“I’m going to have to come up with something really good to get you back into the public’s good graces. I have no idea what, but trust me. I’ll think of something.” Well that’s what Theodora pays her agent $100,000 a year for, isn’t it? Theodora Twist is the girl everyone wants to be. She’s Hollywood’s hottest young actress. Producers court her, fans mob her, and the tabloids cover everything. Emilys life is Boring with a capital B. She’s a 16-year-old nobody to everyone, including her own mother. The only thing remotely interesting about Emily? She lives in Theodora Twist’s former house. But she’s about to get Twisted. How? On a reality show meant to clean up Theodora’s party girl rep—with Emily’s family as host. It’s just another role for Theodora. Emily is in panic mode. This isn’t just a part . . . it’s her life.

An Italian historian’s prize-winning biography of the sixth-century Byzantine empress. Theodora of Byzantium rose from humble beginnings to become one of the most powerful women of the ancient world. As the wife of Emperor Justinian, she was more than a mere figurehead, acting as Justinian’s partner in both politics and life. Though she was ruthlessly criticized by her contemporaries, historian and biographer Paolo Cesaretti shows her to be an ambitious woman and brilliant ruler whose cunning saved the empire time and again. She defied the conventions of her time and triumphed over those who sought to defame and destroy her. This meticulously researched and richly detailed biography won Italy’s prestigious Ginzano Cavour Prize.

“I’m not sure I’m cut out for parenthood. It’s not in my plan. All right, I haven’t actually got a plan, but if I had one, this wouldn’t be in it. I don’t even likebabies—nasty, small, noisy, smelly things that take over your life. But this is a different baby. This is not just a baby; this is our baby ...”Newlywed Theodora discovers a slight oversight she and Kevin made on their honeymoon. Now she’s gained an important new subject for her famous diary—but at such a cost!“Tom opened the oven door and got out the most enormous chocolate pudding and placed it on the table in front of me. ‘Especially for you, dear sister,’ saidAriadne. I swallowed hard a few times then took off for the bathroom. Ariadne looked at Tom and said, ‘I told you so.’” What? Theodora sick (literally) of chocolate? How will she survive without her favorite food group? Answer: with typical irrepressible humour that finds much to laugh at about marital bliss, faith, friendships, and the foibles of pregnancy. But will she be reunited with her lost love? Never fear—Theodora and chocolate can’t be separated forever.

Theodora: Actress, Empress, Whore, Stella Duffy's chronicle of this amazing woman's early years, delighted readers with its exquisite blend of historical detail and vivid storytelling. Now, The Purple Shroud chronicles Theodora at the height of her power, bringing the ancient world alive in another unforgettable, epic saga. Theodora and Justinian have been crowned Emperor and Empress, but ruling an empire is no easy task. The two factions of Christianity are still battling for dogmatic supremacy, the Empire's borders are not secure, and Theodora worries about the ambitions of Justinian's two best generals. But the most pressing concern is close to home: Constantinople's two factions, the Blues and the Greens, are beginning to unite in their unhappiness with rising taxes. When that unhappiness spills over into all-out violence, thousands are killed (including someone very close to Theodora) and many of the City's landmarks are destroyed, including Theodora's beloved Hagia Sophia. In the aftermath of the riots, Theodora guides Justinian in gaining back the love and trust of the people, her unerring instinct for what the people want proving invaluable. Justinian promises to rebuild the Hagia Sophia to be even more spectacular than before. Theodora comes to realize that being the Augusta is simply another role she must play, though the stakes are much higher and there is no offstage. It's a role she was born to play.

Madeline finished freshman year at Freeport Academy just as invisible as when she started. But after a summer in Italy with her sophisticated aunt, she returned as a sophomore with cool clothes, European attitude, and a hot new boyfriend, Thom. Maddie's part of the in crowd . . . the Mosts. Her best friend, Caro? Most Beautiful. Her other friends, Fergie, Annie, and Selena? Most Stylish, Most Hilarious, and Most Hot, respectively. And Madeline? Most Popular. Her life is great. While it lasted. Now Thom's moved to California—so Maddie's no longer the girlfriend of a popular guy. The guy Caro likes only has eyes for Madeline—can you say social suicide? And a group of misfits at school are begging Madeline to help make them over. Madeline knows there's a fine line between being a Most . . . and being a Not. She doesn't want her status to change . . . but what if she doesn't have a choice? Fun summer fiction from Melissa Senate, THE MOSTS is sure to be a favorite among tweens and teens looking for a great beach read.

In this thrilling sequel to New York Times bestselling mystery book for teens The Similars, Emma must figure out who she really is, decide between two boys with the same face, and stop a dangerous revenge plan. Emma is still reeling from the events of her junior year at the elite boarding school Darkwood. Not only is her best friend, Oliver, shockingly alive, but the boy she loves—his genetic copy, Levi—is still on the island where he grew up, stranded with his deranged guardian. More importantly, she is grappling with who she really is. Emma can't accept the hard truths she learned last year and refuses to share her secrets with anyone, isolating herself from the Similars and Ollie. But when more of the Similars' creator's plot is revealed, Emma and her friends will have to try to stop him from putting a plan into motion that could destroy everyone she loves. Don't miss this propulsive conclusion to The Similars duology! Perfect for people looking for: gifts for teen girls 16-18 suspense thriller books for teens the best boarding school books Praise for The Similars duology: "Plenty of action...and the end is a deftly handled twist on a twist that will confound readers in a good way."—Booklist on The Pretenders "An engaging ride...the novel calls attention to larger questions of identity, selfhood, and what it means to be human."—Kirkus on The Pretenders "Fascinating. I was captivated."—Francine Pascal, bestselling author of the Sweet Valley High and Fearless series on The Similars "[A]s immersive and fast-paced as it is shrewd, compelling and heartbreaking."—Ray Kurzweil, inventor, futurist, and New York Times bestselling author on The Similars Also in this series: The Similars (Book 1)

Theodora and Dexter must dispose of a cursed beetle and thwart a lurking detective in this second book in the sweet and spooky illustrated middle grade series that’s The Addams Family meets Nancy Drew. After her many adventures, ten-year-old Theodora Hendrix feels confident she can handle anything… Until the unpleasant Inspector Shelley and her pet rat, Ratsputin, come to make trouble and spy on the Monster League of Monsters. Theodora recruits her friend Dexter to help her keep the detective off the scent of her monster family. But when Theodora uncovers a cursed beetle, their mission seems impossible. Can they destroy it without attracting the inspector’s attention?