Product Description

Never before has the world seen such a Princess.

Nor have her own subjects, for that matter. But Genovian politics are nothing next to Mia's real troubles. Between canceled dates with her long-sought-after royal consort, a second semester of the dreaded Algebra, more princess lessons from Grandmère, and the inability to stop gnawing on her fingernails, isn't there anything Mia is good at besides inheriting an unwanted royal title?

Product Details

• Amazon Sales Rank: #537471 in Books
• Published on: 2008-05-01
• Released on: 2008-04-22
• Original language: English
• Number of items: 1
• Binding: Paperback
• 256 pages

Features

• ISBN13: 9780061543647
• Condition: NEW
• Notes: Brand New from Publisher. No Remainder Mark.
• Click here to view our Condition Guide and Shipping Prices

Amazon.com Review
The fourth volume in Meg Cabot's popular Princess Diaries series, Princess in Waiting begins in the tiny country of Genovia, where 14-year-old Mia, the unlikely royal, is on winter break trying not to bite her fingernails. Being a princess and fighting for the installation of parking meters is tough, when all you really want to do is go back to your regular life in New York City and see your dreamy boyfriend Michael. Of course, Mia is soon back in the city, trying not to fail Algebra II and trying to stay afloat in a sea of self-doubt. Could it be true that she is merely a "massive reject" covered with orange cat hair? For that matter, is finding her missing lucky Queen Amidala underwear as important as finding her secret talent? Mia's frank, funny diary entries range from "Things to Do" lists ("Stop obsessing over whether or not Michael loves you vs. being in love with you"); lists of the valuable lessons of romantic heroines ("3. Elizabeth Bennet from Pride and Prejudice: Boys like it when you are smart-alecky."); transcripts of instant-messaging rounds with Michael; to poems ("Like the Millenium Falcon in hyperdrive/ our love will continue to thrive and thrive") and general irrational tirades. Whether or not Mia ever achieves her much-sought-after "self-actualization," teens will enjoy reading her over-the-top, up-to-the-minute-hip diary. (Ages 12 and older) --Karin Snelson

From Publishers Weekly
The fourth in the Princess Diaries by Meg Cabot, Princess in Waiting, finds Mia highly respected in Genovia for her fashion sense but criticized for her views on installing parking meters. Her heartthrob keeps canceling their dates, algebra looms, and Grandmere insists upon additional princess lessons due to the parking-meter debacle. What's a royal to do? Ages 12-up.
Copyright 2003 Reed Business Information, Inc.

From School Library Journal
Grade 6-9-Mia is back in this fourth installment in the series. Breezy diary entries detail her adventures starting on December 21 in Genovia and ending on January 24 in New York City. Bursting with pop-culture references, the narrative bubbles along like a late hour at a slumber party. The events are busy with many trivial pursuits that readers are expected to relate to, but the lack of substance may bore them. While in Genovia, Mia is missing her boyfriend Michael, and must contend with feisty Grandmere, a full diplomatic social schedule, and parking-meter debates. When she returns to school in New York City, she still has to deal with her grandmother, and algebra, and find her missing lucky Queen Amidala underwear. In addition, she must figure out how she can go to a ball that Grandmere is ordering her to attend and still see Michael on the same night. Mia's preoccupation with figuring out what her talent is, which she doesn't recognize as her writing, is so contrived that this protagonist has lost some of her charm. Although the likable characters are intact and girls may enjoy the romance and funny details of life as a 14-year-old princess, this outing is strictly for fans.
Debbie Stewart, Grand Rapids Public Library, MI
Copyright 2003 Reed Business Information, Inc.

Customer Reviews

The series seems to be losing steam
I loved Meg Cabot's first two Princess Mia books, enjoyed the third one, and anxiously awaited the arrival of the fourth one. So I read Princess in Waiting with a feeling I must reluctantly call "disappointment." It simply seems that these books are running out of steam.

The coverage of Mia's time in Genovia (learning to be a proper princess) was amusing, and there were some wonderful inside jokes about a TV movie of her life that were clearly directed at the Disney movie version of the first book in the series.

The characters were all there, doing what they always do -- Mia making witty, mildly angst-ridden comments on life and high school, Grandmere chewing up the scene whenever she appears, Lily being upset about something, Tina being romantic and mildly drippy, Boris playing the violin and tucking his sweater into his pants, and Michael being utterly too good to be true. The elements were all there -- the diary device (though how Mia gets as much writen is bathrooms, during classes, and standing around in hallways as she does is beyond me), the lists she makes with Lily, the inserted IM conversations. But compared to the others in the series, this book just seemed flat.

Perhaps Ms. Cabot is streching herself too thin (with this series, the Mediator series, All Americal Girl, and the romance novels she writes for both teens and adults.) If she truly, as she says on her website, hopes to follow Mia though all four years of high school, she may want to pick up the pace a bit. Because at the current rate, readers may lose interest in Mia long before she goes to college, joins Greenpeace, or takes over the governing of a small European principality.

Great book, funny and entertaining, but a little confusing
I've read some of the reviews here and it seems most readers don't seem to like this book as much as the other ones. However, I personally liked this book but maybe I'm just easy to please.
The book starts off with Mia being in Genovia during her Christmas break and her formal introduction to the Genovian populace. After a disastrous televised address where Mia inadvertently starts a debate over whether or not to install parking meters in Genovia, Mia attends all the political/royal activities planned by Grandmere and gets lectured by her grandmother for having veered off course from her prepared speech. Between acting like a princess and being tortured by Grandmere, Mia obsesses over her newly acquired boyfriend Michael (whom she has had a crush on forever), recording the days since she last saw him and then the days when she will see him again. Finally Mia returns to New York to more princess lessons from Grandmere on account of the whole parking-meter thing, more Algebra, and finally gets to see all her friends again, but best of all, her boyfriend. Just when Mia thought she was to finally have a date with Michael (seeing Star Wars at a screening room), she finds out her grandmother had other plans in mind: She wants Mia to attend a black and white ball hosted by one of Grandmere's old rivals, Countess Trevanni. Mia does not know what to do. Fancy shmancy ball or corny date with boyfriend (no offense but star wars??)? In the end, everything turns out fine and I think the end is probably the best part!!!
Cabot's writing matches the other Princess Diaries books portraying Mia as a witty, sarcastic, anxious, misfit teen who is out to conquer and change the world, whether they are ready for her or not. What I really liked about this book was that everybody seemed to have a goal in this book. Lilly is determined to meet with the produces of the movie based on Mia's life (and she does and gets a very exciting offer), Michael has decided to start a band (along with Boris), Tina has to get over her boyfriend Dave, and Mia... well Mia has a bunch: achieve self-actualization, find out her secret talent, and learn how to be a princess etc... It was a little disappointing to see some favorite characters fading out such as Mr. Giannini and Mia's mom and dad and Lana. I understand not all characters can be present in a book but Mia's mom is sort of more important than Prince Rene, no offense. But I liked the introduction of Prince Rene, hopefully he'll show up in future books (including with Sebastiano, Rene made up for Sebastiano's total exclusion from the book... heck i wish Hank would show up too lol)
For those of you who found Mia to be repulsive and too self-centered with her own life, guess what??? That is completely normal!!! EVERYBODY is like that when they are a teenager!! I'm like that too, sometimes I don't think about others and yes I may act like the world revolves around me!!! It's how we are (i'm a teenager!), we kind of forget about our parents as we start leading our own lives complete with romance, friends, school, work, and other activities. I mean come on, give me a break. Mia is here to show us none of can be perfect, even though she tries to be. Do you expect her to be selfless and always think of other people??? I like her the way she is, it's good to know that I'm not alone in thinking the world seems to be against me sometimes!!

Princess Diaries Adult Fan
After seeing the movie, I decided to read the books. I have become an adult fan of the Princess Diaries series. I just love this book. I have a teenage friend who I have passed these books to. I really think that she will love it.