Series Love: Princess Diaries

Welcome to a new blog meme here at YA Book Nerd. I realized that I read SO many series books that I should talk about them as a whole. Not to say that every series I'm going to talk about I've finished - but my thoughts my help you pick up and start a new series.

Princess Diaries by Meg Cabot

Everyone knows I love these books. Before I read Royal Wedding, I did something out of character for me. I re-read the entire series. I enjoyed it as much as I did the first time around - it was funny, charming, smart, refreshing, honest, and it tugged at my heart strings. 

Here are the things that stood out for me:

Pop culture references: Star Wars and more

Nerd behavior

Being smart and weird is great

 love for romance books

Diverse cast of characters 

Realistic friendships: fights between friends, how they know you better than anyone, and how they challenge you to become a better person

Michael

book references (Ransom My Heart)

written has journals: mix of notes, homework, and Mia's innermost thoughts

Her parents

Grandmere's schemes

Fun lists in the book (sometimes by Mia and Lilly, sometimes just Mia)

Mia's big heart

I Read YA: The Book that Changed My Life

What is the book that got you into YA?

I talk a bit here about my love for Princess Mia and the Princess Diaries series on the YALSA Hub Blog but what I didn't say was that reading these books changed my life. I was in graduate school at the time to become a Librarian. I wasn't sure what I wanted to do or what road I would travel on.

Then I devoured this book and it hit me. This series was so fun, so addictive, so funny that I wanted to become a YA Librarian so I could share this book and other amazing books with teen readers.

I've consumed and talked about so many books since, but the Princess Diaries series will always hold a very special place in my heart for the way they changed me.

I"m super excited about the new book, Royal Wedding, so I'm re-reading the entire series again.
 It's just a great the first time around.

Top Ten Tuesday: Characters on a deserted island

So this week's topic is characters you'd want with you on a deserted island...and mine might be a little different than others. And I didn't quite make it to 10.

- meme from The Broke and the Bookish

Hermoine - to talk about books, her magical bag, and her amazing magical skills.

Princess Mia - surely Genovia will send people looking for her

Katniss - she could catch food, if all else failed

Kat Bishop (Heist Society) - if anyone could find a way off the island, it would be her

Sera (Deep Blue) - she might be able to find us a way off the island by way of water

Gilbert - you do need a guy on the island and I believe he was my first book boyfriend

Artemis Fowl - with his smarts, he could also find a way off the island

Plus, a dog. Because you always need a dog. Right now I'm blanking on a dog character (one that doesn't die), but it's important to have a dog.

From the Hub: Princess Diaries

I've mentioned in various places that Meg Cabot's Princess Diaries series made me decide to become a YA Librarian. Over at the Hub, I'm talking about 10 reasons I LOVE Princess Mia.

Teen Book Character's Outfits

Earlier in the year, the Otis Library hosted a contest on Pinterest, posting pins of character's outfits from Polyvore. I've made several of these and quite enjoy it. I hope to start making more. In the mean time, here's a look at the ones I created.

Bright Young Things 

Hermoine Granger 

Lauren Towers 

Princess Mia

If you want to see more from the board - check it out. If you want to make your own and be added to the board, let me know!