Will Carlie Ever Adjust to her New Life?

When Carlie’s dad dies everything changes. It's not just her family that's different- it's everything else too. Carlie is sad and she doesn't know how to deal with the strange emotions that she is experiencing. There are some things to look forward to- like the fact that her best friend tells her that the cutest boy at her high school is going to ask her to the Spring Fling. But when Carlie’s mom tells her and her brother that they will be moving to a new apartment and she will no longer be going to the same high school Carlie is devastated. To make matters worse her new school is full of kids that she thinks are very different from her. Fights break out in the halls, there's yelling in the apartment next door to her, and she doesn't feel safe when she's walking from the carport to her apartment. It doesn't help that her brother has a bad attitude and makes quick enemies of some of the Las Pulgas students. Carlie is embarrassed about her new home and is afraid of what she's missing out on at her old school. She's trying to keep her new life separated from her old life. Luckily, she has her friend Sean who she might think of as more than a friend to rely on. She also has someone new coming to her defense when she needs it, and she needs it a lot. Will Carlie ever feel comfortable at her new high school? Can her family ever get to a place where they have some of the happiness that they used to before her father died? You'll have to read this touching book to find out!

Although I have read books by C. Lee McKenzie before, this was the first YA book by her that I’ve read. I didn't have any idea what to expect with The Princess of Las Pulgas, and I was completely thrilled with my reading experience. Carlie is a character who is in a new situation trying to figure out how to act and how to not get on people's bad lists. She's also piecing together what happens to friendships that might not have been as strong as she thought they were. I liked seeing how Carlie learned who and what was important to her and also what really didn't matter. She may not have been a princess, but she definitely had a pampered lifestyle before she moved to Las Pulgas. Readers get to watch Carlie grow and learn.  I could relate to her because she was misunderstood by many people because of the wall she put up to protect herself from her own feelings about her father's death. This book made me laugh and cry. I couldn't put it down until I finished because I had to know how everything turned out for Carlie and her family. If you haven't read this book- I highly recommend you grab a copy. 

Has anyone else read The Princess of Las Pulgas? Or have you read anything else by C. Lee McKenzie? We’d love to hear your thoughts.