Disenchanted Princess
by Julie Linker

    DISENCHANTED PRINCESS by Julie Linker
    Category:  Contemporary
    Age Recommendation:  Grades 9+
    Release Date:  7/24/07
    Publisher:  Simon Pulse
    Reviewed by:  Sally Kruger, aka "Readingjunky"
    Rating:  5 Stars


    Julie Linker's debut novel, DISENCHANTED PRINCESS, is sure to be a success.  A combination of high
    fashion and down-home charm will make it a fun read for teen girls.

    West Deschanel's life is turned upside-down when her father is sentenced to five years in prison.  Since her
    mother's death years ago, she has lived with her father and her caretaker, Maria.  Now her mother's estranged
    sister has surfaced and wants to take her to some out-of-the-way farm in Arkansas.

    Living in L.A., West was accustomed to lavish surroundings.  She attended a posh high school, drove a cool car,
    and was designing her own line of clothes about to be revealed at her very own fashion show.  

    Now she's in Possum Grape, Arkansas.  She's gathering eggs, pulling weeds, battling chiggers, and riding the
    school bus. Dear Aunt Sherrie is all excited about taking her school shopping at WalMart, feeding her good home
    cooking, and dragging her to church every Sunday.  

    The only saving graces are meeting Sophie, who loves to design and sew as much as West, and having an
    amazingly cute foster brother named Steve living right under the same roof.  Can Sophie and Steve offer enough
    to make West feel at home, or will West be driven totally crazy by the country life?

    Linker's quirky characters and great humor had me giggling in every chapter.  The lighthearted tone and easy style
    made this a pleasant and relaxing read.  Girls are going to enjoy it and will probably hope that West's adventures
    continue in a sequel some day.