PRINCESS PRIVATE EYE

A scrappy girl sleuth finds out she’s royalty in this modern fairy tale that’s equal parts Annie and The Princess Diaries.

Twelve-year-old Genevieve Sun’s life changes completely when she discovers she’s the long-lost princess of a tiny island nation in Western Europe. Raldonia turns out to be just as ethnically diverse as Gen’s beloved New York City, but the gap between her upbringing in the foster care system and her new life as a princess couldn’t be more different. Even more challenging than frivolous dresses and countless rules of etiquette is the curse that is somehow connected to Gen’s deceased parents’ escape to the U.S. Will Gen’s list of Good Detective Traits be enough for her to solve the mystery, save Raldonia, and prove once and for all that she’s got what it takes to be a princess? Led by a plucky multiethnic protagonist and full of whimsical details, this middle-grade debut by an acclaimed YA author is a delightful diversion with modern sensibilities. Plenty of red herrings, a dash of suspense, and a dastardly villain foiled at the eleventh hour culminate in a happy ending (as well as a hint at the mystery at the heart of Book 2). Quick-witted Gen has STEM skills in spades, especially when it comes to hacking (ethically, not nefariously, of course). The supporting characters are endearing even if their development is rather less robust.

A fun, breezy, and charming modern princess tale.