The following version of this book was used to create this study guide: Johnson, Leah. You Should See Me in a Crown. Scholastic Press, 2020.

Liz Lighty spends the lunch period in the cafeteria with her friends, annoyed at the various prom invitations. She does wish she had somebody to invite her to the dance, so she feels lonely that she is single and has no interest in any of her fellow students. Liz is dreaming of attending the music program at Pennington College in the coming year and studying to become a doctor. She waits to hear from a scholarship application which would pay for college.

Liz is rejected from the scholarship and begins to despair because she knows her grandparents do not have the money for the expensive tuition. Her younger brother, Robbie, suggests that she run for prom queen and the hefty scholarship awarded to the winner. As her town is obsessed with all things prom, Liz is reluctant to enter the campaign and subject herself to gossip and scrutiny. Liz is also far from the most popular girl in school and suffers from a social anxiety brought on by her mother’s tragic passing from sickle cell disease.

Liz agrees, however, and her friends help to plan her campaign. As the prom season gets underway, Liz must complete various community service projects that bring her closer to her former best friend, Jordan Jennings, and another new girl that Liz is romantically interested in, Amanda. Liz’s friend, Gabi, urges her to keep her sexuality a secret so she does not alienate the conservative students at the school despite how much it hurts her. Gabi continues making changes to Liz’s campaign and her outward presentation that make Liz question the strength and basis of their friendship. Liz grows closer to Jordan as a result of her doubts about Gabi, and the pair are able to repair the hurt feelings that led to the dissolution of their friendship when they started high school.

Liz and Amanda confess their feelings for each other and begin dating secretly so as not to derail Liz’s prom campaign. Over time, Amanda grows exasperated with hiding their relationship and not being able to meet Liz’s friends or enjoy the pre-prom excitement that all of the other couples get to experience. The pair breaks up and Liz begins to realize how much of a toll the prom queen dream is taking on her.

As prom draws closer, Liz’s sexuality is revealed to the school from an anonymous source, and she realizes that she wants to be with Amanda. They fight with the school administration to be able to attend the dance together and they win. At prom, Liz is proud of herself and the strides she took to overcome and manage her anxiety. She stands up for herself to her friends, and she is crowned prom queen. She wins a scholarship and renews her dreams of attending Pennington.