Princeless Volume 5: Make Yourself Part 1

Princeless is one of my most stolen books in my classroom, so that always bodes well. This latest volume features Adrienne coming to terms with her hair, Bedelia coming to terms with her mom, and frank discussion about how you discover your own attraction to others and how no one quite figures it out the same way. Princeless is a comic with diverse enough cast that it is easy to find someone with whom to identify, and few things are more important in children's literature than that.

I really enjoyed all of Adrienne's curious and thoughtful questions of social norms, It was a strong characteristic from the beginning and something I enjoy about her. It starts off with her thinking about what to do with her hair because a part was burned off. She thinks about the history of her hair (which is naturally kinky) past hairstyles that didn't work, jealous of her sisters naturally beautiful hair. There is even a reference to hair relaxer that tends to burn the scalp in order to straighten hair. There was a lot of sacrifice and time spent just on her hair and she realizes this and Cuts it off! I love the troupe of women cutting of there hair because frankly there is a ton of time invested in it and cutting off or short is just so freeing! We also meet the Dwarves in this one and I love the Warriors and the Lesbian Dwarves! I love that Adrienne is asking questions to the Lesbian dwarf she's currently on an adventure with and learning more about different relationships. There are so many characters on side quests right now I have a feeling it's going to get really epic! ~Ashley