Your Plantation Prom Is Not Okay

Plans to turn a plantation into a wedding venue force a Black teen to confront loss while fighting racism in this moving novel by McWilliams (Mirror Girls). Harriet Douglass is passionate about highlighting the legacy of Westwood, a museum in Louisiana focusing on enslaved people’s history, which her mother curated up until her death from cancer. When Harriet discovers that the Belle Grove plantation next door has been bought by white soap opera star Claudia Hartwell to host celebrity nuptials, Harriet determines to prevent it from becoming a party venue. Claudia’s daughter, Layla, a popular online influencer, shares in Harriet’s disappointment about her mother’s plans and—despite Harriet’s original mistrust and Layla’s initial microaggressions—the pair work together to “cancel Belle Grove,” developing genuine friendship along the way. Meanwhile, Harriet’s private struggles regulating strong emotions; managing romantic feelings for a childhood friend; and navigating her father’s grief are exacerbated by her school’s intention to host prom at Belle Grove. McWilliams pens a touching story about grief, compassion for one’s ancestors, and one teen’s pursuit of justice in this thoughtfully rendered telling, which interrogates the romanticization of Black pain and the pros and cons of social media activism. Ages 12–up. Agent: Michael Bourret, Dystel, Goderich & Bourret. (May)