Review Detail

Reader reviewed by Amanda

This book is very good. Reminiscent of The Princess Diaries by Meg Cabot... Funny, charming, and very cool....


The Princess: Carina of Vineland, trapped, wild, wants to be free...
The Pauper: Julia Johnson of L.A., in trouble, nearly poor, goes to the wrong school...


Carina is what every girl wants to be. She's the princess of a small country called Vineland. However, she doesn't want to be the princess. Carina is trying to live on her own. She's very tired of being contained and pushed around by Froken "Killjoy" Killroy, her nanny at age 16. Carina and her best friend Ingrid are heading for America for a tour. She must go to her ailing grandmother's school to give a speech. Does she want to do it? No! Then, Carina also must go to a ball with Markus, the guy she's supposed to marry. But wait! The Toadmuffin concert she MUST go to is on the same night. How will she do it?


Julia Johnson is a high school girl living in L.A. with her sports bar waitress mother. Lately, she's been hiding eviction notices from her mother. They don't make enough money to pay the rent. It is getting out of hand!


Just when a problem strikes to young fiesty girls, even when they are totally different, they find a plan. Julia and Carina meet up at the high school. They bear a striking resemblance. The solution to all their problems is there. Carina and Ingrid offer to pay Julia $10,000 to learn to be Carina and go to the ball while Carina goes to the concert. Money! Julia needs it bad! She goes for it. But will it work?


The Princess and the Pauper is an excellent read for a rainy day. I read this novel in about 3 hours and it was funny. I enjoyed the part about FINGER LICKING CARINA! and Julia falling for Markus. Plus, it was great when Victoria hired Sharon for hat making. This book was great! I recommend it for girls around the age 13.