Diary of a Would-Be Princess by Jessica Green

Green, Jessica. Diary of a Would-Be Princess. Watertown, MA: Charlesbridge, 2005.

Jillian doesn't exactly fit in at her school. At the beginning of the year, she thought she wanted to be a Princess (AKA a popular girl). Nigel insists on being her friend though she doesn't relish his company. Her teacher Mrs. Bright makes them keep diaries. The reader follows Jillian during her 5th grade year as she struggles to fit in, deal with her siblings, and find friends.

What I thought: What a great book! Jillian doesn't mince words in her entries. She's brutally honest which often gets her in trouble with Mrs. Bright. This book brought home the sad reality that kids this young struggle with cliques just as much as high schoolers do. That Jillian is an Aussie brings added interest to the book. The author kindly includes a glossary of Australian terms. I now have a new word for a marker or highlighter (and possibly Sharpies)--texta.