Princess in Waiting (The Princess Diaries, Vol. 4)
The fourth volume in Meg Cabot's popular Princess Diaries series,Princess in Waitingbegins 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 fromPride 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