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Leah Johnson (writer)

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For the volleyball player, see Leah Johnson (volleyball).
Leah Johnson
Born (1994-07-05) July 5, 1994 (age 30)[1]
OccupationWriter
LanguageEnglish
NationalityAmerican
EducationIndiana University Bloomington (BA)
Sarah Lawrence College (MFA)
Genreyoung adult, middle grade fiction
Years active2018–present
Notable worksYou Should See Me in a Crown (2020)
Notable awards
Website
www.byleahjohnson.com

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]

Early life and education

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Johnson was raised on the west side of Indianapolis, Indiana.[1][3] She was an avid reader from childhood.[3] Johnson went on to be the editor-in-chief of her high school's newspaper as well as a tennis player and a member of the show and concert choirs.[3][4] While in college at Indiana University Bloomington, she interned at the Wall Street Journal, WFIU, and WPLN.[3][5] Johnson received her MFA in fiction writing from Sarah Lawrence College.[4]

Career

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Writing career

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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

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view of building from street
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]

Personal life

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Johnson resides in Indianapolis.[21] She identifies as queer, and came to accept her sexuality while writing her debut novel You Should See Me In A Crown.[1]

Awards and honors

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Two of Johnson's books are Junior Library Guild selections: You Should See Me in a Crown and Rise to the Sun.[23][24]

Time included You Should See Me in a Crown on their list of the "100 Best Young Adult Books of All Time".[24][25] Kirkus Reviews[26] and Publishers Weekly included it on their list of the best young adult books of 2020.[24][27] The following year, the Young Adult Library Services Association named the novel among their top 10 Quick Picks for Reluctant Young Adult Readers.[28] They also included it on the following lists: Amazing Audiobooks for Young Adults,[29] Best Fiction for Young Adults,[30] and Rise: A Feminist Book Project.[31]

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]

Awards for Johnson's writing
Year Title Award Result Ref.
2020 You Should See Me in a Crown Goodreads Choice Award for Best Young Adult Fiction Nominated [34]
Lambda Literary Award for Young Adult Literature Finalist [35]
Ripped Bodice Award for Excellence in Romantic Fiction Won [36]
2021 Stonewall Book Award Honor [25][26]
2022 Indiana Authors Award for Young Adult Literature Won [8][37]
2024 Ellie Engle Saves Herself Lambda Literary Award for Middle Grade Literature Finalist [38]

Works

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  • 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

References

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  1. ^ a b c d e Gerike, Lydia (2020-07-05). "'Black joy is at the heart of' author and Indianapolis native Leah Johnson's YA novel". The Indianapolis Star. Archived from the original on 2021-03-05. Retrieved 2021-06-05.
  2. ^ a b c Thomad, Summer (2021-02-14). "Author Leah Johnson On Being Young, Black, Queer And In Love". NPR.org. Archived from the original on 2021-06-05. Retrieved 2021-06-05.
  3. ^ a b c d e f Dorantes, Jorge (2020-08-20). "Q&A With Y.A. Sensation Leah Johnson". Indianapolis Monthly. Archived from the original on 2021-06-05. Retrieved 2021-06-05.
  4. ^ a b Aceves, Aaron H. (2020-06-06). "Q&A With Leah Johnson, You Should See Me in a Crown". We Need Diverse Books. Archived from the original on 2021-06-05. Retrieved 2021-06-05.
  5. ^ a b Grey, Idris (2020-06-26). "Spring 2020 Flying Starts: Leah Johnson". PublishersWeekly.com. Archived from the original on 2021-06-05. Retrieved 2021-06-05.
  6. ^ Moscato-Goodpaster, Robert (2020-09-08). "Local Author Leah Johnson's book 'You Should See Me In A Crown' Becomes First YA Pick For Reese Witherspoon's Book Club". WFYI Public Media. Archived from the original on 2021-06-05. Retrieved 2021-06-05.
  7. ^ Spielberger, Daniel (2022-06-01). "7 Banned LGBTQ+ Authors on the Books That Changed Their Lives". Them. Archived from the original on 2023-06-09. Retrieved 2023-06-09.
  8. ^ a b "Leah Johnson". Indiana Authors Awards. Archived from the original on 2023-11-01. Retrieved 2023-11-01.
  9. ^ "Rise to the Sun". shop.scholastic.com. Archived from the original on 2021-06-05. Retrieved 2021-06-05.
  10. ^ "Rise to the Sun by Leah Johnson". www.publishersweekly.com. 2021-05-27. Archived from the original on 2023-06-09. Retrieved 2023-06-09.
  11. ^ a b "Ellie Engle Saves Herself". Kirkus Reviews. Archived from the original on 2023-06-09. Retrieved 2023-06-09.
  12. ^ Chambers, Alex. "Middle School and Queer Superpowers, and a Comedian in a Car". Inner States - Indiana Public Media. Retrieved 2024-07-08.
  13. ^ Charron, Cate (2023-06-07). "Summer Reading List: 8 new books by Indiana authors to bring to your book club". The Indianapolis Star. Archived from the original on 2024-06-01. Retrieved 2023-06-09.
  14. ^ "Announcing the Finalists for the 36th Annual Lambda Literary Awards". them. 2024-03-27. Archived from the original on 2024-04-05. Retrieved 2024-04-05.
  15. ^ "Black Girl Power by". www.publishersweekly.com. 2024. Retrieved 2024-11-14.
  16. ^ "Best-selling Booklist". USA TODAY. Retrieved 2024-11-14.
  17. ^ BLACK GIRL POWER | Kirkus Reviews.
  18. ^ "George M. Johnson and Leah Johnson have 7-figure book deal". AP News. 2023-02-15. Retrieved 2024-07-08.
  19. ^ Duster, Chandelis (2023-11-03). "This bestselling author's book was challenged in schools. So she opened a store for banned books". CNN. Retrieved 2024-07-03.
  20. ^ a b "The Author Fighting Back Against Book Bans". Esquire. 2023-11-01. Retrieved 2024-07-03.
  21. ^ a b Kirch, Claire. "Children's Author Becomes a 'Loudmouth' for Banned Books". Publishers Weekly. Archived from the original on June 1, 2024. Retrieved June 20, 2023.
  22. ^ Watson, Jenna. "Indiana author Leah Johnson's 'banned bookstore' opening this weekend". The Indianapolis Star. Retrieved 2024-07-03.
  23. ^ "Rise to the Sun". Junior Library Guild. Archived from the original on 2024-06-01. Retrieved 2024-06-01.
  24. ^ a b c "You Should See Me in a Crown". Junior Library Guild. Archived from the original on 2024-06-01. Retrieved 2024-06-01.
  25. ^ a b Williams, Jenna (2022-08-02). "Leah Johnson's writing the stories she needed in adolescence". The Media School. Archived from the original on 2023-06-09. Retrieved 2023-06-09.
  26. ^ a b "You Should See Me in a Crown". Kirkus Reviews. 2020-03-24. Archived from the original on 2022-12-05. Retrieved 2024-05-31.
  27. ^ "Best Books 2020: Publishers Weekly Publishers Weekly". Publishers Weekly. Archived from the original on 2022-05-17. Retrieved 2024-06-01.
  28. ^ Lam, Anna. "YALSA names 2021 Quick Picks for Reluctant Young Readers". American Library Association. Archived from the original on 2024-06-01. Retrieved 2024-06-01.
  29. ^ "2021 Amazing Audiobooks for Young Adults". Young Adult Library Services Association. American Library Association. Archived from the original on 2021-01-04. Retrieved 2024-06-01.
  30. ^ "2021 Best Fiction for Young Adults". Young Adult Library Services Association. American Library Association. Archived from the original on 2021-01-14. Retrieved 2024-06-01.
  31. ^ "2021 Rise: A Feminist Book Project List". American Library Association. Archived from the original on 2023-01-29. Retrieved 2024-06-01.
  32. ^ Reagan, Maggie (August 2023). "Top 10 SF & Fantasy for Youth: 2023". Booklist. Archived from the original on 2024-06-01. Retrieved 2024-06-01.
  33. ^ "Rainbow List: 2024". Booklist. 2024-03-15. Archived from the original on 2024-06-01. Retrieved 2024-06-01.
  34. ^ "You Should See Me in a Crown". Goodreads. Archived from the original on 2024-02-04. Retrieved 2024-06-01.
  35. ^ Anderson, Porter (2021-03-15). "The US-Based Lambda Literary Awards Program Names Its 2021 Finalists". Publishing Perspectives. Archived from the original on 2022-01-01. Retrieved 2022-02-15.
  36. ^ "Awards: Southern Book, Ripped Bodice Winners". Shelf Awareness. 2021-02-16. Archived from the original on 2024-02-26. Retrieved 2024-06-01.
  37. ^ "Awards: Indiana Authors Winners; Dayne Ogilvie Finalists". Shelf Awareness . 2022-08-26. Archived from the original on 2022-12-13. Retrieved 2024-06-01.
  38. ^ "Announcing the Finalists for the 36th Annual Lambda Literary Awards". them. 2024-03-27. Archived from the original on April 5, 2024. Retrieved 2024-04-05.
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