The upcoming “The Princess Diaries” graphic novel (out June 30) made me feel old.

This is not a bad thing.

For the target audience, in fact, I’d say it’s a downright awesome thing.

Let me explain.

I was already an adult (more or less) when the original “The Princess Diaries” novel by Meg Cabot was released in 2000, so the first time I did more than glance at it on my way through a bookstore was in 2001, when the original movie was released.

That did get my attention. Julie Andrews? In her first Disney movie since “Mary Poppins”?? Yes, please. And I really enjoyed Anne Hathaway in her first performance. I watched it, enjoyed it and moved on. At some point, I read the first novel out of an interest in YA fiction. Enjoyed that too. 

I was somewhat aware that there was more after that. I don’t remember a ton about the second movie, and I haven’t read the other novels or spin-offs at all. Full confession. 

And now, 26 years later, a writer of children’s books and graphic novels myself, I found myself reading “The Princess Diaries” again, in graphic-novel form. And it’s a delight.

There’s just intrinsically something about the story that holds its own a quarter of a century later with only minor changes. While the original book(s) and movies were rife with references to their time, the absence doesn’t reflect the core of what’s essentially a modern-day fairy tale: Awkward girl struggling with normal young-teen things (school, parents, friends, relationships) finds out she’s an actual princess. 

And being an actual princess? Well, it’s not necessarily the happily-ever-after life that you’d think. It’s work. And drama. And you’re still dealing with all the issues that you had before the whole princess thing. 

Do I, as a middle-aged mom, have to necessarily feel that time of my life first-hand again to appreciate this? Nope. Do I think kids that age will appreciate it even more? Yep.

And this is an excellent time for it. If a 13-year-old read the original novel in 2000, they’re now 39. More than old enough to have a 13-year-old of their own. (And this is where I’m feeling old.)

The illustrations by Bethany Crandall are adorable. Mia is perhaps more attractive than her own self-description, but don’t most of us feel like freaks in our own bodies, to one extent or another, when we’re freshmen? 

There is some imagery that, to me, evokes the first movie, but the graphic novel does keep some elements that were changed for it, though no spoilers here. Graphic novels, of necessity, often must cut some elements for space, but that’s well done here. The format also allows for artistic elements that further evoke an actual diary, with Mia’s doodles and charts filling out background information for the tale.

In short, “The Princess Diaries” graphic novel by Meg Cabot and Bethany Crandall is a charming entry to the story for a younger audience, who may be pleased to find the wealth of stories available to them once they dip into it. 

All the better for when “The Princess Diaries 3” movie—just recently reported to be moving forward—comes out for all those fans, new and old.

About the writer

Jill Keppeler is a writer and editor from Buffalo, N.Y.