[All-American Girl 01] • All-American Girl

The Barnes Noble Review

Meg Cabot, bestselling author of The Princess Diaries, shoots off literary fireworks in this capital romance about an artistic alterna-girl, whose world is rocked when she saves the life of the U.S. president and gets chummy with his son.

Samantha Madison is an average, cool Washington, D.C., teen: She loves Gwen Stefani (who doesn't?), can draw like nobody's business, and enjoys being opposite to her sister's annoying ultra-social personality. When she ditches art class one day, however, she doesn't expect to be jumping on the back of a wannabe presidential assassin. Soon, the young hero is receiving worldwide acclaim for her bravery, having dinner with her family at the White House, and is even being named teen ambassador to the UN. As if this weren't enough, she and David, the president's son, strike up a friendship that everyone wants the dirt on, which starts to give her romantic "frisson" feelings. Unfortunately, Sam thinks her sister's boyfriend, Jack, is the true love of her life, and she makes a few wrong turns that could screw up what she's developing with David. Will she ever stop following what she knows and start following what she sees?

With a lively story line that will leave you dreaming about dates with American "royalty," All-American Girl is a fast-paced heartwarmer that will quickly zoom to No. 1 on fans' top ten lists. Sam's realistic language and emotions make her a well-developed and likable character, and the relationship between her and David -- although totally coincidental -- has enough unexpected surprises to keep readers glued. A teenage romance with Secret Service agents and presidential motorcades, this modern-day fairy tale is star-spangled fun. Shana Taylor