Customer Reviews

Princesses Don't Sweat

5 star:		(4)
4 star:		(3)
3 star:		(1)
2 star:		(0)
1 star:		(0)

 

 

After reading (and adoring) Kaz Delaney's first book, My Life As A Snow Bunny, I couldn't wait to read PRINCESSES DON'T SWEAT. While the characters and story aren't as memorable as the characters from her previous book, PRINCESSES DON'T SWEAT was still a cute, fun read.

Madeline doesn't know who her father is - which is why she's so reluctant to fly to Australia with her mom, where she will be meeting the guy that may become her stepfather in the near future. She claims that her mom is too flighty, crazy, and just plain weird to fly halfway around the world just to meet up with some guy she met in a chatroom. But Madeline goes with her mom anyway (as if she had a choice), and ends up spending Christmas in a country with no snow or Christmas carolers.

Madeline is terrified to find out that she won't get to do loads of shopping, lounging, and get pampered when she's staying down under. In fact, she ends up getting lost in the Outback and having to stay with a family of complete strangers...except for the fact that she's "in love" with the teenage boy Mitch...

PRINCESSES DON'T SWEAT was cute and funny, but it seemed to be lacking a little bit of that...oomph that made My Life As A Snow Bunny so special. I still enjoyed it and am looking forward to another book by Kaz Delaney.

Overall grade - B

Madeline is a regular New York city girl. However when her mother meets Barry in a chat room, they head out to Australia for Christmas. What with all the creepy- crawlies, (who all have a hit contract to kill her), and Ba-ree, Madeline defenantly doesn't want to go. Things just keep getting bad for her, from an ugly green bathroom in Ba-ree's house to a sudden trip to the outback where all it is is nothing! And certainly no malls. When their car breaks down in the middle of no where they're finally saved by a hot guy, just what Madeline wants. She works hard to get his attentions and survive embarassment after embarassment.

This book is funny and interesting the whole way through. If you want a story about a teen girl who's trying to survive the outback and look for some romance while being funny at the same time, this is the book for you!

I almost put this book aside when the urban New York heroine was speaking in Australian slang. This started the book off on a very rough note for me. I realize that the author is an Aussie but the character was a Yank and should have spoken like a modern American teen.

Madeline's mother has met an online boyfriend, so she and her mother need to go to Australia to meet him. Madeline is very resistant to the idea, especially as her vacation gets worse and worse fast.

I found Madeline to be excessively immature for her age. This marred what was a very cute and enjoyable story. Her antics and character growth were fun and thought-provoking, but this hasn't been my favorite Smooch release.

Madeline has just been given a three week vacation over Christmas break to Australia with her mother who is going there to meet the man of her dreams from a chatroom. She is definitely not thrilled. Despite heavy research trying to prove she's allergic to Australia, Madeline finds herself landing in Australia right before Christmas and given a Barbie pink room that belongs to a 12 year old and sharing a very ugly puke green bathroom with three other people. The only thing that could make it worse would be having to be in the Outback. So, naturally, Barry, her mother's "friend" gives them an all expense paid safari to the Outback. Things just keep getting worse. There's huge spiders, girl eating mosquitos, and a general lack of amenities. There is a plus side- Mitch, an Aussie hottie that seems to like Madeline more than a little.

**** This sequel to My Life as a Snow Bunny snaps with fast paced wry humor seen through a teen's eyes. Madeline is a witty narrator who is easy to sympathize with through her trials and tribulations. Her adventures provide a window to another world that subtly educates while entertaining. ****

Amanda Killgore for Huntress Reviews.

I Loved this book and it sparked my intrests 'cause I'm going 2 Austrailia soon also. This book is a MUST read!!! I lend it 2 all me friends and they like it also.

I thought that this book was a good book for modern day girls. The main character deals with a lot of issues that lots and in some cases all will have to go through. There are a lot of great characters in this book like Mitch (the hot crushee) and "The Brat". This book is one that ALL girls should read at one point becuase it shows this girl at her worst not her best (for once). It tells girls that no one is perfect even if they think that they are.

Madeline is much less than thrilled to find out that she's spending Christmas in Australia with her mother's internet finacé. However, she manages to wrangle some five-star pampering as a sort of bribe, which placates her somewhat. Until they land and she discovers that Barry, her mother's boyfriend, has cancelled their hotel reservations and is taking them to the Outback, where there aren't hotels of any kind. However, Mitch, the hottest guy for miles, somewhat makes up for the lack of running water, abundance of bugs, and the community phone line. It could only be better if he actually paid attention to Madeline. Still, despite her bratty new almost-step-brother, the dismal living conditions, and having to watch her mother make out with a strange man, Madeline is determined to find a happy ending Down Under. Whether you're a Park Avenue Princess like Madeline or and outdoor girl, you'll recognize the sense of unbelonging Madeline experiences and want to help her. From the moment she sets foot in Australia to the trip back to the States, Madeline will have you laughing, and at times hiding your face in embarrassment, along with her.

Madeline is a savvy New York City girl looking to have the time of her life over winter vacation. But before her vacation even starts, her Mother puts a damper on it. Sure, spending three weeks in Australia sounds like a dream vacation, but when you're only heading down under so your Mother can meet the guy she's been chatting with online, things change. Especially when that guy's name is Barry, and he makes you stay in a bedroom that belongs to a twelve-year-old, that not even Barbie would be able to stand. Not to mention that the bathroom (which isn't even available for your sole use), is the color of hospital walls (pea green). Everything is absolutely going horrible, until Madeline meets Mitch, a super cute Australian hottie who just happens to like Madeline as more than just a friend, at least if he could remember her name for once in his life.

As usual, Kaz Delaney has created yet another heroine whom readers will find themselves rooting for. Madeline is a cool, savvy, groovy girl, who does everything she can to make the best of a completely aggravating situation. Her outlook on life is hilarious, as she believes that almost every situation can be solved, as long as you have a cute Australian guy (or any guy) by your side. Fans will find Madeline as charming, if not more so, than the character of Jo from Kaz Delaney's previous book MY LIFE AS A SNOW BUNNY! Overall this was a fabulous book that will have teenage girls begging for more. A must have!

Erika Sorocco
Book Review Columnist for The Community Bugle Newspaper