Leah Johnson (writer) facts for kids
Quick facts for kids
Leah Johnson
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| Born | July 5, 1994 |
| Occupation | Writer |
| Language | English |
| Nationality | American |
| Education | Indiana University Bloomington (BA) Sarah Lawrence College (MFA) |
| Genre | young adult, middle grade fiction |
| Years active | 2018–present |
| Notable works | You Should See Me in a Crown (2020) |
| Notable awards |
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Leah Johnson (born in 1994) is an American writer and businesswoman. She is well-known for her books for young adults and middle schoolers. Her first novel, You Should See Me in a Crown (published in 2020), was highly praised. It even received a Stonewall Book Award Honor. She has also written Rise to the Sun (2021) and Ellie Engle Saves Herself! (2023).
Contents
Growing Up and School
Leah Johnson grew up in Indianapolis, Indiana. From a young age, she loved to read many different books. In high school, she was the editor-in-chief of her school's newspaper. She also played tennis and sang in the show and concert choirs.
While attending Indiana University Bloomington for college, she gained experience working at several places. These included the Wall Street Journal, WFIU, and WPLN. Later, she earned her MFA degree in fiction writing. She received this degree from Sarah Lawrence College.
Her Writing Career
How Leah Johnson Started Writing
Leah Johnson began writing her first novel, You Should See Me in a Crown, in 2018. At the time, she was a graduate student at Sarah Lawrence College. She wrote an essay for Electric Literature about the need for more diverse books for young adults. An editor named Sarah Landis then contacted her to help create a book idea.
You Should See Me in a Crown is about a Black teenager who runs for Prom Queen. She hopes to win a college scholarship. Johnson explained that the book was a tribute to stories she loved. These included John Hughes movies from the 1980s and teen romantic comedies from the late 1990s. She wanted to see characters like herself in those types of stories.
Success of Her First Book
Scholastic published You Should See Me in a Crown in 2020. The book received many positive reviews. It earned a Stonewall Book Award honor. It was also chosen by Reese Witherspoon as her first young adult book of the month.
In 2021, You Should See Me in a Crown was among many books that faced challenges or bans. In 2022, Leah Johnson received the Indiana Authors Award for Young Adult Literature for this book.
More Books by Leah Johnson
Her second novel, Rise to the Sun, was released on July 6, 2021, by Scholastic. This book tells the story of two girls, Toni and Olivia. They both go to a music festival, but they are looking for very different things. Publishers Weekly gave the book a great review. They said it was a "love letter to the healing power of music." It also celebrated lasting friendships and summer love stories.
Her first book for middle schoolers, Ellie Engle Saves Herself!, came out on May 2, 2023. This book is about a young girl who discovers she has an amazing superpower. Kirkus Reviews gave it a positive review. They said it was a "fast-paced, humorous novel" that readers would enjoy. They also noted that Johnson explored themes of identity and responsibility. Ellie Engle Saves Herself! was a finalist for the 2024 Lambda Literary Award for Middle Grade Literature.
In 2023, it was announced that Johnson and author George M. Johnson signed a big book deal. They plan to write two romantic comedies together. The first one is expected to be released in 2025.
In November 2024, Johnson released a collection of stories called Black Girl Power. This book was published by the Disney imprint Freedom Fire Press. It features stories about girlhood from 15 authors from the Black diaspora. These authors include Elise Bryant, Sharon M. Draper, Kekla Magoon, and Ibi Zoboi. Black Girl Power received a starred review from Kirkus Reviews and became a USA Today bestseller.
Loudmouth Books
In June 2023, a new law in Indiana led to many books being removed from school libraries. Because of this, Leah Johnson announced her plan to open Loudmouth Books. This is an independent bookshop that focuses on "highlighting banned books and uplifting the work of marginalized authors." A fundraising campaign helped raise over $16,570 to help start the store. Loudmouth Books opened in September 2023 in Indianapolis, Indiana.
Awards and Recognitions
Two of Leah Johnson's books have been chosen as Junior Library Guild selections. These are You Should See Me in a Crown and Rise to the Sun.
Time magazine included You Should See Me in a Crown on its list of the "100 Best Young Adult Books of All Time." Both Kirkus Reviews and Publishers Weekly listed it among their best young adult books of 2020. The next year, the Young Adult Library Services Association named it one of their top 10 Quick Picks for Reluctant Young Adult Readers. They also included it on other lists, such as Amazing Audiobooks for Young Adults and Best Fiction for Young Adults.
Booklist included Ellie Engle Saves Herself! on its list of the top ten science fiction and fantasy novels for youth published in 2023. In 2024, the American Library Association included it on their Rainbow List.
| Year | Title | Award | Result | Ref. |
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| 2020 | You Should See Me in a Crown | Goodreads Choice Award for Best Young Adult Fiction | Nominated | |
| Lambda Literary Award for Young Adult Literature | finalist | |||
| Ripped Bodice Award for Excellence in Romantic Fiction | Won | |||
| 2021 | Stonewall Book Award | Honor | ||
| 2022 | Indiana Authors Award for Young Adult Literature | Won | ||
| 2024 | Ellie Engle Saves Herself | Lambda Literary Award for Middle Grade Literature | finalist |
Published Works
- You Should See Me in a Crown. United States, Scholastic Inc ISBN: 978-1-338-50326-5, 2 June 2020, print and digital
- Rise to the Sun. United States, Scholastic ISBN: 978-1-338-66223-8, 6 July 2021, print and digital
- Ellie Engle Saves Herself!. United States, Disney-Hyperion ISBN: 978-1-368-08555-7 2 May 2023, print and digital
