I, Claudia

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

Children's Book Committee at the Bank Street Center for Children's Literature Best Children’s Books of the Year Booklist Editor's Choice Kirkus Best Teen Books of the Year Booklist Top 10 YA Books for Adults: 2018 Junior Library Guild Selection Michael L. Printz Honor Book Westchester Fiction Award Honorable Mention

“"What do imperial Rome and a contemporary L.A. prep school have in common? More than you might think. Laced with tumult and palace intrigue, I, Claudia pulls back the purple curtain for an inside look at the school's patrician class. With psychological thrills, all-too-apt historical asides, and a witty, unforgettable narrator, I, Claudia is a smart and topical novel, an engrossing reminder that power corrupts.--Kate Hattemer, author of The Land of 10,000 Madonnas and The Vigilante Poets of Selwyn Academy”

"Smart, witty, and featuring an unforgettable (and possibly unreliable) narrator, as well as a seamless stream of political history, the audience that finds this novel will be unable to put it down."—starred, Booklist

"[A] gripping political thriller . . . about power, corruption, and the choices we make both for ourselves and the ones we love."—starred, Kirkus Reviews

"A must-read for YA fans of political thrillers . . ."—School Library Journal

"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 her 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. Laced with tumult and palace intrigue, I, Claudia pulls back the purple curtain for an inside look at the school's patrician class. With psychological thrills, all-too-apt historical asides, and a witty, unforgettable narrator, I, Claudia is a smart and topical novel, an engrossing reminder that power corrupts.—Kate Hattemer, author of The Land of 10,000 Madonnas and The Vigilante Poets of Selwyn Academy

Mary McCoy lives in Los Angeles with her husband and son. She works as a librarian at the Los Angeles Public Library. She is the author of Printz Honor Book I, Claudia.

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