PRINCESS ON THE BRINK by Meg Cabot
    Category:  Contemporary
    Age Recommendation:  Grades 6+
    Release Date:  1/1/07
    Publisher:  HarperCollins
    Reviewed by:  Andie Z.
    Rating:  4 Stars


    It's the beginning of Mia's junior year, but so far, things are not going as planned. For starters, Mia may have managed
    to pass Algebra and Geometry, but now she has to deal with Pre-Calculus. And she's also totally lost in Chemistry,
    even though she now has two lab partners instead of just one. Lilly has also decided to nominate Mia for student body
    president. Again. And even though Mia has tried to explain that she doesn't want it, as we all know, once Lilly's mind is
    made up, there's no changing it.

    On top of all that, Michael has some interesting news for Mia. He has the opportunity to do some more work on the
    robotic arm he's been developing that could make it possible to perform closed-chest surgery. Great, right? Wrong. In
    order to do this research, Michael is moving to Japan. For a year. Or more. And he won't be coming back over
    holiday breaks.

    Mia's world seems to be falling apart around her, and she can't understand how a year that was supposed to have
    been so great can have turned into such a nightmare so quickly. But then, with some unexpected help from Grandmere,
    Mia comes up with a plan. One that might just convince Michael to stay in New York, if only she has the guts to go
    through with it.

    In this eighth installment of the PRINCESS DIARIES series, Mia finds herself having to grow up and deal with more
    adult situations, and it’s a refreshing change from previous books. I have to admit, this series did seem to be going on
    for a very long time, but personally, with this book, Meg Cabot has managed to recapture my interest. Mia is still the
    same princess, entertaining and somewhat naive, but her voice seems to have matured, and the book has lost a lot of
    the bubbly, pre-teen feel.

    Overall, PRINCESS ON THE BRINK is a great addition to the series, sure to please old and new fans, and there is
    no doubt that it will leave readers clamoring for more.
The Princess Diaries Vol. VIII:
Princess on the Brink
by Meg Cabot