Raising the Griffin
by Melissa Wyatt

I picked this book up because of the title. It had the word griffin in it, and there was no summary on the back of the book. When I found out it was about a prince, I expected it to be some stereotypical fairytale, but it wasn't. Not at all.
Alex comes from a long line of royalty, but they haven't assumed the Rovenian throne in years, not since it was taken over by communism. But now he is called up to become a Prince, and his father to become King. Alex struggles to maintain his identity and freedom under the grip of his new duties. His is faced with many challenges, some that seem insumountable. But with steadfast courage and the help of those close to him, he realizes what it truly means to be Prince Alexei Varenoff.
This book was awesome, and I could hardly put it down at the end. The story is very grounded and real with a well-developed set of characters.
Recommended for all teens, 4 1/2 out of 5 stars.