A review by bookish_afrolatina
The Color of a Lie by Kim Johnson

challenging dark emotional hopeful sad tense fast-paced
  • Plot- or character-driven? A mix
  • Strong character development? Yes
  • Loveable characters? It's complicated
  • Diverse cast of characters? Yes
  • Flaws of characters a main focus? No

4.5

The Color of a Lie is a fantastic book for bringing readers into the past and putting them into the shoes of Black folks in the Civil Rights era. A lot of folks don’t realize that northern cities were also violent towards Black folks and how that played into the creation of the suburbs of America. I love the way the author included details like the instructional video in Levittown, students reading 1984, and connected the story to historical events. 
Calvin’s struggle with passing for white hit close to home for me because my great-grandfather had to pass in order to get work at the Navy Yard in Philly and elsewhere. I don’t think people realize how painful that experience is and that it left folks with consistent anxiety.
I recommend this book to anyone from the age of 12 (10/11 if your child has good comprehension and seems to be emotionally mature enough to handle it) and up.
Expand filter menu Content Warnings