author Biography)