As EMPRESS OF THE WORLD opens, Nicola is so excited to be spending the summer at the Siegal Summer Program for Gifted Youth. It's kind of like "The Real World" for high school smarties: the kids live in dorms, eat what they want and take classes. There are no parents, no real tough rules, and lots of new friends to make. Nicola doesn't have high hopes in the last department; she doesn't really have any friends at home, so she assumes she won't make any new ones over the summer. But within the first couple of days, Nicola has a new group of buddies like Kevin, the music theory space cadet, and Katrina, the feisty New York computer geek grrl. And then there is Battle.

Battle Hall Davies is a beautiful blond dancer from North Carolina, the daughter of a preacher. She seems to be everything Nicola isn't: poised, pretty and popular. Soon the two are the best of friends. And then Nicola realizes she is falling in love. With Battle! What will happen for Nicola, who always thought she liked guys, when her best girlfriend steals her heart?

   --- Reviewed by Serena Burns


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