Brie Hutchens is 13, an aspiring actor, soap opera fan, and mediocre student at her Catholic middle school. When she accidentally comes across some inappropriate online photos of her favorite soap opera actress, just as her devout Catholic mother comes into the room, Brie distracts her by saying that she’s been chosen to crown the statue of the Virgin Mary during her school’s May Crowning ceremony. Her mother is delighted; the crisis is averted. It’s only a temporary fix, though, since she hasn’t really been chosen. The honor always goes to a top student, like Kennedy Bishop.
Brie turns her mind towards imitating Kennedy, but soon develops a crush on her, which complicates matters. Brie is also trying to land a star role in the school play so that she can convince her parents to let her go to the performing arts high school next year. That goal has financial considerations, too, as Brie’s family is not well off; her father is the janitor at her middle school.
Author Nicole Melleby is skilled enough, though, not to make this a simple story of a queer girl pitted against her conservative parents. Brie’s relationships with each of her parents are complicated and nuanced and this is an insightful yet humorous tale of personal growth and identity.
