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You Should See Me in a Crown by Leah Johnson
Scholastic Inc.
Publication Date: June 2, 2020
ISBN: 9781338503265
Liz is an awkward senior in high school who gets good grades, plays in the school band and has a small group of friends, but she has always felt different. Liz is poor, Black, queer, has anxiety, and is far from being part of the in-crowd. She dreams of going to college, but when money she was counting on falls through she must step far outside of her comfort zone in order to win a scholarship by running for Prom queen. And in this small town, Prom is serious business. She is thrust into the spotlight, has to spend time with an old frenemy, and falls for the competition.
This book is lighthearted and a lot of fun, with a cute and unexpected romance and a great message about being yourself. Its bold cover, short chapters, familiar themes, and contemporary setting will draw readers in, and the fun drama will keep them hooked. Through first person perspective, readers go along with Liz through an exciting and surprising month leading up to senior prom, filled with heartwarming friendship moments, and of course, lots of drama. It is relatable to anyone who has ever felt a little out of place.
For fans of light hearted rom-coms with relatable, awkward characters, such as The Summer of Jordi Perez by Amy Spalding, How (Not) To Ask a Boy to Prom by S.J. Goslee, Date Me, Bryson Keller by Kevin van Whye, or Netflix’s Never Have I Ever.
–Jade Valenzuela
