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?