The Diary of B. B. Bright, Possible Princess

Gr 6–8—The Godmommies tell Black Bee Bright, 13, that there are Three Big Rules: no man can step foot on the island, she can't step foot off the island until she's met eight princesses, and she can't tell anyone that she is the Raven King's daughter. Through diary entries, B.B. details her life on Bee Island, where she spends her days listening to her squabbling Godmommies, preparing for the OPT (Official Princess Test) with Mamselle, and reading magazines while wishing for a boyfriend or even just a friend. B.B. feels stuck. Stuck on an island she has been exiled to and stuck between the Raven World, where she would be a princess, and the Other World, with great clothes and people her own age. The catalyst that moves B.B. from her stagnation is a trip to the East side of the island, which is supposedly covered in prickly thickets and populated by poisonous snakes and a Great Pale Bear. But B.B. must make the journey to discover the eight princesses, her purpose, and herself. The diary format ensures that Black Bee's narrative voice is clear and strong, though some of the elevated language and cultural references may be difficult for the intended audience. Black-and-white drawings are scattered throughout. This is a delightful tale of a girl who inhabits a world like readers' but is also very different. What remains true whether on Bee Island or the Other World is her search to find herself and her path in life.—Naphtali L. Faris, Missouri State Library, Jefferson City, MO