The Princess Diaries: Give Me Five (Princess Diaries, #5)

by Meg Cabot

The fifth book in The Princess Diaries series, Give Me Five, is another hilarious bestselling adventure from Meg Cabot.

Mia is about to turn fifteen - and can't wait to dance the night away with Michael at the biggest, most romantic event of her life so far: the senior prom! But nothing's going according to plan. Not only does Mia face a snoozefest summer of sceptre-wielding in Genovia. Even worse is the fact that Michael hasn't even invited Mia to the prom at all. Hello, what is going on here? Just as Mia comes up with a perfect plan to change her man's mind, disaster strikes. A disaster that only a genius like Grandmere can overcome. . .

• ISBN10: 0330415514
• ISBN13: 9780330415514
• Publish Date: 1 June 2007 (first published 5 September 2003)
• Publish Status: Out of Print
• Out of Print: 11 August 2015
• Publish Country: GB
• Publisher: Pan Macmillan
• Imprint: Macmillan Children's Books
• Edition: Unabridged edition
• Format: Paperback (B-Format (198x129 mm))
• Pages: 256
• Language: English

Reviews

"I think that, at fifteen, it's time I admitted what I've known for quite some time now: I am simply not destined to have a normal life." (Mia Thermopolis)

In Give Me Five, Mia turns 15 years old and at her birthday dinner, Grandmère gets a busboy fired which launches a citywide busboy strike. She also has to deal with her pregnant mother complaining about her bladder and most importantly, whether or not Michael will ask her to his prom.

♕ Mia's annoying and whiny in Give Me Five.
♕ She's obsessed with her boyfriend, Michael.
♕ She's obsessed with prom (and it's not even her prom, it's Michael's).
♕ She has hypochondriac tendencies, but she makes fun of disabilities and that's not cool. However, Give Me Five was published 18 years ago so there are a lot of problematic things that I ignore.
♕ Lily is a terrible, selfish and self-centered best friend. She's always pulling Mia down.
♕ The Lily and Boris drama is a little much.
♕ I didn't like Grandmère in Give Me Five but she does redeem herself in the end.
♕ The saving grace of Give Me Five is Michael Moscovitz.
♕ Give Me Five has a nice and happy ending.

[Chelsea]

Initial Thoughts

I’m on the edge with this series. I’m liking it but I wish we could see so much more. They feel like mini stories to me so far. Nothing is really happening.

My New BFF

I think Tina is becoming a great character. I love how great of a friend she is while still also being a pretty typical teenage girl. It’s fun seeing characters like her now that I’m older. She’s hilarious and entertaining.

My Crush

No crushes in this book! Not yet anyways. I’m hoping for more down the road because I’m really not a big fan of Michael. He’s kind of weird and annoying.

Writing Style

The writing in this book is done using a diary format. It’s from Mia’s perspective and is very young. I sometimes have a hard time with it but Mia is pretty funny most of the time. She makes for a great narrator. I’m finding the characters are developing a little too slow and I’m annoyed we haven’t seen much of Genovia yet.

Closing Thoughts

I think this is a great series, especially for a younger audience. It’s not my favourite by far but I’m hoping it gets better. I wish Mia would grow up a little faster and that the books would move at a faster pace. The first five so far have all been within the same school year. I can’t wait for Mia to graduate so we can see her get more responsibilities. I’m finding the series a little slow and uneventful so far but I’m really hoping it picks up!

[sarahjay]

"And now I am lying here, a broken shell of a girl. . . fifteen years old, and yet so much older in so many ways. Because I know now what it is like to see all of your hopes and dreams crushed beneath the soulless heel of despair." Mia. Oh my god. It's prom. You are a freshman. You will have more chances to go to prom.

This book reminds me of what it would maybe be like to go back and read my own high school diaries, except less embarrassing. And this book is really embarrassing. Which is why I, again, mostly skimmed. Also, I've thought this throughout this reread, but - Lilly is a horrible best friend???? Like, extremely awful? She is inexcusably mean to Mia (and everyone) for no reason and makes every situation about herself. Granted, Mia is fairly insufferable too from time to time, but Lilly is constantly belittling her. How are they still friends?????????????

Also, Mia, please re-read Jane Eyre.