You Should See Me in a Crown by Leah Johnson

 

Bibliography

Johnson, L. (2021). You should see me in a Crown. Thorndike Press, a part of Gale, a Cengage Company. 

Plot Summary

When her scholarship falls through, Liz Lighty must figure out how she is going to attend her dream school, Pennington College, and become a doctor. That’s when her brother, who suffers from sickle cell disease, suggests that Liz runs for Prom Queen. The scholarship provided will help her be able to make her dreams of Pennington come true. Liz questions this because she believes that she is too unpopular to win. On her journey to become the prom queen, she starts to fall for one of the fellow prom queen contestants.  

Critical Analysis

In her book, Leah Johnson has created a dynamic black, queer character. Liz Lightly lost her mother to the same disease that her brother has, sickle cell, and both children are being raised by their grandparents. Liz is a talented, motivated musician and student with dreams of becoming a doctor. When her music scholarship falls through, Liz is devastated, but refuses to tell her hardworking grandparents for fear that they will sell their house in order to put her through college. Her brother suggests that she run for prom queen, something that is completely out of her wheelhouse for someone that considers herself an unpopular nerd that flies under the radar. In fact, Liz describes herself as purposefully trying to blend in because of her black, queer, poor background, “when you already feel like everything about you makes you stand out, it just makes more senes to find as many ways to blend in as you can”. 

This book deals with a lot of serious issues. For example, one of the other prom queen contestants, Rachel, makes racial comments to and about Liz throughout the whole book. At every turn, she tries to tear Liz down, and uses Liz’s identity to do so. Central to the story is Liz’s feelings towards Mack, another contestant in the running for queen. While Liz has come out to her family and close friends, she is not publicly out. Liz and Macks developing relationship is kept a secret because Liz fears that if she were to be publicly out, it would hurt her chances of winning queen and therefore her chances of being able to afford Pennington. When Liz finally starts to feel like she is fitting in with the classmates she never interacted with before, Rachel creates a derogatory display that says “Liz Lights is only Queen of the Queers” at their school, outing Liz to everyone. Initially, the principal attempts to ban Liz from the race for this and makes reminders about how Liz is not allowed to bring a date of the same sex to prom. Another teacher and one of Liz’s friends steps in, threatening the principal that this move could be bad for his own public image. 

Ultimately, the story ends with Liz winning prom queen and her school supporting her identity. While it does not address larger societal changes in their midwestern town, at least in her school community, Liz feels seen and accepted. 

Review Excerpts and Awards

Stonewall Children’s and Young Adult Literature Award, Honor 2021

From School Library Journal: “Johnson's pacing is perfect as the story unwinds at dizzying speed, while attacking some tropes and celebrating others. Occasionally, life has fairy-tale endings. Readers will fall in love with this refreshing book that celebrates the beauty of individuality.”

From Kirkus Reviews: “Johnson does an excellent job of portraying the anxiety and internalized self-hatred from being different in a mostly White, affluent small town. Liz and Jordan are Black; supporting characters appear White by default. The queer prom romance you didn’t know you needed.”

Connections

Check out these other LGBTQIA+ reads:

The Henna Wars by Adiba Jairgirdar, ISBN 1624149685

Felix Ever After by Kacen Callender, ISBN 0062820265

The Black Flamingo by Dean Atta, ISBN 0062990306