Indies Introduce

Young Adult

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  You Should See Me in a Crown, Leah Johnson
  Scholastic Press, 9781338503265, June 2, 2020 (Young Adult)
  

  “Liz Lighty is convinced that she’s inherently wrong for the title of prom queen. She’s always felt too poor, too black, too queer to really shine in her prom-obsessed town. But when make-or-break college financing falls through, Liz has no choice: She must run for prom queen and nab the sizeable scholarship that comes with the crown. I loved every second of this book…Liz Lighty for prom queen!”

  Emily Hall Schroen, Main Street Books (St. Charles, MO)
  
  

  “Think about how difficult it is when you don’t adhere to somebody’s ‘norms’ and decide to be you anyway. In her debut, Johnson tackles some serious topics, including how poverty can hinder the success of smart students and how a bigoted, narrow-minded society can keep you from being yourself. But she gives Liz Lightly a fun, self-deprecating sense of humor, and combining those things is hard to do. Maybe it’s because I am also an awkward black girl from Indiana, but I loved this book. We get to see Liz’s funny side and her strong, bent-but-not-broken family.”

  Kathy Burnette, The Brain Lair (South Bend, IN)
  

  “Liz Lighty has gotten into her dream music college, but the financial aid she was hoping for doesn’t come through. As her plans of playing for an elite orchestra start to unravel, Liz remembers her high school gives a huge scholarship to the prom queen every year. In a white, small town obsessed with all things prom, Liz, a queer black girl, doesn’t expect to win, but she will do anything to get that money. As Liz enters the arena with her competition for prom queen, new girl and fellow contestant, Mack, catches Liz’s eye. But does becoming prom queen mean keeping that part of herself secret? A fun, honest, and edgy LGBTQ prom/romance story that readers will love!”

  Lauren Nopenz Fairley, Curious Iguana (Frederick, MD)