e-Audio, 08:03:32
Narrated by: Kevin R. Free
Release Date: June 11, 2024
Published by: Books on Tape, Listening Library (Random House Books for Young Readers)
Read from: May 21-23, 2024
Stand-alone
Source: PRH Audio App (I received a copy of this e-audio from the publisher in exchange for a just and honest review. This did nothing to influence my review.)
Content Warning: Racism, Death
For Readers Interested In: Historical Fiction, Thriller, Social Justice, Passing, Racial/ Ethnic Diversity, YAIn 1955, a Black family passes for white and moves to a “Whites Only” town in the suburbs. Caught between two worlds, a teen boy puts his family at risk as he uncovers racist secrets about his suburb. A new social justice thriller from the acclaimed author of This Is My America!
Calvin knows how to pass for white. He’s done it plenty of times before. For his friends in Chicago, when they wanted food but weren’t allowed in a restaurant. For work, when he and his dad would travel for the Green Book.
This is different.
After a tragedy in Chicago forces the family to flee, they resettle in an idyllic all-white suburban town in search of a better life. Calvin’s father wants everyone to embrace their new white lifestyles, but it’s easier said than done. Hiding your true self is exhausting — which leads Calvin across town where he can make friends who know all of him…and spend more time with his new crush, Lily. But when Calvin starts unraveling dark secrets about the white town and its inhabitants, passing starts to feel even more suffocating–and dangerous–than he could have imagined.
Expertly weaving together real historical events with important reflections on being Black in America, acclaimed author Kim Johnson powerfully connects readers to the experience of being forced to live a life-threatening lie or embrace an equally deadly truth.
*MY THOUGHTS*
I knew what I was going to rate this before I even cracked it open. If you didn’t know, this is a Kim Johnson stan account. I have loved literally everything by her. And no, not because her debut was set in my hometown lol But just because all of them are so freaking good. And this one is no different.
Ok so basically if you know me, you know that I am NOT a historical fiction fan. BUT when it’s Black (or apparently when it’s Kim Johnson) I’m going to read it. And this one was so good! Like past good! I was a bit iffy because of the “passing” aspect because personal reasons, but I know they did it for safety reasons back then and I know there were additional scary consequences that might occur if they were caught, but it still hurts to know they had to do that. (This is my biggest problem with historicals. People of color were always done wrong and it always hurts more than it should for me.) This time was even worse for me because the main charcter is a teen boy. I hated seeing that he couldn’t experience the normal teen things with people he was comfortable with. He was looking over his shoulder all the time because of what his family was doing and I hated it.
The plot is a bit of an interesting one. When I heard Johnson talk about it at TLA and she called it at social justice thriller, I wasn’t exactly sure what she meant by that. But after reading it, that was indeed the right name for it. So many times that I was for sure Calvin would get caught and he would be in more trouble than he already was. Each time he dared to do anything foolish my heart was racing for him. As a teen librarian I’ve trained myself to read with my teen brain and not really look at the books through a mom lens, but with this one, I felt more mom like than I had in a long time. I was scared for him and the other person they have with them. And yes I know it was fiction, but that’s the type of chokehold Johnson’s books have on me lol
The other part of this book that I found interesting was it basically gave a very clear view at systemic racism. Now some people are going to look at this and say no this didn’t happen or that doesn’t exist, but it indeed happened and still does happen today. They make it harder or the prices higher for Black folks to own houses and so we don’t. The author’s note goes more into detail, but I really think this would be a great book to help teach what it actually is instead of people making up their own definitions. But that’s all I’ll say on that. Before we know it, this will be the next book banned.
The characters were so good tho! I was proud of Calvin for many things, but I also wanted to wring his next at many things he did. I loved his lil girlfriend tho. She was too cute! I was sad that they spent most of their time worried they’d be caught. Now Calvin’s mom and dad? Yeah I was mad af at them. BUT I understood them. That was a hard decision to make and his dad made the best one he could. And for that, I don’t fault him.
The only thing I didn’t care for was the ending. It felt a bit rushed. Like this slow burn burned all the way to the end and then there was this huge build up and then nothing happened. I think I wanted more action? Idk if it was going to be built up that much, I at least wanted them to almost get caught or something? But also, they spent the whole book running so I’m not sure if this is just a me thing.
And since this is a historical, I would be remiss if I didn’t talk about the things that made it a historical. There was music mentioned, there was the housing and school zone disparities, and a very cool person that shows up, but I won’t say who to avoid spoilers. Definitely a very cool book historical wise. And that’s coming from someone who doesn’t actually like history lol (yes I’m a real librarian lol)
This book was everything I expected it to be and more. I loved this book and I’m not ashamed to say I pushed it off to my mom too lol She is excited to read it after I’ve been building it up and everything. But I’ve told her multiple times, it’s well deserved!
Overall, I give this
