(Image from Barnes & Noble)

Starting at a new school is always tough.  Especially when you've got something to hide.  Although 14-year-old Doreen Green prides herself on being friendly and upfront, she also knows she must keep a big part of her identity a secret.  No one can know about the squirrel tail tucked inside her pants or the fact that she's endowed with special, squirrel-like abilities.  She may look like a normal teen (minus the tail, of course), but her extra-sharp hearing, climbing prowess, ability to talk to woodland creatures, and quick reflexes are not generally found in your average adolescent. 

Still, the thing Doreen most wants is a friend.  A human one.  Her quest, unfortunately, is not going well.  No one wants to be her pal, but after Doreen-in-disguise fights off some troublemakers in her neighborhood, everyone longs to get close to Squirrel Girl.  Doreen has never thought of herself as a superhero, but maybe she can be like her idols who fight bad guys and bask in the adoration of their fans.  When a nefarious villain starts coming after her, though, the risk suddenly seems too great.  Can she keep up the superhero gig?  Or should she give up and go back to being just a regular (ish) kid?

I've never been into comics/superheroes, so when I heard about Shannon and Dean Hale's new book starring Squirrel Girl, I thought the character was their invention.  Not so.  Apparently, she's been around since the early 90s.  Who knew?  In the Hales' version, Squirrel Meets World, the heroine is a teenage girl trying to navigate life in a new town.  Although she acts more 12 than 14, her enthusiasm for life and longing for friendship make her a sympathetic and endearing narrator.  I found her annoying at times, true, but I think young readers will appreciate her more.  And it is a good book to hand to middle graders—it's clean, upbeat, and bursting with girl power.  Adults may find it too silly (I did), but for its target audience, Squirrel Meets World should make for a fun, empowering read.   

(Readalikes:  It actually reminds me a lot of the Hales' Princess in Black series)

(Image from Barnes & Noble)

Magnolia is a proper princess—prim and perfect.  At least that's what everyone thinks.  But behind her frilly pink dresses and sparkly tiara lies a super-secret identity.  No one can know about her alter-ego, especially not the ultra-nosy Duchess Wigtower.  So, when the monster alarm on Princess Magnolia's glitter stone ring goes off while she and the Duchess are sipping hot chocolate and nibbling scones, Magnolia panics.  Does she dare leave her meddling guest in the castle alone?  What if Duchess Wigtower discovers the secrets hidden in Magnolia's broom closet?  Will it mean the end of the Princess in Black's heroic, goat-saving adventures?  Will Princess Magnolia have to be prim and proper all the time?  Gasp!  To save herself from a fate worse than death, she'll have to fight a monster, protect a life, and return home in time to fool the nosy Duchess.  It's a tall order, even for the fastest, most courageous of superheroes.  Is the Princess in Black up to the task? 

As you can probably tell, The Princess in Black—a new middle grade adventure from Shannon and Dean Hale (illustrated by LeUyen Pham)—oozes charm.  It's light, it's fun, it's empowering, it's delightful.  Seriously, what's not to love?  I dare you not to smile through the whole book.  It's impossible, I tell you.  My 6-year-old daughter and I highly recommend this adorable tale from a husband-and-wife team who know how to spin a story just right.  

(Readalikes:  Hm, I can't think of anything.  Can you?)

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To the FTC, with love:  I received a finished copy of The Princess in Black from the generous folks at Candlewick Press.  Thank you!