Parents' Guide to

I Am Princess X

By Andrea Beach, Common Sense Media Reviewer

age 12+

Friendship tale, graphics blend well in absorbing mystery.

Book Cherie Priest Friendship 2015
I Am Princess X Poster Image

A Lot or a Little?

What you will—and won't—find in this book.

Community Reviews

See all
age 12+

Based on 2 parent reviews

TeacherFifth
TeacherFifth Adult
August 26, 2019
age 10+

Page Turner!

I think 5th, 6th, 7th graders will really enjoy this mysterious plot. It has a bit of language, but is a highly engaging book for readers. You will want to know what happens next! Great read.
Kjbartolotta
Kjbartolotta Adult
July 11, 2015
age 13+

Amazing thriller about girl's friendship

Great book for older teens, might be a little rough for anyone under twelve . Emphasizes the important of friendship and does away with any hint of romance. Great smart, funny, vulnerable teens, good for any hip and nerdy teens in your life, boys as well as girls. A little cursing and a very scary villain, but good-hearted and touching, plus a great intro to lots of different under-30 subcultures and cool things to do in Seattle.

This title has:

Great messages
Great role models
See all 2 parent reviews

What's the Story?

Best friends in fifth grade, May and Libby become obsessed with writing and illustrating their story about Princess X, a katana-wielding, high-top-wearing princess out to save her kingdom. But Libby and her mother die in a car crash, and all the work Libby and May did on Princess X gets thrown out by LIbby's father. Years later, May is turning 17. While back in Seattle visiting her father, she starts to see Princess X graffiti and stickers around town. A bit more digging reveals a popular Web comic about Princess X, with details about the story only May and Libby could know. To find out the truth about Libby and who's behind the Web comic, May will have to dodge the Needle Man, enlist the help of a hacker, and trust the mysterious Jackdaw.

Is It Any Good?

Our review:
Parents say (2):
Kids say (7):

This YA debut from veteran author Cheri Priest is an engaging, absorbing mystery with comic-book illustrations that weave an intriguing, original fantasy element into the story. The mystery is compelling and unfolds in entertaining ways, thanks to the solid writing, colorful but believable characters, and the illustrations.

The illustration style is a bit childlike, but it adds realism to the idea that it's a comic written and drawn by talented, if inexperienced, teens. Heroine May's voice is believable, and kids will relate to her determination never to give up on her friendship or her search for the truth.

Talk to Your Kids About ...

  • Families can talk about blending fantasy elements with reality. Does putting the fantasy parts in comic-book format work for you? How do the two styles enhance, or work against, each other?

  • Did you like the illustrations? Did you wish there were more, or are there enough to tell a satisfying fantasy story?

  • May had dreams about Libby surviving the car crash. Have you every had a dream that felt like it was trying to tell you something? Do you have a strong "sixth sense," and is it usually right?

Book Details

Did we miss something on diversity?

Research shows a connection between kids' healthy self-esteem and positive portrayals in media. That's why we've added a new "Diverse Representations" section to our reviews that will be rolling out on an ongoing basis. You can help us help kids by suggesting a diversity update.

See all recommended book lists

Related Topics

Want suggestions based on your streaming services? Get personalized recommendations

Common Sense Media's unbiased ratings are created by expert reviewers and aren't influenced by the product's creators or by any of our funders, affiliates, or partners.

See how we rate