WINNING

House of Cards meets Election in this wickedly entertaining story about an uber-ambitious high school junior.

Who ever said being nice would get you to the top? Certainly not Alexandra Miles. She is not nice, but she is more than skilled at playing the part. She floats through the halls of Spencer High, effortlessly orchestrating the actions of everyone around her, making people bend to her whim without even noticing they are doing it. She is a firs-class manipulator, yet everyone adores her. She is the queen of Spencer High - and it is time to make it official.

Alexandra has a goal, you see - Homecoming Queen. It is not just for the sake of rah, rah, hight school. Her ambitions are far grander, and homecoming is just the first step to achieving them. So when peppy, popular Erin Hewett moves to town and seems to have a real shot at the crown, Alexandra has to take action.

With the help of her trusted friend Sam, she devises her most devious plot yet. She will introduce a third competitor in the mix... one that no one saw coming, one whose meteoric rise - and devastating fall - will destroy Erin's chances once and for all.

Alexandra can run a scheme like this in her sleep. What could possibly go wrong?

By day, Lara Deloza works for the International Literacy Association, a global advocacy and membership organization dedicated to advancing literacy for all. By night, she writes books for tweens and teens. In her spare time (what is that?), she likes to cook tasty things, watch too much television, and read until she cannot keep her eyes open. Lara lives in Delaware, where she grew up.