Book overview
A 2019 Michael L. Printz Honor Book
Disaffected teen historian Claudia McCarthy never wanted to be in charge of anything at the elite Imperial Day Academy. She never even wanted to be noticed. But when she's pulled into the tumultuous and high-profile worlds of the school's Senate and Honor Council, Claudia is suddenly wielding power over her fellow students that she never expected to have and isn't sure she wants.
Claudia vows to use her power to help the school. But there are forces aligned against her: shocking scandals, tyrants waiting in the wings, and political dilemmas with no easy answers. As Claudia struggles to be a force for good in the universe, she wrestles with the questions: does power inevitably corrupt? Can she rise to power without losing herself in the process?
Based loosely on Robert Graves' I, Claudius, Mary McCoy's novel sheds light on the insidious nature of political power through the lens of one very smart and shrewd girl who uses ingenious methods to tell her version of history.
"I, Claudia will fortify your heart while stabbing you in the back. . . . It's Pretty Little Liars by way of ancient Rome--a wild, exciting ride, but full of caution about leadership run amok."
--Anthony Breznican, author of Brutal Youth
"With its addictive voice, inventive storytelling, and one of the most fascinating and original heroines I've ever met, I, Claudia captivated me from the very first page. I couldn't put it down!"
--Gretchen McNeil, author of Ten and #MurderTrending
"Prickly, smart, and laugh-out-loud funny, I, Claudia's political emphasis couldn't be more timely, nor its narrator more delightfully suspect. McCoy's skillful weaving of history's great manipulators into a decidedly contemporary setting is fun, memorable, and utterly original."
--Alison Umminger, author of American Girls: A Novel
"What do imperial Rome and a contemporary L.A. prep school have in common? More than you might think. . . . With psychological thrills, all-too-apt historical asides, and a witty, unforgettable narrator, I, Claudia is a smart and topical novel."
--Kate Hattemer, author of The Land of 10,000 Madonnas and The Vigilante Poets of Selwyn Academy
