Tales of Two Princesses

Several years ago I had the opportunity to chat with Jane Yolen. Among other things, she mentioned Not All Princesses Dress in Pink, co-authored by Jane and her daughter Heidi E. Y. Semple.
Since then, I have often reflected on the term "princess." Exactly what is a princess?  Aside from being  the daughter of royalty or wearing a sparkly crown, what constitutes a true princess? 
Princess Decomposa and Princess X are two very different princesses. 

Princess Decomposa and Count Spatula by Andi Watson

Princess Decomposia is a sovereign in the underworld.  Overworked and under appreciated, she eventually learns to take control, not only of the kingdom, but of her own life. Andi Watson's delightful comic reveals some of the qualities that make Dee (as she is known to her friends) a true royal. 

I Am Princess X by Cherie Priest

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Meet a princess who is unconventional, fearless, and loyal. Meet Princess X.

Cherie Priest's first foray into the world of YA literature is a heart-stopping story of friendship and intrigue.  Best friends Libby and May invented Princess X, a sword-wielding blue-haired girl wearing a gold crown and red sneakers. Libby's mother fell asleep while driving across a bridge. The car tumbled into the icy water with Libby and her mother. "Libby was dead. Princess X disappeared." 
Three years later, May discovers a Princess X sticker.  She sets off on a dangerous mission to uncover the mystery surrounding the death of her best friend and the reappearance of Princess X.
This is a can't-put-it-down combination comic and prose thriller.