I Am Princess X

Starred review from March 30, 2015
Back in fifth grade, best friends May and Libby created Princess X, a katana-wielding heroine who wears Converse sneakers with her ball gown. Ever since Libby and her mother died in a freak accident, May’s life has been as gray as her Seattle home—until the 16-year-old spots a Princess X sticker in a store window, leading her to a Princess X webcomic that suggests that Libby might still be alive. With the help of Trick, a hacker-for-hire, May follows the trail that Princess X’s near-mythic narrative leaves for her, which incorporates Seattle landmarks like the Fremont Troll and characters like the dangerous Needle Man and the mysterious, helpful Jackdaw. Illustrations from the Princess X comic—skillfully rendered by Ciesemier and printed in purple—add greatly to this techno-thriller’s tension. Fresh and contemporary, this hybrid novel/comic packs a lot of plot in a relatively short book, but its strongest suit may be Priest’s keen understanding of the chasmic gap between the way teens and adults engage in the landscape of the Internet. Ages 12–up. Author’s agent: Jennifer Jackson, Donald Maass Literary.

Priest's compelling audiobook stars high-schooler May, computer whiz Trick, and the city of Seattle, which figures prominently in their adventures. May's best friend died in a car accident when they were younger. Only now, May's discovering hints that Libby may not be gone after all. Narrator Mary Robinette Kowal has an interesting voice (listeners may find themselves trying to place her regionalisms), and it sounds just different enough to add even more auditory interest. The print book features graphic novel sections, which the audio production effectively evokes with music and sound effects, while Kowal uses a booming movie trailer voice to clearly distinguish them from the rest of the narrative. Listeners will be caught up in the suspenseful (if occasionally far-fetched) action. J.M.D. © AudioFile 2016, Portland, Maine