The Princess and the Grilled Cheese Sandwich
by Deya Muniz
Review By: Ellen Pristash
Published: 2023; Little, Brown Ink
Genre: Graphic Novel, Young Adult Fiction, LGBTQ, Fantasy, Fantasy Comics, Lesbian, Romance Fiction, Emotions and Feelings
Audience: 8, 9, 10, 11, 12
Triggers: None
Goodreads Review: A funny, heartfelt YA romance about finding love—and lots of grilled cheese sandwiches—in the place you least expect it, from rising talent Deya Muniz. Lady Camembert wants to live life on her own terms, without marriage. Well, without marrying a man, that is. But the law of the land is that women cannot inherit. So when her father passes away, she does the only thing she can: She disguises herself as a man and moves to the capital city of the Kingdom of Fromage to start over as Count Camembert. But it’s hard to keep a low profile when the beautiful Princess Brie, with her fierce activism and great sense of fashion, catches her attention. Camembert can’t resist getting to know the princess, but as the two grow closer, will she able to keep her secret? A romantic comedy about mistaken identity, true love, and lots of grilled cheese.
Review: I will begin by saying a student suggested this book to me and I am glad that I took the time to read it. The story is set in a time period when women had not rights and begins with Lady Camembert and her father disagreeing about finding her a husband and her saying, “Papa, you must know by now I don’t like men.” He does know but also knows that an unmarried women can not claim an inheritance. So, her father suggests Lady Camembert become a man by disguising herself and live a quiet life. Make everyone believe she is his son, and she agrees. Her father dies, she takes his clothes as hers, keeps one faithful servant named Feta, moves to the Capital Fondue, and starts a new life as Count Camembert. Keeping a low profile is difficult especially when Princess Brie is having a No Furs Ball, “Count Camembert” is starry eyed over the princess. It can be seen in the drawing on page 17. Catches the princess’ attention but the princess is skeptical because she thinks she has heard that name before. At a tea with the Princess and friends, her identity is suspect to Lady Gorgonzola. Illustration of hearts in her eyes (page 43) show she begins to fall for Princess Brie.
They bond over fashion and grilled cheese sandwiches. The plan had a couple flaws, a Count is too low to marry a Princess, and her disguise would falter. Lady Gorgonzola confronts the Princess about her feelings of the “Count” being a girl and how horrible it is to be stuck in a loveless marriage for sake of convenience; asks her to “think of everyone else in the kingdom who is in a situation like yours but has not power to change it.” The Princess and the “Count” later share a kiss and ends with the wedding of Princess Brie and Lady Camembert. It's a wonderful story that tackles identity, self-acceptance, honesty with yourself and others. The writing is light and witty, but it doesn’t make light of the overall messages. The illustrations are well done, facial expressions are on point with the text. The coloring is clean, and light. The characters are portrayed as mature without being too old. I would say this is for grades 9 and up.
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