Diary of a Would-be Princess

Diary of a Would-be Princess #1

by Jessica Green

"My life stinks. The guys don't want to play with me anymore. The girls don't talk to me, as usual. My parents think I'm a Problem Child and my teacher thinks I'm a Brainless Show-off." Jillian is set a daily journal-writing task by her teacher, Mrs Bright, which becomes a hilarious journey of self-discovery. Jillian wishes she was accepted by the 'Princess' girls in her class, but she just can't seem to fit in. As the year unfolds we witness Jillian's highs and lows, failures and triumphs, and ultimately her acceptance of herself and those around her

Genres: Childrens, School, Humor, Juvenile, Realistic Fiction

192 pages, Paperback

First published January 1, 2005

Reviews

[Farisa · Rating 5 out of 5]

From zero ho hero

Buku ini saya pesan online dari website penerbit Serambi, diskon 50% dan diantar COD. Nah, buku yang saya beli karena harganya murah ini ternyata jauh melampaui ekpektasi saya.

Bukunya baguuuuss... banget Agak kekanakan mungkin karena setting-nya sekolah dasar, tapi tetep aja 'kena' buat orang dewasa. Cerita tentang seorang 'misfit' yang berteman dengan para 'misfit' lainnya (tapi bukan semacam di Glee!). Persahabatan yang terjalin tergambar dengan sangat bagus, apalagi saat mereka mengumpulkan petisi 'anak-baik' bagi teman mereka yang tertangkap mengutil mainan. Dan pesan moral yang berisi bagaimana memperlakukan orang lain dengan sepatutnya.

Bonusnya, ada cara-cara menulis kreatif dari membuat ode sampai pidato.

Dengan format buku PR diary ala anak SD yang pintar berkilah, dibumbui komentar dari ibu guru yang moody, buku ini sukses jadi buku favorit saya.

[Aleetha · Rating 4 out of 5]

“Jika ingin menjadi penulis yang andal, kau harus:
Menulis, Menulis, Menulis, Menulis,
Menulis, Menulis, Menulis
Menulis, Menulis! “

Kalimat di atas adalah kata-kata Mrs. Bright, wali kelas Jillian James. Ia dan teman-teman sekelasnya diberikan sebuah jurnal untuk diisi dengan tulisan tentang apa saja. Mereka juga diperbolehkan untuk menggambari setiap lembarnya. Yang menjadi masalah adalah mereka harus menulisnya setiap hari dan hanya boleh melakukannya pada jam bebas. Satu hal yang agak berat dilakukan oleh Jillian yang menggunakan hampir semua waktunya untuk mengerjakan tugas-tugas Mate-matika, pelajaran yang agak sulit dikuasainya.

Sebelumnya membaca lebih lanjut tentang Jurnal Jillian, jangan tertipu dengan kata “Putri Raja” yang menjadi judul buku ini. Karena tak ada cerita tentang Putri, Pangeran, Raja, kerajaan atau hal-hal semacam itu. Karena Jillian, benar-benar anak perempuan biasa, murid kelas 5B, Sekolah Dasar Flora Heights. Tapi bukan berarti kata “putri raja” di sini tidak berarti apa-apa. Dua kata, yang dipilih oleh Jillian untuk menyebut Geng yang terdiri dari beberapa anak perempuan teman sekelasnya. Sebut saja Skye, Megan , Kirrily, Sarah, dan Karlie. Mereka masuk dalam kelompok populer di sekolah. Dari apa yang dituliskannya di jurnal, besar harapan Jillian untuk bisa masuk dan bergabung dalam kelompok itu.

Sayangnya, oleh anak-anak Geng Putri Raja, Jillian tidak cukup keren untuk bersama mereka. Oleh mereka, Jillian dianggap terlalu culun. Semua usaha Jillian untuk mendekat tidak digubris sama sekali.
Alih-alih mendapat perhatian dari anak-anak perempuan, Jillian malah didekati oleh anak-anak yang tergabung dalam Geng Culun. Lagi-lagi itu adalah nama yang diciptakan Jillian untuk Nigel. Bukannya senang, Jillian merasa sedikit terganggu dengan semua tingkah Nigel. Ia tak peduli niat baik Nigel. Bagi Jillian, kehadiran Nigel hanya menimbulkan masalah baru. Semuanya semakin diperparah ketika Geng Kepala Batu mengambil langkah yang sama. Padahal sebelumnya, mereka terlibat dalam masalah yang tidak menyenangkan. Jillian semakin pusing dibuatnya. Karena itu berarti kesempatan untuk menjadi bagian Geng Putri Raja semakin jauh. Mengingat, Geng Putri Raja tak pernah akur dengan keduanya.

Nampaknya trisemester pertama ini bukan milik Jillian James.

Apa yang saya ceritakan di atas adalah satu dari sekian banyak hal yang ditulis Jillian di jurnalnya. Di lembar-lembar berikutnya masih banyak masalah yang harus diselesaikan Jillian. Semua mungkin terlihat simpel tapi sangat menarik untuk dibaca. Saya suka cara berpikir Jillian dan hampir semua hal yang ada dalam dirinya. Tak jarang dari kalimat-kalimat yang dituliskan membuat saya tertawa kecil. Senang rasanya membawa pulang buku namun sedikit menyesal karena mengapa baru sekarang saya membeli buku yang versi terjemahannya terbit tahun 2007 ini. Namun tak pernah ada kata terlambat untuk melahap buku keren.

Membaca diary orang lain memang menyenangkan, namun tidak berlaku untuk hal sebaliknya. Dan hal itu membuat saya sempat bertanya-tanya begitu sampai di halaman terakhir, jika seandainya Jillian dan teman-teman sekelasnya benar-benar nyata, bagaimana perasaan Jillian ketika tahu bahwa jurnal pribadi yang hanya diketahuinya dan Mrs. Bright, diterbitkan dan dibaca banyak orang. Dalam waktu yang bersamaan saya juga dapat membayangkan gimana reaksi Jillian.

Setelah buku ini, Atria menerbitkan satu lagi buku tentang Jillian James, Diary Si Musuh Geng Kodok , yang masih dalam bentuk format jurnal dan bercerita tentang kehidupan Jillian di sd Flora Height, yang tidak kalau lucu dan seru.

[Cheryll · Rating 3 out of 5]

I read this book because a parent at the school I work at was concerned about the content. A sentence on page 6 says 'I wish I was dead' and on page 7, 'Yesterday was bad but today I REALLY wish I was dead'. Fair enough - I agree that these sentences probably shouldn't be there but the rest of the book shows the main character grow from someone who didn't 'fit in' to a confident young person with lots of friends. I'd be interested to know if other people think I should delete this book from the school library.

[Chrissy · Rating 3 out of 5]

As a 23y.o., this is not my cup of tea. HOWEVER, after picking this up in my storage of books from childhood, I found that I was happy to read it. I especially liked the way the teacher responded to the main character's troubles and helped her navigate finding herself. I was especially shocked by the mention of Hiroshima towards the end. The only unrealistic part was that the main character could write so eloquently. I for sure did NOT know half those words she used when I was in 5th grade...

[Aly V · Rating 5 out of 5]

This was a sweet, enjoyable read. Loved the wit and humor, and the endearing characters. It's a pity I couldn't find copies of Books 2 and 3. Unbelievably, not a copy to be found anywhere! ..?.. I was so looking forward to reading more of Jillan James' journals.

[Megan · Rating 3 out of 5]

I thought this was great when I was 11 or 12, so I'm going a safe 3 stars for nostalgia.

[Hailey · Rating 5 out of 5]

Very good book

[sophie]

rereading some childhood favourites

[Jesslyn · Rating 5 out of 5]

certified slay by year 6 me

[max moon! :) · Rating 3 out of 5]

average

[Indah W · Rating 4 out of 5]

Baru mulai baca, tertarik ama buku ini karena pas iseng2 ngecek review di Goodreads, lumayan ok tanggapannya :))

Sejauh inii.. gua menyukainya ^o^

Apr 19, 2012 (9:23 am)

~.*.~

Selesai juga baca buku ini,isinya ternyata mengasyikkan, diajak "menyelami" isi pikiran anak berumur 11 tahun, kelas 5 SD bernama Jillian James, tentang keinginannya menjadi bagian dari Geng Putri Raja, tentang dirinya yang termasuk anak penyendiri dan tidak termasuk kelompok manapun di sekolah lalu satu per satu berubah ketika untuk pertama kalinya Jillian mempunyai orang yang bisa disebutnya teman :)

Menarik juga karena seluruh cerita disajikan dalam bentuk jurnal yang ditulis Jillian setiap hari Senin sampai Jumat lalu dikumpulkan ke wali kelas mereka, Mrs. Bright yang akan memberi catatan2 di akhir pekan mengomentari apa yang ditulis oleh murid2nya selama 1 pekan terakhir.

Kalo ngga salah ada lanjutannya nih, hmm.. jadi pengen baca :))

[Bridget R. Wilson · Rating 3 out of 5]

Jillian doesn't exactly fit in at her school. At the beginning of the year, she thought she wanted to be a Princess (AKA a popular girl). Nigel insists on being her friend though she doesn't relish his company. Her teacher Mrs. Bright makes them keep diaries. The reader follows Jillian during her 5th grade year as she struggles to fit in, deal with her siblings, and find friends.

What I thought: What a great book! Jillian doesn't mince words in her entries. She's brutally honest which often gets her in trouble with Mrs. Bright. This book brought home the sad reality that kids this young struggle with cliques just as much as high schoolers do. That Jillian is an Aussie brings added interest to the book. The author kindly includes a glossary of Australian terms. I now have a new word for a marker or highlighter (and possibly Sharpies)--texta.

[Helen · Rating 4 out of 5]

Jillian James is a student in Fifth year (fifth grade) in Australia and is having trouble fitting in. She loves reading and writing, but does poorly in maths (mathematics). The story is told in the form of her daily school journal in which Jillian talks about the problems she is having. Her teacher, Mrs. Bright, reads the students' journals every week and adds comments and encouragement. It was interesting to see how Jillian changed as the school year went along. I really enjoyed this book, even though there were a few Australian terms that I didn't quite understand. It was a lovely surprise at the end of the book to find a glossary which defined these "Australianisms". I will definitely add this to my order list for my school's library.

[Heidi · Rating 3 out of 5]

I found this on the library book sale shelf and thought it would be worth $0.50. It's a cute story about a 5th grader who decides who her real friends are. Written as a class journal, it is a very fast read with occasional comments from the teacher. Took me until almost the end, when she starts telling her friends "good onya", to figure out that this story takes place in Australia...might have been helpful to know that detail in order to understand a couple details earlier in the book.

[Charlotte · Rating 3 out of 5]

I was given this book as a present I read it expecting it to be the lamest book I read but it was auctally really good book. Ive never really read any girl books before now as I always like history ficton and biographys. But the book was really interesting I loved it, an its also written about a girl my age so that was even better. Ive reccomended it to all sorts of people too

[Ruby · Rating 4 out of 5]

This is a cute story about a young girl who wants to be part of the Princess “brigade” and school, but as the year progresses, she begins to learn valuable truths about herself and the meaning of true friendship. I think this is a great book for any young girl who is having trouble fitting in because it teaches that fitting in isn’t always all that it’s cracked up to be.

[Linda · Rating 4 out of 5]

Meet Jillian James and her search for her place in the fifth-grade hierarchy and the world. A true testament to the power of humor to overcome the angst of adolescence. Told in diary format, this novel from Australia comes complete with glossary.

[ShirleyUjest Ujest · Rating 4 out of 5]

This is a wonderful book into the mindset of being a kid again and the mental games played, via one girl's journaling.

[Abigail · Rating 5 out of 5]

A really satisfying story of growth and development. I loved the teacher and her impact on the students.

[B · Rating 3 out of 5]

Grade 4 and up - humourous - young girl's journal with problems to do with bullying, peer groups, literacy,
Liked the teacher's insight on Jillian's problems

[ana · Rating 3 out of 5]

lucu, nggemesin, menginspirasi!!!

[Sienna · Rating 4 out of 5]

OMG! This book was so funny, I even used looked up some of the words in book. Hilarious!

[Isabella · Rating 3 out of 5]

I read this 3 years ago when it first came out. I thought it was a pretty typical school situation. It was enjoyable to read at the time but looking but it was a pretty weird book.

[Betsy · Rating 2 out of 5]

childish

[Anne Beier · Rating 2 out of 5]

Takes place in Australia. Has a glossary.

[Jennilys Maldonado]

Sorry I did not read this book:( But I really want to read it!

[Poppy · Rating 5 out of 5]

i loved it i thought that it was sad at first how she didn't have any friends. i actually thought that she looks really pretty on the cover. i thin that the use of those words was funny!!!

[নিটোল · Rating 3 out of 5]

Baccha der boi NSU kan rekhe dise orai bhalo jane :/ Was a good read though :)

[Indah Threez Lestari · Rating 2 out of 5]

984 - 2012

[Nancy · Rating 3 out of 5]

okay, so I read this book when I was ten and I loved it, I just wanted to put that here. So, by my opinion, it would be brilliant for young children.