While reading this book, I kept trying to think about all of the books I read in middle and high school (beyond the required Scarlett Letter, Great Gatsby, and Huck Finn). Obviously Harry Potter and the Princess Diaries— but clearly I’m no Wizard and certainly not a Princess. I also read The Clique series about these absurdly rich girls. I don’t remember much about that one other than the fact that they ridiculed the “poor” girl for wearing Keds, a brand of shoes my family didn’t have the money for. At least that character had a leg up on me there, and it still wasn’t enough to keep her safe.

Leah brought Liz Lighty to life for all of us who didn’t have people like them in books growing up. I wish that when I was in middle and high school I had a poor POC, kinda awkward protagonist to find myself in. I imagine there are numerous millennials who wish they had more LGBTQIA+ protagonists to find themselves in. Liz Lighty is that.

But beyond the beautifully intersectional work that this is, I have so much love for the high school experiences that mirror my own. I suppose going to the same high school and singing in the same show choir as the author lends itself to that— but the Steak n Shake, Speedy Freezes, Ritter’s Frozen custard, Rick’s Boatyard, the Indianapolis Arts Garden (or the Spaceship, as I always called it), the show choir kid’s massive competition that required a ton of volunteers (i.e., Giant Spectacular), the nail salon everyone got their nails done at (Andy’s Nails, I assume), all collectively took me back to high school on the west side of Indianapolis.

Such a fun read. Thank you, Leah Johnson.