You Should See Me in a Crown

by Leah (Young adult author) Johnson, Leah Johnson · 2020

Liz Lighty has always felt out of place in her small, affluent Indiana town—too Black, too poor, too awkward to ever fit in. Her escape plan is crystal clear: earn a scholarship to the elite Pennington College, join its famed orchestra, and become a doctor. When her expected financial aid falls through, the only lifeline left is the school’s prom king‑and‑queen scholarship, a spotlight she dreads. Determined to secure her future, Liz throws herself into a gauntlet of social‑media trolls, rival contestants, and humiliating public events. The only thing that makes the battle bearable is Mack, the new girl who’s just as sharp, funny, and outsider‑like as Liz—yet also vying for the crown. As rivalry turns to romance, Liz must decide whether love will derail her dreams or help her claim the crown and a ticket out of Campbell forever.