Much like her previous novel The Princess Diaries, Cabot’s All American Girl imagines its heroine in a somewhat fantastical, although delightful, situation. Nevermind that Sam’s family lives in Washington, D.C., her younger sister attends school with the President’s son, and she takes her dogs on walks through the grounds of the National Cathedral. Sam is an ordinary sophomore who loves Gwen Stefani, draws during class, dies her wardrobe black in protest, and both envies and loathes her popular older sister, Lucy. That is, until she foils an assassination attempt on the President outside of the Capitol Cookie store while skipping drawing class. Suddenly, Sam finds herself wrapped up in a world of paparazzi and politicians, and she is even appointed US Teen Ambassador to the United Nations! Can Sam handle the sudden transformation from a quirky, artsy and boyfriend-less teen to the nation’s hero and the object of the first son’s affections? Cabot’s novel proves that sometimes what you have wished for most does not turn out exactly as planned.
Although the idea of a rags-to-riches storyline may sound cheesy at first, Cabot develops rich characters that set this story apart from all the other Cinderella-esque novels out there. Sure, most girls have never lived in Morocco because of their dad’s job and have never been invited for dinner with the President. But tween girls will love All American Girl’s hilarious scenarios and relatable characters, like Sam’s best friend, Catherine, whose strict, religious parents force her to stay in on Sundays and allow her to wear only knee-length skirts. For those who enjoyed The Princess Diaries, this book is a must-read!
Chabot, M. (2002). All American Girl. New York: Harper Collins. ISBN 0-06-029469-8
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