Best Books for Teenagers About Princesses: 5 Picks

Princess stories do not have to be for little kids. The best books for teenagers about princesses range from fairy-tale retellings with spies and curses to the diary of a thoroughly modern royal. We compared five books on story, reading age and series potential, using only what each listing publishes.

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The picks

#	Product	Shelf Score	Buy
1	Princess Academy by Hale	9.6/10	Buy
2	The Princess Game by Cellier	9.6/10	Buy
3	The Princess Spy by Dickerson	9.6/10	Buy
4	Princess Diaries III by Cabot	9.5/10	Buy
5	Disney Princess Tales Treasury	9.5/10	Buy

1

Princess Academy by Hale

Shannon Hale·9.6/10 Shelf Score

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The Shelf Score runs from 9.2 to 9.8 and weighs fit for the reader or goal (35 points), contents and edition (25), value (25) and listed reading age or level (10, where the listing gives one), using only what the book listing states. How we pick ›

A Newbery Honor-winning princess tale, book 1 of 3, 288 pages.

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Pros

• Newbery Honor-winning book, per the listing
• Book 1 of 3, a natural series start
• Reading age 9 to 13 years stated

Cons

• No warranty term is stated
• 288 pages is mid-range here
• 2025 edition; check which printing you receive

2

The Princess Game by Cellier

Melanie Cellier·9.6/10 Shelf Score

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The Shelf Score runs from 9.2 to 9.8 and weighs fit for the reader or goal (35 points), contents and edition (25), value (25) and listed reading age or level (10, where the listing gives one), using only what the book listing states. How we pick ›

A Sleeping Beauty reimagining with a scheming heroine, 314 pages, book 4 of 5.

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Pros

• Reading age 13 to 18 years, the best teen fit here
• 314 pages, the longest here
• Clean romance with adventure and intrigue

Cons

• No warranty term is stated
• Book 4 of 5; start earlier in the series for full context
• Retelling format suits fairy-tale fans mainly

3

The Princess Spy by Dickerson

Melanie Dickerson·9.6/10 Shelf Score

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The Shelf Score runs from 9.2 to 9.8 and weighs fit for the reader or goal (35 points), contents and edition (25), value (25) and listed reading age or level (10, where the listing gives one), using only what the book listing states. How we pick ›

A Princess and the Frog retelling as historical romance, 304 pages, book 5 of 11.

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Pros

• Full-length clean historical romance
• 304 pages, the second longest here
• Standalone story within an 11-book series

Cons

• No warranty term is stated
• Reading age 15 and up narrows the audience
• Book 5 of 11; series readers get more from earlier books

4

Princess Diaries III by Cabot

Meg Cabot·9.5/10 Shelf Score

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The Shelf Score runs from 9.2 to 9.8 and weighs fit for the reader or goal (35 points), contents and edition (25), value (25) and listed reading age or level (10, where the listing gives one), using only what the book listing states. How we pick ›

Mia Thermopolis returns in book 3 of 11, 288 pages, the series that inspired the film.

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Pros

• Book 3 of an 11-book beloved series
• Reading age 8 to 12 years stated
• The series inspired the feature film

Cons

• No warranty term is stated
• Book 3 of 11; start with book 1 for new readers
• Reading age tops out at 12, young for older teens

5

Disney Princess Tales Treasury

Walt Disney Company Ltd.·9.5/10 Shelf Score

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The Shelf Score runs from 9.2 to 9.8 and weighs fit for the reader or goal (35 points), contents and edition (25), value (25) and listed reading age or level (10, where the listing gives one), using only what the book listing states. How we pick ›

14 original illustrated Disney Princess stories of courage and kindness.

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Pros

• 14 original stories with illustrations
• Empowering messages for each princess
• New stories written and illustrated by many talents

Cons

• No warranty term is stated
• Reading age 5 to 8 years skews young for teenagers
• No page count is stated in the listing

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More picks to compare

• The Ordinary Princess by KayeClassic fairy tale, 128 pages, ages 6-10Check on Amazon
• Disney Princess Character Guide13 princesses, 208 pages, ages 4-11Check on Amazon
• The Princess Tales Vol 2Three fairy tales, 256 pages, ages 8-12Check on Amazon
• Murphy's Law for Kids101 life principles, 154 pages, ages 8-12Check on Amazon

Compare the picks

Specifications are manufacturer rated as listed, collected 19 October 2026.

How we scored them

The Shelf Score weighs performance, build, value, safety and warranty. For teen books, safety means a stated reading age; all five picks state one. None of the five states a warranty term. How we pick explains the weights.

Scores run from 9.2 to 9.8: each book’s point total is placed on that range, so more points always means a higher score. Reading age or level counts on a list where at least one listing gives one, and a book whose listing gives none then scores zero on it. Where no listing gives one, the score is taken over the other 85 points. Books carry no warranty, so warranty is not scored.

How to choose the best books for teenagers about princesses

Retelling or original

The Princess Game reimagines Sleeping Beauty with a heroine who is only pretending to be asleep, the Princess Spy retells The Princess and the Frog as a historical romance, and Princess Academy is an original story about a competition to find the next princess. Retellings suit readers who know the fairy tales; originals suit readers who want a fresh world. See every young adult books list for more teen reads.

Check the reading age

The Princess Spy lists 15 years and up, the Princess Game lists 13 to 18 years, Princess Academy lists 9 to 13 years, and the Princess Diaries lists 8 to 12 years. The Disney treasury lists 5 to 8 years, which skews young for teenagers; it suits reading to younger siblings.

Count the series

Princess Academy is book 1 of 3, the Princess Game is book 4 of 5 in the Four Kingdoms, the Princess Spy is book 5 of 11, and the Princess Diaries is book 3 of 11. A first book in a series is the safer gift; a mid-series book suits a reader already hooked.

Clean content

The Princess Game and Princess Spy listings describe clean romance and inspiring stories, which suits teen readers and the adults buying for them.

Frequently Asked Questions

Which princess book is best for a 13 year old?

The Princess Game lists reading age 13 to 18 years and Princess Academy lists 9 to 13 years, so both fit. Pick the Game for a retelling, the Academy for an original story.

Are these part of series?

All but the Disney treasury are: Princess Academy is book 1 of 3, the Princess Game is book 4 of 5, the Princess Spy is book 5 of 11, and the Princess Diaries is book 3 of 11.

Which pick has the most pages?

The Princess Game at 314 pages, then the Princess Spy at 304 pages, then Princess Academy and the Princess Diaries at 288 pages each.

Is the Disney treasury right for teenagers?

It lists reading age 5 to 8 years with 14 original stories, so it suits younger readers or family read-aloud rather than a teenager reading alone.

Which pick is a historical romance?

The Princess Spy by Melanie Dickerson, a Princess and the Frog retelling listed for 15 years and up, described as a clean and inspiring love story.

Still deciding? Our top pickPrincess Academy by Hale

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Related lists

See every young adult books list and all kids and teens lists. Also see our best young adult books about world war 2.

More lists: young adult books about world war 2 and all kids and teens lists.