The Heir and the Spare

Gr 9 Up—Nineteen-year-old Evie is following in her parent's footsteps by attending the University of Oxford. Despite transferring as a sophomore, Evie is immediately accepted into a group of friends and just as quickly develops a relationship with the debonair "spare heir" to the English throne, Edmund. With Edmund's help, Evie is on a quest to uncover a family secret that unfolds through a series of letters from her deceased mother. While the two grow closer, they face continuous obstacles, including the intrusion of Edmund's parent-approved love interest, Lady Jax, and Evie's common social standing as an American. However, readers will suspect very early on the secret that Evie keeps from Edmund. The plot moves along at a quick, though somewhat predictable pace. Supporting characters are one-dimensional, and Prince Edmund is almost entirely infallible. Fans of Meg Cabot's "Princess Diaries" (HarperCollins) may gravitate toward this one.