The Color of a Lie draws readers in through the suffocating tension of a protagonist passing for white in the 1950s. The narrative balances the danger of being caught with the internal isolation of living a double life. Books in this family share high stakes historical settings where characters navigate systemic prejudice and life altering family secrets.
Reach for this book when your teen is grappling with the complexities of social belonging or the internal conflict of hiding parts of themselves to fit in. Based on Nella Larsen's classic novel Passing, Kim Johnson reimagines the 1950s through the eyes of a Black boy whose family moves to a white neighborhood under the guise of being white. It is a powerful exploration of the psychological toll of secrecy and the systemic injustice of the Jim Crow era. Parents will appreciate how the story handles heavy themes of racial identity and integrity with the tension of a high-stakes thriller. While the historical setting provides a safe distance to discuss prejudice, the emotional core is deeply relevant to modern conversations about authenticity and the cost of social mobility. It is a sophisticated read for older teens that provides essential context for American history and civil rights.
