BOOK CLUB: You Should See Me in a Crown
2 min read
By Leah Johnson
Liz Lighty has always believed she’s too black, too poor, too awkward to shine in her small, rich, prom-obsessed midwestern town. But it’s okay — Liz has a plan that will get her out of Campbell, Indiana, forever: attend the uber-elite Pennington College, play in their world-famous orchestra, and become a doctor.
But when the financial aid she was counting on unexpectedly falls through, Liz’s plans come crashing down . . . until she’s reminded of her school’s scholarship for prom king and queen. There’s nothing Liz wants to do less than endure a gauntlet of social media trolls, catty competitors, and humiliating public events, but despite her devastating fear of the spotlight she’s willing to do whatever it takes to get to Pennington.
The only thing that makes it halfway bearable is the new girl in school, Mack. She’s smart, funny, and just as much of an outsider as Liz. But Mack is also in the running for queen. Will falling for the competition keep Liz from her dreams . . . or make them come true?
Leah Johnson (she/her) is an editor, educator, and author of books for young adults. Her bestselling debut YA novel, YOU SHOULD SEE ME IN A CROWN was the inaugural Reese’s Book Club YA pick, and was named a best book of the year by Cosmo, Marie Claire, Publishers Weekly, and New York Public Library among others. Her sophomore novel, RISE TO THE SUN is forthcoming from Scholastic in 2021
