Black Queen by Jumata Emill

Nova is her school's first black homecoming queen. Tinsley thinks it is unfair - she should be homecoming queen. It is practically her birthright. Her mom, grandmother, and sister were all crowned. Black students are outnumbered by the white students, so a new rule states that every other year a black girl will be named queen.  

On the night of her coronation, Nova is murdered. Tinsley is the most obvious suspect. She had an argument with Nova, and everyone knows how much she wants to be queen. Nova's best friend, Duchess, is sure Tinsley did it. She is determined to not let Tinsley get away with it. She is furious at her father, the police officer in charge of the investigation, for not seeing that Tinsley obviously did it. 

When things don't quite add up, Duchess reluctantly agrees to team up with Tinsley (who wants to clear her name) to find the real killer. They are a contentious pair but they are also the only two driven to find the truth. 

The story of Nova, Tinsley, and Duchess is a compelling mystery that explores racism, politics, and relationships. The issues are central to the plot and ultimately prove vital to the characters' actions and development. Highly recommended for fans of the current trend of teen murder mysteries. 

For more info, check out the Indianapolis Public Library catalog and Jumata Emill's site.