As someone in my 40s, I recall the required readings from high school like "Of Mice and Men," "Fahrenheit 451," "The Great Gatsby," and "To Kill a Mockingbird." This book deserves to be added to that list. It tackles racism, passing, and the myriad of emotions that come with them in a way that's easy to grasp.

The story was both emotionally charged and fast-paced, ultimately leaving a heartwarming impression. The characters were compelling (except for the racist ones), and the book really evokes strong emotions.

I highly recommend this book. Many thanks to Kim Johnson and NetGalley for the opportunity to read it. It was both engaging and enlightening. I plan to purchase a physical copy upon release and suggest to my local library that they add it to their shelves.

For Calvin, a young Black man living in 1955, passing as white was a high stakes game he sometimes played with friends in Chicago. Now it's a full-time job as his father moves their family into a "Whites Only" town in the Pennsylvania suburbs. The move is suppose to protect Calvin and his mother following a tragedy in Chicago that left is older sister dead, but the seemingly ideal neighborhood is full racist secrets. The only time Calvin feels like himself is when he can slip across town to his brother's boarding school to spend time with friends who know him and Lily, the pretty girl who's facing increasing threats at Calvin's school where she is the first (known) Black student to be attending. As tensions in the white part of town rise, passing starts to feel more and more dangerous, especially as Calvin feels pulled to help defend Lily and fight against the injustices he sees all around him.

Kim Johnson has written a compelling social justice thriller that highlights racial discrepancies in the United States during the Civil Rights era that are often overlooked, those in the North. Calvin is a complex and interesting character put in an impossible situation by his parents. There is an increased tension and complexity to the situation as you see the respect and love in the family and how everyone is struggling to do what they think is best following family tragedy. I appreciate when a teen character is able to fight back and pursue the "right" course of action. A strong point of this novel is the variety and complexity of the side characters. From Calvin and Eugene to Alex and Ben, each character is their own person with battles to fight and room to grow.

Gripping historical novel set during post-WW2 segregation in newly-built Levittown. The main character, Calvin, and his family move from Chicago to Levittown where they pass as white to gain a better future for Calvin in a segregated country. Calvin's character really demonstrates the internal conflict that goes along with pretending to be someone else, and he is inspired by his brother to make a difference at his all-white school and in his community by pushing back against the accepted narrative. The book gives a real taste of the struggles found in this time period (and that carry over today). There were a couple of events towards the end that didn't sit well with me as a reader, but this is definitely a book I would add to my classroom library.

Thanks, NetGalley, for the ARC.

Kim Johnson is that rare author whose writing is consistently strong. Unafraid to tackle difficult subject matter, her books are "must reads" in our library media center. Introducing the concept of "passing" to a generation of young adult readers who may be unfamiliar with the term, Calvin's story is powerful, engaging, and challenging. We will be getting multiple copies as the demand will be great for this title.

Strong social justice novel by Kim Johnson with a heavy focus on passing as white versus living as a POC. Thanks for the arc

When Calvin’s family moves from Chicago to Pennsylvania, his dad tells him he has to play white, blend in and leave the past behind. When Calvin finds out his boss and their realtor wants to keep the community segregated , his dad is shocked. When violence escalates and someone goes missing, what does Calvin’s family decide to do?