Johnson says she wrote You Should See Me in a Crown for her readers, yes, but also for herself: "I wanted to remind myself that it is possible to be Black and queer and from where you're from, and still get all the best things out of life."
"You Should See Me in a Crown" is a quietly radical novel about a queer black prom queen in small-town Indiana. It's about Liz Lighty, a queer black girl from Indiana who has always believed she was too poor and too awkward to make a mark in her small, rich town. Since the college financial aid money she depended on fell through, her only option is to run for prom queen, which has a scholarship attached. But along the way, Liz falls for the competition.
Leah Johnson decided it was her turn to be prom queen. In an orange Zara pantsuit, prom court sash and a crown her friends bought for her off Amazon, the author walked onto the Ben Davis High School bleachers with her debut novel, thinking about what it was like to grow up in Indianapolis and how far she’s come since.
Johnson, author of the best-selling book You Should See Me in a Crown, reflects on the success of her recent debut novel, growing up in the Midwest, life during the pandemic, the recent rise of Black Lives Matter, and what’s next.
We are happy to assist you with your interest in booking a speaker or celebrity for your event, your organization, and the type of talent you would like to secure, and an agent will be in touch shortly.
Fill out the form below to or call us at 1-800-698-2536 if need immediate assistance.
We respond to most inquiries within 4 hours. Under special circumstances, it may take up to 24 hours.
This website is a resource for event professionals and strives to provide the most comprehensive catalog of thought leaders and industry experts to consider for speaking engagements. A listing or profile on this website does not imply an agency affiliation or endorsement by the talent.
All American Entertainment (AAE) exclusively represents the interests of talent buyers, and does not claim to be the agency or management for any speaker or artist on this site. AAE is a talent booking agency for paid events only. We do not handle requests for donation of time or media requests for interviews, and cannot provide celebrity contact information.