The Princess Diaries (movie)

Bibliography: Chase, D.M. (Producer) & Marshall, G. (Director). (2001) The Princess Diaries[Motion picture]. United States: Buena Vista.

Genre:movie/chick lit

Reading Level/Interest Age:12+yrs

Reader's Annotation:Mia Theopolis has the chance to be a real princess, but does she want to change her life forever?

Author:

Plot Summary:Mia Theopolis is a typical unpopular and dorky fifteen-year old girl until the day her grandmother shows up with a very important announcement. Mia is a princess of Genovia! The choice to accept the post is left up to Mia, but she has to keep the news a secret. In preparation, Mia attends “princess lessons” with her grandmother (Queen of Genovia) and her staff, including her body-guard chauffeur, Joe, who befriends Mia. Under her grandmother’s tutelage, Mia learns how to dress, walk, wave, dance and look like a princess. When word leaks out that Mia is a princess, the cook kids at school rush to befriend her, including her crush Josh. Mia’s best friend Lilly is crushed by Mia’s new popularity, and Lilly’s brother Michael hides his own crush on Mia. As the Genovian Ball draws near, Mia ponders the consequences of both sides of her decision. Either way she picks, this decisions will change her life forever.

Critical Evaluation:The appeal of this film is evident from the very first scene where Mia wakes up, gets dressed for school, and then slides down a fire station pole to breakfast. Here is a typical teenager, living in a very cool house in San Francisco. We immediately like Mia because she is regular; her hair isn’t perfect; she rides a scooter to school. We sympathize with her dislike of the cool crowd at her school, and we want her to get even with them. Of course, the proposal that Mia is offered is a dream come true. To be a real princess! Meg Cabot has a firm grasp on what it is like to be a fifteen-year old girl, and the directors have us groan and laugh with Mia as she blunders and breezes through the tribulations of princes lessons. The movie moves along quickly, and we are swept up in Mia’s life. As the relationship between her and her grandmother strengthens, we begin to see Mia as a real princess. Lilly is the grounded character; she keeps the story from being too much like a fairytale. She encourages Mia to accept the post because it would allow Mia to enact change in the world.

Curriculum Ties:following the reading of the novel

Book Talk Ideas:N/A

Challenge Issues:bullying, high school snobbery

Why was this text included in this project?This movie was included in the project because its great popularity (as a movie and as a book).