  | You should see me in a crown Author: Johnson, Leah | |
| Price: $6.50 | ||
Summary:
Liz Lighty has always believed she's too black, too poor, too awkward to shine in her small, rich, prom-obsessed midwestern town. Liz has a plan that will get her out of Campbell, Indiana, forever. When the financial aid she was counting on unexpectedly falls through, Liz's plans come crashing down.
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| Accelerated Reader Information: Interest Level: UG Reading Level: 5.90 Points: 12.0 Quiz: 509177 |
Reviews:
Kirkus Reviews (+) (04/15/20)
School Library Journal (00/05/20)
Booklist (05/01/20)
Full Text Reviews:
Booklist - 05/01/2020 It’s senior year and Liz Lighty is headed for her late mother’s alma mater, Pennington University. At the top of her small-town Indiana class, Liz has the grades, the extracurriculars, and even the acceptance letter she needs to make her dreams a reality—never mind that she exists on the outskirts of her school’s social hierarchy. But when the final piece of her puzzle, a scholarship from the university band, falls through, Liz knows she’ll have to do whatever it takes to get to college, even if that means running for prom queen. With the help of friends and family, Liz finds herself fighting for more than a plastic tiara—she fights to be herself. Though elements of high-school clichés are present, Johnson puts a fresh spin on this novel with an unlikely romance, heartwarming friendships, and the tension of being Black, poor, and queer in a small town. Readers will revel in the growth of the entire cast, as their high-school years come to an exciting and wildly unanticipated close. A feel-good title for sure. - Copyright 2020 Booklist.
School Library Journal - 05/01/2020 Gr 9 Up—Grabbing readers from the outset is the cover photo of a bronzed and radiant Liz Lighty, wearing a hand-drawn crown on her mass of natural curls, complete with a supermodel-style gap between her front teeth. And the story only gains momentum from there. Hair is not the only big thing in Liz's life. She has plans to study premed at Pennington College, but when she fails to get the partial music scholarship, she thinks all chances are gone. Her only hope for funding her education is the town's biggest event of the year, the prom, which comes with its own scholarships. In fact, the prom in Campbell County, IN, is "like football in Texas." As a music geek, Liz is out of her league in this world of dresses, makeup, posters with her face plastered everywhere, and the school's paparazzi. With help from her friends and a few tricks up her sleeve, Liz learns to play the game, including hiding her budding queer romance, sheltering her grandparents from her money woes, and stepping into the spotlight. 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. VERDICT Readers will fall in love with this refreshing book that celebrates the beauty of individuality.—Cicely Lewis, Meadowcreek High School, Norcross, GA - Copyright 2020 Publishers Weekly, Library Journal and/or School Library Journal used with permission.
