Leah Johnson is an American writer. Her debut novel You Should See Me in a Crown (2020) received critical acclaim, including a Stonewall Book Award Honor. She is the author of Rise to the Sun (2021) and Ellie Engle Saves Herself! (2023).[2]
Johnson began the manuscript for her debut novel You Should See Me in a Crown in 2018 as a graduate student at Sarah Lawrence College.[1] After publishing an Electric Literature essay about the dearth of diverse YA literature, editor Sarah Landis reached out to help her craft a book proposal.[5]You Should See Me in a Crown centers a Black queer teenager who runs for Prom Queen to win a college scholarship.[2] Johnson described the book as "very much an homage to the work that I love the most...John Hughes movies of the eighties, the teen romantic comedies of the late '90s, early aughts... I love those stories so much and wanted to see someone like me reflected in them as more than a sidekick."[2] Published in 2020 by Scholastic, the book received critical acclaim.[3] It received a Stonewall Book honor and was selected as Reese Witherspoon's first YA book of the month, among other accolades.[1][6]You Should See Me in a Crown was among over 729 books that were banned or challenged in 2021.[7] In 2022 Johnson received the Indiana Authors award for Young Adult Literature for You Should See Me in a Crown.[8]
Her second novel Rise to the Sun (Scholastic) was released on July 6, 2021.[9] The book is about "two girls named Toni and Olivia who both go to a music festival and search for two very different things."[3] In a starred review Publishers Weekly described the book: "Here, Johnson pens a love letter to the healing power of music, enduring friendship, summertime love stories, and hard-won resilience."[10]
Her middle grade debut, Ellie Engle Saves Herself, was published on May 2, 2023 under Disney-Hyperion.[11][12] The book follows a young girl who discovers she has an amazing superpower.[13]Kirkus Reviews stated in a positive review, "This fast-paced, humorous novel will have readers racing to the end as they fall in love with Ellie’s quirky and authentic personality. Johnson deftly explores identity and responsibility to ourselves and others in this joyful coming-of-age story."[11]Ellie Engle Saves Herself was shortlisted for the 2024 Lambda Literary Award for Middle Grade Literature.[14]
In November 2024, Johnson released an anthology titled Black Girl Power through Freedom Fire Press, a Disney imprint. The anthology includes stories about girlhood from 15 authors of the Black diaspora including Elise Bryant, Sharon M. Draper, Kekla Magoon, and Ibi Zoboi.[15]Black Girl Power received a starred review from Kirkus Reviews and was an instant USA Today Bestseller.[16]
Johnson along with author George M. Johnson, has a seven-figure book deal with FSG Books for Young Readers, and plans to write two romantic comedies, with the first to be released in 2025.[17][18]
Loudmouth Books
Loudmouth Books in Indianapolis, Indiana
In June 2023, after the state of Indiana passed a law banning many books from school libraries,[19] Johnson announced plans to open Loudmouth Books, an independent bookshop dedicated to "highlighting banned books and uplifting the work of marginalized authors."[20] A GoFundMe campaign to support the store's start-up costs raised $16,570 toward its goal of $10,000.[21] The bookstore opened in September 2023 in Indianapolis, Indiana.[20][22]
Booklist included Ellie Engle Saves Herself! on their list of the top ten science fiction and fantasy novels for youth published in 2023.[32] The following year, the American Library Association included it on their Rainbow List.[33]
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