I loved Della's character so much - part Disney princess part action hero! Teens will love this story of romance, royal secrets, cultural identity and social justice. I was cheering Della on all the way. She is the princess so many young readers need in their lives. -- Tamsin Winter
As a mixed race woman who was moderately obsessed with the Princess Diaries when it came out (despite the fact I was 20 at the time) this book is the gift my teenage self would have lost their mind over. It has all the makeovers, fabulous outfits and incredible palaces you would expect but there is a whole other layer with this book as well. There is no singular mixed race experience but the feelings that Della experiences of feeling like she doesn't fit in at school, not having anyone who could teach her how to care for her hair (her mum disappeared when she was a young kid), her elation at being in a place where everyone is Black, was so relatable. And Della is not just here for the makeover, she's an activist, interested in social justice and that comes through loud and clear in the story. And there's also the tricky business of fancying two boys, her forever best friend Ollie and hot palace gardener Jayden.
I hugely enjoyed this book and it would be perfect for tweens. All the drama, love triangles, selfies and lip gloss on the surface with strong messages on identity, social justice, and the power of protest going on too.
-- Claire Linney, author of Time Tub Travellers