“Keeping me away from news back home won’t hide them at these things still happen to us! You can’t put me in a bubble of white walls and think that’s somehow going to protect me. I’m in disguise but it doesn’t erase who i am. You can’t erase me. I won’t let you.”

I love this book. Black historical fiction is like my top 3 favorite genres and this book is for sure a favorite of mines. The story takes you right in and you can feel the pain from the mmc Calvin. The whole plot you can feel how intense things are in that moment to point i was clutching my pearls. Damn near holding my breath. The emotions are right there on the edge. Fast paced yet so clear and thought out to bring the readers something brilliant. 

Calvin’s character was amazing and i loved this being told from his pov. We see how his family has used white passing in order to help with the Green Book. Talking and dealing with sundown towns in this, as well as integration, death, racism, underground railroads and much more. However, Calvin having to white pass in such a while to live when all he wanted to do was be the black boy he loves and not pretend to be anything else. I’m glad his spirit in this shined through and i thank the author for that. The way he lit up when Lily joined the school and went in to protect her no matter what just shows the strength and courage of him at times like that. Very thankful to see how all this affected Calvin’s family and the communities around them. The secret and lies had me shaking my head. 

I could go on but i think it’s best you read it yourself. There’s so much that goes on it’s heartbreaking yet amazing. I love my peoples history because black history in America is American history. No matter age, race, background or whatever there’s something here to be learned.