ParentsPick

You Should See Me in a Crown — Content Guide for Parents

By Leah JohnsonScholastic Incorporated2021ISBN 9781338503296336 pages
You Should See Me in a Crown

Themes present

Violence
Racial/cultural content
Gender roles
LGBTQ+ themes

Not found

Scary contentReligious themesProfanityClimate changeSexual identity

Content themes

Factual summary of themes present in this book. No opinion — just the facts.

Violence

PRESENTmedium

The narrative includes themes of homophobia and mentions of death, although these are not graphically depicted. It addresses the anxiety and internalized self-hatred stemming from being different in a challenging social environment.

Scary content

Not foundhigh

No scary content detected in the book's narrative based on the search results.

Religious themes

Not foundhigh

No religious content detected in the book's narrative based on the search results.

Racial/cultural content

PRESENThigh

The book addresses themes of race and identity, particularly focusing on the experiences of a Black girl in a predominantly white school. It critiques societal expectations and racism, framing these issues as significant obstacles for the protagonist.

Profanity

Not foundhigh

No profanity detected in the book's narrative based on the search results.

Climate change

Not foundhigh

No climate themes detected in the book's narrative based on the search results.

Sexual identity

Not foundhigh

No explicit sexual content is mentioned in the search results, focusing instead on themes of romance and identity.

Gender roles

PRESENThigh

The narrative challenges traditional gender roles by featuring a strong female protagonist who defies expectations in her pursuit of becoming prom queen. It promotes themes of empowerment and self-acceptance.

LGBTQ+ themes

PRESENThigh

The book features a queer protagonist, Liz Lighty, navigating her identity as a Black girl in a predominantly white and affluent environment. It includes themes of LGBTQ+ romance and self-acceptance, normalizing queer experiences within the narrative.

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About this book

A TIME Magazine Best YA Book of All Time

A Stonewall Honor Book

A Reese's Book Club YA Pick

Liz Lighty has always believed she's too black, too poor, too awkward to shine in her small, rich, prom-obsessed midwestern town. But it's okay -- Liz has a plan that will get her out of Campbell, Indiana, forever: attend the uber-elite Pennington College, play in their world-famous orchestra, and become a doctor.But when the financial aid she was counting on unexpectedly falls through, Liz's plans come crashing down . . . until she's reminded of her school's scholarship for prom king and queen. There's nothing Liz wants to do less than endure a gauntlet of social media trolls, catty competitors, and humiliating public events, but despite her devastating fear of the spotlight she's willing to do whatever it takes to get to Pennington.The only thing that makes it halfway bearable is the new girl in school, Mack. She's smart, funny, and just as much of an outsider as Liz. But Mack is also in the running for queen. Will falling for the competition keep Liz from her dreams . . . or make them come true?

Frequently asked questions

  • Is You Should See Me in a Crown appropriate for a 7-year-old?

    The narrative includes themes of homophobia and mentions of death, although these are not graphically depicted. It addresses the anxiety and internalized self-hatred stemming from being different in a challenging social environment. No scary content detected in the book's narrative based on the search results.

  • Does You Should See Me in a Crown have violence?

    The narrative includes themes of homophobia and mentions of death, although these are not graphically depicted. It addresses the anxiety and internalized self-hatred stemming from being different in a challenging social environment.

  • Does You Should See Me in a Crown have scary content?

    No scary content detected in the book's narrative based on the search results.

  • Does You Should See Me in a Crown have religious themes?

    No religious content detected in the book's narrative based on the search results.

  • Does You Should See Me in a Crown have racial/cultural content?

    The book addresses themes of race and identity, particularly focusing on the experiences of a Black girl in a predominantly white school. It critiques societal expectations and racism, framing these issues as significant obstacles for the protagonist.

  • Does You Should See Me in a Crown have profanity?

    No profanity detected in the book's narrative based on the search results.

  • Does You Should See Me in a Crown have climate change?

    No climate themes detected in the book's narrative based on the search results.

  • Does You Should See Me in a Crown have sexual identity?

    No explicit sexual content is mentioned in the search results, focusing instead on themes of romance and identity.

  • Does You Should See Me in a Crown have gender roles?

    The narrative challenges traditional gender roles by featuring a strong female protagonist who defies expectations in her pursuit of becoming prom queen. It promotes themes of empowerment and self-acceptance.

  • Does You Should See Me in a Crown have lgbtq+ themes?

    The book features a queer protagonist, Liz Lighty, navigating her identity as a Black girl in a predominantly white and affluent environment. It includes themes of LGBTQ+ romance and self-acceptance, normalizing queer experiences within the narrative.