Hello! I am here to finally talk about my favorite book that I read in the last month of 2020. **And as always, the work to support the Black community is not done, whether there is media coverage for it or not, so here is the link to click in order to support the Black Lives Matter movement in any way you can, and thank you to StarlahReads for compiling these resources. You can also visit the description of this video by booktuber Jess Owens, which has links to several additional resources about global events.**
So trying to pick my favorite book I read in December was probably the hardest out of every month last year. It was a pretty even tie between You Should See Me in a Crown, a YA contemporary debut by Leah Johnson, and Almost Like Being in Love, an adult contemporary romance by Steve Kluger. I enjoyed so many aspects of both these books, and I often revisit the endings of both when I need to smile (often a tell-tale sign of a favorite for me). In the end, I decided to go with Leah Johnson’s debut, because when it comes to my preferred genre, YA contemporary always wins, and in my mind this was anything I could have ever wanted from that genre. **Additionally, I’d just like to say that this will be my last “Favorite Book of the Month” post for foreseeable future. I’m finding myself struggling to get these posts up, even though they were my favorite books and I want to gush about how great they are. For 2021 I will be participating in the year long “Buzzword-a-thon,” created by Kayla at the YouTube channel booksandlala. So those will act at my “once every month” posts for now, and then I will reevaluate what I want to do in the future.**
Liz Lighty is on track to graduate high school as valedictorian and escape her small midwestern town to attend Pennington College, playing in their world famous orchestra and studying to become a doctor to one day help people suffering like her mom and brother. When she doesn’t receive the financial aid she so desperately needs, Liz is utterly disappointed, until she remembers her prom-obsessed town awards scholarship money to the king and queen of the senior class. Liz enters the race, and she will campaign, volunteer, endure humiliating public events – anything that will award her what she needs to succeed. The only thing Liz hadn’t counted on was Mack, the school’s new girl and fellow competitor who’s smart, funny, and just as much of an outsider. Can Liz achieve her goal while also getting the girl of her dreams?
As I was listening to the audiobook, I found an almost permanent smile plastered on my face. This was just such an adorable read that brings up important issues and conversations while incorporating so, so much joy. No one like Liz (Black, queer, both?) has ever been a serious contender for prom queen, and she feels like she has to work twice as hard in order to gain the recognition necessary for the votes. But Liz never predicted Mack, the new music nerd at her school, to ever become something more than a friend, and she is scared to share her feelings with her friends and family because, deep-down, maybe she’s still scared to admit them to herself. Their dynamic is lovely, as is the progression of their relationship where Liz gives herself the chance to give the romance a go. I loved how Liz reconnects with her former best friend, who made some stupid remarks in his past but has given himself the time and space to grow into a better person. He’s there for Liz when she needs him most, and can count on him to tell her when she’s in the wrong, which is the type of person we all need in our lives. I’m not sure if I have the proper words to articulate how important, I think, this story will be for new generations to come, but I will say that seeing a Black girl learn to love herself, and be able to dance with the girl she loves at her high school prom in a small town in the midwest was absolutely delightful.
While this book is at its core light-hearted and hopeful, I did appreciate the care that went into talking about sickle cell anemia, a genetic blood disorder that affected Liz’s brother and their mother (before she passed away). Liz certainly feels like her brother’s care taker in a way, making sure he takes his medication, caring for him when in times of crisis (when the sickled cells block blood flow and cause pain), and putting him and his needs before hers time and time again. She is also determined to study medicine when she gets to college, to learn more about this disorder and find new ways to care for the people it affects, in memory of her mother. Even though the novel does primarily focus on Liz’s plights to win prom queen, as someone who has studied disorders such as sickle cell in the past, it was well thought-out story-line that just added another layer to this incredible read.
In conclusion, Leah Johnson’s debut may have just set an unreasonable expectation on future YA contemporary books for me. Her story-telling, characters, romance, famiy dynamics, and friendships will have you wanting to reread this book the minute you finish the last chapter. It was simply lovely to read. If you’re in need of a feel-good read that centers Black joy, prom queens, and finding confidence in yourself at the end of high school, I encourage you to pick up You Should See Me in a Crown. I highly recommend.
Where to find You Should See Me in a Crown:
Bookshop
Amazon
Goodreads
Leah Johnson’s site
Scholastic
Thoughts About Things 