Nancy Johnson
1 SeriesNancy Johnson is an American author whose debut novel, "The Kindest Lie," was selected as a New York Times Editors’ Choice. The book, which follows Black engineer Ruth as she searches for her child given up during her teenage years, received recommendations from O Magazine, Elle, Refinery 29, and the New York Post.
In Nancy Johnson's "The Kindest Lie," set in 2008 amidst Obama's presidential victory, Ruth Tuttle, an Ivy League-educated Black engineer from Chicago, grapples with her past decision to give up her baby as a teenager. Driven by a need for closure, Ruth returns to her Indiana hometown, a place rife with racism and despair. There, she reconnects with her past and forms an unexpected bond with Midnight, a young white boy seeking connection. As Ruth delves deeper into her history, an incident escalates racial tensions in the town, placing both her and Midnight on a transformative path.
