MEG CABOT - The Princess Diaries 2 (level 2)

1 The Private Diary of an "Ordinary" Teenager
My name is Mia Thermopolis and this is my diary. Some things about my life are very ordinary. I'm fourteen years old, and I live in New York City. I live in an apartment in Greenwich Village, on the west side of the city. I live with my mom, Helen, and my cat, Fat Louie. My mom is an artist. She paints pictures.
I'm a freshman — a ninth grade student at Albert Einstein High School. My friends, Tina Hakim Baba, Shameeka Taylor, Ling Su, and Lilly Moscovitz are also in the ninth grade. Lilly is my best friend.
Other things about my life aren't ordinary at all. Last month, I heard some amazing news. I'm not just an ordinary teenager, I'm also a princess! I'm the Princess of Genovia. Genovia is a small country in Europe near the border of France and Italy. My dad, Philippe Renaldo, is the Prince of Genovia and I'm his heir. When he dies, I'M become the ruler of Genovia. Every day after school finishes, I have princess classes with my dad's mother, Grandmere.
Grandmere is the Dowager Princess of Genovia. She is teaching me to be a princess. Grandmere wears purple clothes and she smokes cigarettes all the time. She speaks French and wears lots of makeup. She is scary — everyone is frightened of her.
My mom and dad never got married, but they're still friends. Mom is dating my Algebra teacher, Mr Frank Gianini — she's going out with him. I'm happy for her. I like Mr Gianini, but I don't like Algebra. I'm flunking Algebra — I fail every Algebra test. So I have extra Algebra classes.
Sometimes Lilly's brother, Michael, helps me with my Algebra. I've got a crush on Michael. I love him, but he doesn't know about my feelings. I'd like to go out on a date with Michael.
Monday, October 20th. 8:00 a.m.
I'VE JUST HAD A BIG SHOCK! I was eating breakfast, when my mom came into the kitchen. She had just come out of the bathroom. Her face was very pale and her hair looked terrible.
"Are you sick, Mom?" I asked her. "Do you have a headache? Do you want some aspirin?"
"No. No thanks," said my mom. Her voice was really weird. It sounded strange. I was very worried.
"What's the problem, Mom?" I asked. "What's wrong?"
"Mia, I'm pregnant!" said my mom in a shocked voice.
Suddenly her eyes were full of tears, hut she was smiling. *Tm going to have a baby!"
I can t believe it. My mom is having a BABY! And its father is MrGianini, my Algebra teacher!
My mom and dad weren't married when I was bom. Fourteen and a halt years ago. Mom and Dad fell out of love with each other- My mom didn't want ro marry my dad. So she became a single parent. She looked after me without anyone's help. I live with Mom in America, and my dad lives in Genovia. My dad sends us money each month.
Why wasn't Mom more careful? She is an adult, but sometimes she behaves like a teenager. She doesn't think carefully. And now she's going to be a single parent a^ain.

My problems
1. I'm the tallest girl in the freshman class.
2. I'm a freak — I look strange. I'm very thin and I have huge feet.
3. Last month, my mom started dating my Algebra teacher.
4. Last month, my dad told me, "You are the Princess of Genovia-"
5. I have princess classes with my scary grandmother.
6. In December, I must go on TV in Genovia. I have to introduce myself to the Genovian people.
7. I don't have a boyfriend.

Algebra class
Mr Gianini hasn't spoken to me about Mom's pregnancy. Maybe my mom hasn't told him about the baby.