You Should See Me in a Crown

4/5 stars

Thanks to Leah Johnson and Scholastic Press for sending me a copy of this book in exchange for an honest review.

Liz Lighty had her plan. She was going to attend an elite college and become a doctor. She would finally leave the town she can’t fit into. When her financial aid plan falls through, she has to do something she thought she’d never do… run for prom queen. Her town cares more about prom than anything else and offers a hefty scholarship for the prom king and prom queen. Suddenly, Liz finds herself in the spotlight and doing what she has to do in order to win… even if it means not being true to herself. 

I really enjoyed this book. It features a girl that’s just “too black, too poor, and two awkward” for her town. Liz was a lovable and relatable character. She had a lot of depth and really encapsulated being the odd-one-out in high school. I also liked the supporting characters. They added details to the plot that helped Liz’s development and growth. They also had some depth to them and helped show how complex high school can be. 

The story was interesting and a quick read. Even though I’ve been out of high school for several years, I couldn’t help but get wrapped up in the allure of prom. The representation was great. I have not read a book like this, and I’m thrilled that more young readers will see a protagonist like themselves on the bookshelves. This was a great book and I can’t wait to read Johnson’s future works.