You Should See Me in a Crown 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,.. Read more.
Trigger & Content Warnings:
- Classism
- Racism
- Queermisia, specifically lesbomisia & transmisia
- Public outing
- Anxiety & panic attacks
- Emesis
- Hospital visits due to medical emergency
- Chronic illness (sickle cell anemia)
- Death of a mother recounted