Dueling Princes

The third book in a series, and the third I have read this week in this series. This book has more depth to it than others you might compare it to (Princess Diaries, Angus, Thongs and Full Frontal Snogging, etc). The narrator, Calypso Kelly, is an American born girl who's mother has forced her to attend a British boarding school. In this third book (and it is best to read them in order) Calypso's two main passions are really taking off: fencing and writing. And perhaps that is what gives her more depth, while she does obsess a bit over guys, she keeps them in as much perspective as a 14 (nearly 15) year old can. She and Prince Freddie, as usual are having their misunderstandings, it is well established by now that he gets a bit insecure as far as Calypso is concerned. On top of those good things, however, she also has to deal with her mother having hopped onto the L.A. bandwagon of therapists, and her midlife crisis--which includes Sarah moving back to England and leaving Bob in L.A. to work on his "Big One". And the horror of having Honey O'Hare as her roommate. As usual Calypso narrates with a wonderfully engaging style. I wouldn't reccomend this for younger readers because it does have some coarse language in it, 14 the youngest, 15 is probably the target audience.

The third book in Tyne O' Connell's Calypso Chronicles, Dueling Princes is an amazing and hilarious read. Calypso Kelly is back at the posh English boarding school of St. Augustine's after spending the half-term break at her friend Star's Derbyshire estate kissing her boyfriend, Prince Freddie. With the British National Fencing Competition coming up, she and Portia, another of her friends, are determined to make the national team. Too bad a royal monkey wrench is thrown into her plans by the arrival of her "mad madre", who is separating from Calypso's father, Bob. On top of all this, she's having problems with Freds and they might even break up! Drastic measures are needed, of course, and so Calypso attempts the unheard of. She sneaks into the boys' boarding school, Eades, where she is caught by the house matron, and worst of all, Freddie, in someone else's bathrobe necking champagne. Before she can explain, the house matron carts her back to St. Augustine's to face the wrath of her mother... and Sister Constance. With crazed parents, a fanatical fencing master, and a small nun with a lot of energy all on the loose, will Calypso ever be able to keep her prince and win her bouts on the fencing piste?

Calypso Kelly, the American import at the British prep school St. Augustine's, returns for a third adventure in this fun series. Calypso is starting to get serious about fencing now, and will be competing in tournaments that will bring her to the attention of scouts and even the British National team. Her Olympic dream is getting closer. In the meantime, her mother comes to England, saying she has left Calypso's father in Los Angeles and wants to start a new life near her daughter. Calypso thinks it would be nice to see more of her mom if only she didn't pinch her cheek and call her Boojie in public. What about her father? His angry email responses to Calypso show her that a solution to this separation seems to be nowhere in sight. Prince Freddie continues to be her boyfriend, though several miscommunications put this in jeopardy. When she tries to break into his school, she gets caught in a very compromising situation that could keep her out of some important fencing matches. On top of all that, school exams are coming up. How can one girl from LA balance it all? Fans of Gossip Girl and Louise Rennison's Georgia Nicolson series will enjoy The Calypso Chronicles. Dating a prince may be the stuff of fantasies, but Calypso has the same doubts and dreams of many young women. Her dating life is just one aspect of this well-rounded, likeable character. --- Reviewed by Amy Alessio