Keeper of Lost Children

by Sadeqa Johnson

'A powerful and beautifully told novel about hidden secrets and the hunger to belong. I loved it' Clare Leslie Hall, author of BROKEN COUNTRY

'Has future classic written all over it' Red Magazine

'I loved everything about this book' Julia Quinn, author of BRIDGERTON

A BBC RADIO 2 BOOKCLUB PICK
A GOODREADS MOST ANTCIPATED BOOK OF 2026
AS SEEN ON THE TODAY SHOW

From the New York Times bestselling author of The House of Eve comes a sweeping story of one woman's dream in post-World War II Germany and the three lives it changes forever.

In the smouldering ruins of post-war Germany, Ethel Gathers - an American woman longing for a child - spots a group of mixed-race children following a nun through the cobbled streets. Compelled by a force she can't explain, Ethel follows them and uncovers a hidden community of abandoned children, born to Black soldiers and German women. Determined to help, Ethel's actions set off a chain of events that will echo across generations.

In 1948, Ozzie Philips volunteers for the U.S. Army. But in Occupied Germany, he finds that the racism he tried to escape has crossed the ocean with him. Then he meets Jelka, a German woman navigating her own grief in a shattered country. Their connection, immediate and intense, changes everything.

By 1965, fifteen-year-old Sophia Clark is chosen to join a prestigious boarding school. When a chance encounter with a classmate reveals a deeply buried truth, Sophia begins a journey to unravel her past and find her place in the world.

Against the odds and across continents and decades, these three characters' lives collide - their fates forever altered.

Deeply moving and unputdownable, this is a story about identity, belonging and the ties that endure - even when history tries to sever them.

Genres: Historical Fiction, Fiction, Historical, Race, World War II, African American, Germany

Audible Audio

First published February 10, 2026

About the author

Sadeqa Johnson is the New York Times best-selling author of five novels. Her accolades include being the 2022 Hurston/Wright Foundation Legacy finalist, a BCALA Literary Honoree, and the Library of Virginia’s Literary People’s Choice Award winner. She is a Kimbilio Fellow and teaches in the M.F.A. program at Drexel University. Originally from Philadelphia, she currently lives near Richmond, VA with her husband and three teens.

website: www.sadeqa.net
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/sadeqasays
https://linktr.ee/Sadeqasays

Reviews

[Angela M · Rating 4 out of 5]

Another impact of WWII that I was not aware of - the plight of mixed race children born of black US military fathers and German mothers . The “Brown Babies” were outsiders from birth because of the color of their skin, given up by mothers who could not care for them or were shunned by society and families . The true life circumstances of these children is told in this fictionalized account of a character Ethel Gathers who is determined to save as many of these children by sending them to the US to be adopted

The historical context of separation of black and white, the discrimination, the racism is portrayed both in the military and out is presented in a realistic way . In 1950, a man falls in love with a German woman while he was stationed in Germany, then loses track of her and the child that he loves when he is transferred. This is a moving story of a young girl in 1965 seeking her true identity. Their stories connect by the heart and determination of Ethel . Another learning experience through well done historical fiction.

I received a copy of this book from Simon & Schuster through Edelweiss.

[Karen · Rating 4 out of 5]

4.5

Historical fiction is most amazing when based on true stories.
The aftermath of World War ll, the Brown baby Plan, three PoV’s.
I had no idea of the mass amount of children born in Germany to black American GI’s and German women, most had to remain in Germany and the mother’s could not afford to keep them and they ended up in orphanages.
I loved this story, have loved everything I have read by this author and still have a couple more to read.
For more to read on the Brown baby plan:

https://www.nytimes.com/2019/02/06/ob...

Thank you to Netgalley and Simon & Schuster for the gifted eARC in return for my honest review.

[Andre(Read-A-Lot) · Rating 5 out of 5]

Yeah! Oh Yeah! Hell Yeah! Sadeqa Johnson, how do you keep doing this? I absolutely positively adored this book! Sadeqa Johnson is a beast in the historical fiction genre. She first starts with a fantastic canvas-finding these hidden moments of history-and then brings the canvas to brilliant life, using characters that indelibly highlight the history and transform that history into a wonderful piece of fiction. And like the genuis, that she clearly is, she cleverly collapses the innocence of childhood into the capriciousness and complexities of Adults, setting up the book’s collision.

And from the first chapter beginning with the main protagonist Sophia, we know an encounter is coming. In some(probably most)cases that would signal a telegraphing of events leading to a predictable novel. But, dare I say that Ms. Johnson has mastered dissimulation and so the narration never feels certain.

Working all her magic on the canvas blending colors and shades and materials much like a virtuoso painter she ultimately creates a masterpiece! The less I say plot wise, the greater your reading experience will be. But trust me, before the end of chapter one, you will already be rooting for Sophia, as her personality explodes off the page straight into your heart. Please trust me!

Sadeqa Johnson is on an amazing run, she gave us the very good-Yellow Wife-and the great-The House Of Eve-and now the exceptional, Keeper Of Lost Children.
A great big thank you to 37 ink and Edelweiss and of course Sadeqa Johnson for an advanced DRC. I don’t take these early reading opportunities for granted, I truly appreciate being valued as an early reader. And I’m not bragging, but I’ve been dead on the last few years with naming books of the year. Keeper of Lost Children will be out February 10, 2026 and will undoubtedly be on Best of 2026 book lists! Guaranteed!!!!!!!

[BookmarkedByAlia · Rating 5 out of 5]

I knew this was going to be a five-star read after only 3 chapters. The writing, the characters?? OMG the characters!!
I want to hug all three of them.
This by far is Sadeqa’s best book to date. She always does her research and teaches us about a part of history that isn’t widely known but this?? Woooowww.
Who knew?
At the 60% mark I attempted to put this down because I was FLYING through it. I wanted to stretch it out so I could really savor the moment. 30 minutes later I was back at it because I needed more!
Anyone who has this as one of their most anticipated reads for the year, please bump this up. You won’t regret one second of this. No dragging plots, no fillers, just pure historical fiction that keeps you at the edge of your seat.
I love how she added multiple timelines and multiple POV’s in this one making it all come together at the end.
**Thank you thank you thank you to Netgalley for this ARC in exchange for an honest review.

[Laura Lovesreading]

My Historical Fiction Fave new release is out!
I am ready to cry, get lost in her writing and the fictional world!
🤍🤍🤍🤍

[Nancy Bruen · Rating 5 out of 5]

It is so easy to say you would die before giving up your child. It is even easier to condemn those who have made the heartbreaking decision to do so. But try sleeping in the streets with your child for a few nights, without food or clean water, and without any job prospects or hope, simply because your parents refuse to let you keep your mixed-race child. Perhaps you would have a change of heart. Hundreds of women faced this reality in post WWII Germany.

But what happens to these children when society tosses them away? Often, they are housed in orphanages run by Catholic nuns. But then what? Ethel Gathers, wife of an American officer stationed in Germany, has the solution . . . find them good, American homes! She even adopts a number of these children herself. Ethel has been dealing with the heartbreak of infertility for many years. Are these children the answer to her prayers? Will they receive the acceptance from society that was never afforded her and her husband? Will they be able to leave behind the feelings of hurt from years of rejection?

Author Sadeqa Johnson seamlessly stitched together this historical fiction with three compelling characters, and Ethel at the lead. It is her vision that ties them together in a most unusual way. These characters have shared experiences with discrimination, some to the extreme, but also a shared desire to make the world a better place. The second character, Sophia Clark, a high school student desperate to escape the poverty she has experienced on her family farm, has been given the opportunity to attend a prestigious high school. Will she be able to push back the prejudice against her in order to succeed? The third character, Ozzie Phillips, volunteered with the army to help put Germany back together again post WWII. He too must put up with discrimination in order to achieve his goal of a better world. Unfortunately, he has found himself in a very compromising position, and must make a very difficult decision.

This novel is brilliantly written, reminiscent of To Kill a Mockingbird, I Know Why the Caged Bird Sings, and The Help. While reading these poignant novels for the first time, I slowed down my reading pace considerably to fully absorb the events, and to see the world through the eyes of these iconic characters. I had this same experience with Keeper of Lost Children. It is one of the best books I have read in a good long time. I know these characters will stay with me for years to come.

This ARC was provided by the publisher via NetGalley in exchange for an honest review.

[Linda Galella · Rating 5 out of 5]

I received a copy for review purposes. All opinions are honest and mine alone.

1965, Sophia - a 10th grader in Prince Frederick, MD. wins a scholarship to an elite girls school. She and her siblings have been living on a farm; a life that amounts to slavery, at best. She dreams of smelling nice, high heels, store bought clothes that fit, Margaret Anderson, the mother from “Father Knows Best”. Her intellect can bring freedom but school has challenges for a young negro girl who will be one of few on a campus of white faces.

1951, Ethel - young, married woman wants nothing more than to have a family with her husband, military officer, Bert. Unfortunately, they’ve not yet been blessed. Ethel is heartbroken but finds a way to make a difference serving the mixed race children of Negro service men and German women. Her contributions changed thousands of lives around the world, including her own family.

1948, Ozzie - having left the love of his life in Philadelphia, newly shipped out Ozzie is on the ground in Germany 2 weeks after Eisenhower declared desegregation of the military. He’s also scored the highest on a skills test and wants desperately to be assigned to Intelligence. Regardless of his aptitude or Ike’s declaration, Negro men do not have the same opportunities. Frustrated, lonely and looking for comfort, Ozzie tries to reach outside himself and help but ends up with lifelong, life changing consequences.

These are the starting three timelines, POV’s and MC’s, expertly crafted together, by Sadeqa Johnson in the historical fiction novel, KEEPER OF LOST CHILDREN. As the book moves forward, Ethel and Ozzie’s stories move chronologically towards “present” day which becomes 1968 to join Sophia as she graduates. Short chapters are unique to a single character and are well identified as to date, place and person.

Character development is excellent, unfolding slowly as individual stories are developed. These are not faced paced, barn burners but biofics to savor, as if you’ve been given a prized invitation to meet rare people. Many of the secondary characters are also highly crafted adding depth and veracity to the reading experience. Johnson is a gifted wordsmith.

Recommended for those interested in unique WWII stories, racial issues in the military & education during the 50-60’s, historical fiction, women’s fiction, military wives.

TW’s include: physical abuse, racism, sexual abuse and harassment, bullying, child exploitation, neglect, servitude, foul language.

Read and reviewed from a NetGalley eARC via Kindle, with thanks to the author and publisher📚

[Shantha (ShanthasBookEra) · Rating 4 out of 5]

4.25 stars "In this new novel from the New York Times bestselling author of The House of Eve, one American woman’s vision in post WWII Germany will tie together three people in an unexpected way.

Lost in the streets and smoldering rubble of Occupied Germany, Ethel Gathers, the proud wife of an American soldier spots a gaggle of mixed-race children following a nun. Ozzie Philips volunteers for the army in 1948, eager to break barriers for Black soldiers. In 1965, Sophia Clark discovers she’s been given an opportunity to integrate a prestigious boarding school in Maryland and leave behind her spiteful parents and the grueling demands.

Toggling between the lives of these three individuals, Keeper of Lost Children explores how one woman’s vision will change the course of countless lives, and demonstrates that love in its myriad of forms—familial, parental, and forbidden, even love of self—can be transcendent."

Sadeqa Johnson had me captivated with this true story from start to finish. It is why I read historical fiction - to learn of the important parts of our history that are less known. Ethel Gathers' project of starting an adoption program for mixed race children in WWII Germany is emotional and heartwarming. I highly recommend it.

Many thanks to NetGalley, Simon and Schuster - 37 Ink, and Sadeqa Johnson for an advance reader's copy. All opinions are my own. 📚

[Kristine]

Really love Sadeqa Johnson’s writing and have enjoyed The House of Eve and Yellow Wife was absolutely phenomenal.

Her new book is coming out February 2026 called Keeper of Lost Children and explores Black Service Man who during WWII and having children with White Germans. Then what happened to these children. This sounds like a very compelling book. Looking forward to it.



~Just Started Reading This. Going to be Good I think.

[Meagan (Meagansbookclub) · Rating 4 out of 5]

A piece of history I knew nothing about and the way the author told the story, I was intrigued start to finish. The writing was beautiful and the depth in emotion was powerful. For me, it lagged in the middle, but if you enjoy historical fiction books that tell a unique story, this is one to add to your list!

[Cindy · Rating 5 out of 5]

This is an excellent pick for Black History Month. Keeper of Lost Children is character-driven historical fiction that follows three compelling voices across three different time periods, and Sadeqa Johnson does it with care, depth, and heart.

I read The House of Eve, and here Johnson brings attention to a lesser-known part of post-WWII history: the mixed-race children born to Black American servicemen and white German women, many of whom were left in orphanages after the war. The novel weaves together the stories of Ethel, Sophie, and Ozzie—each distinct, each deeply engaging.

Ethel’s story takes place in 1950s Germany, where she’s living with her husband during his post-war military assignment. All she wants is to be a mother, and when she discovers an orphanage filled with mixed-race children, her life takes a very meaningful turn. She and her husband begin growing their family while she works tirelessly to find loving homes for these forgotten children. Ethel is a courageous, compassionate woman, and I loved getting to know her.

In the 1960s, we meet Sophie, a teenager accepted into a prestigious all-white school newly open to Black students. Her coming-of-age story unfolds in a deeply prejudiced environment as she navigates friendships, joins the basketball team, and tries to find her place. Her journey is both frustrating and inspiring.

Then there’s Ozzie in 1948, who enlists (volunteers) in the army post-war and begins a relationship with a local woman, Jelka. His storyline adds emotional weight and context to the broader picture Johnson is painting.

I was impressed by how fully realized each character felt. When I was in one timeline, I was completely immersed—I never found myself wishing to rush ahead to another storyline. That’s rare for me in multi-POV novels, but Johnson balances them beautifully. Each story stands on its own while ultimately connecting in a way that feels organic and meaningful.

This book is hopeful, heartwarming, and at times heartbreaking, as each character searches for identity, belonging, and purpose. The research behind this novel is evident, and the writing flows smoothly from one timeline to the next. The characters have real depth, the transitions are seamless, and the storytelling is powerful.

Keeper of Lost Children brings an overlooked moment in history to life with empathy and grace. A moving and important work of fiction, but powerful in the fact that this story is based on the real life of an exceptional woman.

Thanks to NetGalley and 37 Ink for an advance copy. To be published Feb 10, 2026.

[Stephanie · Rating 4 out of 5]

4.5 stars. Johnson’s best book yet.

I don’t always gravitate toward WWII fiction, but Keeper of the Lost Children by Sadeqa Johnson immediately pulled me in. Johnson, whose last novel The House of Eve was a Reese’s Book Club pick, delivers her most powerful work to date.

The novel unfolds across three distinct but seamlessly woven timelines:

Ozzie Phillips, a young Black soldier who enlists after WWII and is deployed to Mannheim, Germany, where he quickly falls for Jelka, a local woman. Life dramatically changes for the both of them.

Sophia Clark, a 15 year old navigating the brutal racism of the 1960s while being fortunate enough to attend an elite private school. Her home life is marked by abuse and hardship, and the tension in her world feels heartbreakingly real.

Ethel Gathers, the proud wife of an American officer stationed in 1950s Occupied Germany. After discovering an orphanage housing mixed race children born to Black American GIs and German women, Ethel takes it upon herself to help these forgotten children find homes.

The story centers on the experiences of these mixed race children, abandoned not only because of racism but also due to poverty, war, and military relocation. Johnson blends fictional characters with real historical figures, shining light on a part of history that is rarely discussed. The novel has the pacing of a thriller, keeping you engaged as you watch the characters’ lives slowly intertwine.

This was a period I knew little about, and I appreciated how Johnson brought it to life with both depth and compassion. I absolutely loved this book. Expect Keeper of the Lost Children to be a standout release when it hits shelves on February 10, 2026.

Thank you to Simon & Schuster for the ARC.

[Dona's Books]

DNF @ p145

A lot of readers whose tastes I respect really enjoyed this book, so I intend to come back for it another time. Right now, I don't have the wavelength for a long book with dozens of characters.

Thank you NetGalley and publisher for the arc!📚

[thrillerbookshelved · Rating 5 out of 5]

This was my third read by this author, and my third five star review for her work. WOW! What a beautiful, remarkable and heart wrenching story. Told in multiple POVs, and timelines this book will keep you gripped to its pages as the story unfolds. So many different and impactful topics were touched and so many significant pieces of history retold. I fell in love with the characters, was touched by their stories and forever impacted by what transpired in this book. Thank you for the advanced copy, this is another must read.

[Donne · Rating 4 out of 5]

I was intrigued by this story that was inspired by the real-life story of Mabel Grammer, who helped find homes for over 500 mixed-race children, from white German women and black American men, abandoned in German orphanages. Grammer’s crusade was deemed the “Brown Baby Plan” and focused on placing the children with black families; Grammer and her husband even adopted 10 of the children themselves.

The book summary introduces the three different storylines and MC’s, Ozzie (1948-1966), Ethel (1950-1966), and Sophia (1965-1968). Ethel is married to a black, US serviceman, Bert, who has been stationed in Germany to help rebuild and restore after WWII. Bert and Ethel were unable to have any biological children. Once Ethel starts volunteering at the local orphanage, she and Bert adopt their first two children. This is when Ethel decides to help get all of the children at the orphanage adopted.

Like Bert, Ozzie is a black, US serviceman, who has been stationed in Germany to help with the rebuild after the war. Ozzie was hoping that with the armed forces now being desegregated, that he would have more opportunities being in Germany than back home in Philadelphia. Unfortunately, that is not the case, and he meets and falls in love with a white, German woman named Jelka.

Sophia is a biracial teenager from a poor family and a run-down, rural, farm in MD. Sophia finds out she has a scholarship to a private school that is now accepting a select group of black students. Sophia learns this the day after she was supposed to start school and that her mother knew about the scholarship months ago and just never told Sophia. Sophia decides to go and literally runs away from home to go to school.

The story flips back and forth between the three MC’s and their timeframes. Johnson reveals the trials and tribulations that the MC’s encounter, especially Ethel and Ozzie, in trying to survive Germany and build a life for themselves and their loved ones. Sophia’s storyline was a tough read, yet the most inspiring too. Sophia was definitely my favorite character! The ending was a little bit of a tear-jerker for me.

The character development for the MC’s was well done and the pacing was steady. The storylines were interesting and engrossing and the writing also well done. I’m looking at an overall rating of 4.3 that I will be rounding down to a 4star review. I want to thank NetGalley and Simon and Schuster for sending me this eARC in exchange for my honest review.

#NetGalley #SimonandSchuster #KeeperofLostChildren

[Janet · Rating 5 out of 5]

This could be my favorite historical fiction book this year! Full review to come soon!

[Heather~ Nature.books.and.coffee · Rating 5 out of 5]

This is my third book by Sadeqa Johnson. I am a big fan. I have loved every book I've read by her so far. She has such an amazing way of writing these historical fiction books that pull you in right at the beginning and continues to be so engaging throughout. In this book, we read about the mixed raced orphans in occupied Germany, after WW2. I had never known about this before!

In 1950’s Germany, Ethel is the wife of an American officer, who discovers a local orphanage filled with the abandoned mixed-race children of German women and Black American GI’s,. She is compelled to find homes for these children.

Then we have Philadelphia born Ozzie Phillips, who volunteers for the recently desegregated army in 1948. He's serving in Germany when he meets a local woman, Jelka, and starts a relationship.

In 1965 Maryland, Sophia Clark is given an opportunity to attend a prestigious all white boarding school and escape her heartless parents. While at the school, she discovers a secret that upends her world and sends her on a quest to unravel her own identity.

I love Johnson's writing and the way she connected these characters. The way this story portrays the segregation and racism of those times is very pragmatic. Another fantastic book by Johnson.

Thank you to the publisher and netgalley for the gifted copy. All opinions are my own.

[Dallas Strawn · Rating 5 out of 5]

Sadeqa Johnson is writing some of the very best historical fiction out there—I truly believe that. She tells such powerful, emotionally rich stories.

The author of the New York Times bestselling Reese’s Book Club pick The House of Eve returns this February with KEEPER OF LOST CHILDREN, a dynamic, multi-timeline novel set in post World War II Germany. It follows a woman determined to protect and save mixed race children born to German mothers, a young man named Ozzie who travels overseas to join fellow Black soldiers in their mission to defend America, and a gifted young black girl in 1965 integrating into a prestigious boarding school.

These timelines intersect beautifully, creating a story that absolutely brought me to tears. While I had my guesses early on about where things were headed and how the threads would come together, Johnson still delivers late book revelations that left me gasping and reaching for a tissue.

Sadeqa Johnson is firmly an auto-buy author for me, and I can’t wait to hear all the conversations this one sparks in book clubs.

4.5 ⭐️

[Dwon · Rating 5 out of 5]

Thanks to Netgally and the publisher for an ARC in exchange for an honest review!
Wow! This book is everything anyone could want in a historical fiction novel. I thought it would be difficult to follow different perspectives in different timeliness, but in the end, it all comes together beautifully. This story goes between timelines (late 40s to mid 60s) and locations (United States and Germany) and we hear from Esther, Ozzie, and Sophia. The story is hopeful and heart-warming, but it will also break your heart at times. I loved the growth of the characters (especially Ozzie) and each of their individual personalities. I love that I learned about a piece of history that I had no idea even existed. I love how the writing is so descriptive, that its easy to picture everything as if it were a movie. I just absolutely loved this book. Sadeqa Johnson is becoming one of my favorite authors.

[Gwen · Rating 5 out of 5]

Sadeqa Johnson has a gift for finding stories in history that need to be shared, and then illuminating them with her eloquent and powerful writing. I also always enjoy reading about historical references in Virginia. Fans of Yellow Wife and The House of Eve will enjoy the author’s latest book! I am looking forward to reading the author’s note that was not included in this ARC! Highly recommend! 9/10.

Thank you very much to NetGalley and Simon and Schuster for the advanced reader’s copy of this book in exchange for my honest review.

[Renée | apuzzledbooklover · Rating 4 out of 5]

Based on the true life story of Ethel Gathers, a woman who helped to find families for the offspring of Black American GI’s and German women in Post-WWII, Germany. It was called the “Brown Baby Crisis"

We follow the stories of Ozzie in the 40s-50s, Ethel in the 1950s and beyond and Sophia, in 1965. Each has a story to tell that will tug at your heartstrings.

I loved the theme of identity, and what that really means for biracial children. I’m not sure how I felt about having three timelines, but I understand why the author chose to do it that way. So, aside from a few minor quibbles, this is a fascinating part of history that I did not know about, and I enjoyed learning more.

[Thanks to the publisher, Simon & Schuster and NetGalley for the advance electronic copy of this book in exchange for an honest review.]

CA | Contains scenes that depict racism, a few instances of strong profanity, and a bit of mild steam, fade to black.

[Donna McCaul Thibodeau · Rating 5 out of 5]

Four and a half stars rounded up to five. Ethel Gathers is the wife of a Black Warrant Officer, who is stationed in Germany. Unable to have children of her own, she adopts mixed race children, and creates the Brown Baby Program. This program matched American Black families with mixed race children, so they could be adopted. Ozzie Philips joins the Army and is stationed in Germany. He becomes involved with a white German woman called Jelka. Sophia Clark wins a scholarship to a prestigious boarding school, where Black students are finally being admitted. How do these three people's stories connect?
I loved this book. The character of Ethel was based on the real woman who established the Brown Baby Program, Mabel Grammer. World War II is my favorite genre to read, but this is the very first time I had ever heard of this program. Learning about it was fascinating. Highly, highly recommended.

Thanks to NetGalley for providing me with an advanced copy of this book in exchange for an unbiased review.

[Renee · Rating 5 out of 5]

I dragged out the ending because I wasn’t ready to say goodbye to Sophie or Willa. This is a saga that we need to continue with. So many things are open ended. Bravo on a wonder first novel

[Jessica Paige (Exercise_Read_Repeat) · Rating 5 out of 5]

I had been in a historical fiction slump, and this book made me fall back in love with the genre. Sadeqa Johnson’s writing was impossible to put down, and she did a perfect job of sharing history through a well plotted and intriguing story. Told through three points of view, I fell in love with each of the main characters in different ways. They were easy to root for, and seeing how their stories connected so seamlessly made the reading experience even better (always love a full circle moment).

As with much historical fiction, I loved learning about a piece of history I never knew existed, this time focusing on the mixed-race children left orphaned after World War II, known as the Brown Babies. Johnson also highlights the sacrifices Black women made for education, as well as the prejudice and discrimination these characters faced not all that long ago.

Thank you Atria for the gifted early copy!

[The Bookish Elf · Rating 4 out of 5]

In the rubble-strewn streets of post-war Germany, where bombed-out buildings cast long shadows and hunger gnawed at the edges of survival, thousands of mixed-race children existed in a cruel limbo. Their American fathers had shipped out, and their German mothers faced impossible choices in a society that punished them for wartime romances. These children, dubbed "Brown Babies," might have remained lost to history if not for extraordinary individuals who refused to let bureaucracy triumph over compassion.

Keeper of Lost Children by Sadeqa Johnson excavates this overlooked chapter of history with the same meticulous care and emotional resonance that distinguished her previous works, The House of Eve and Yellow Wife. Johnson, a New York Times bestselling author known for illuminating marginalized women's stories, once again demonstrates her remarkable ability to weave historical truth with intimate human drama. This latest novel alternates between three interconnected narratives spanning from 1948 to 1965, creating a meditation on identity, belonging, and the transformative power of maternal love in all its forms.

Three Lives, One Invisible Thread

The architecture of Keeper of Lost Children by Sadeqa Johnson rests on three pillars, each representing a distinct perspective on the Brown Baby phenomenon. Ethel Gathers, inspired by real-life adoption champion Mabel Grammer, arrives in Mannheim, Germany in 1950 as the wife of an Army warrant officer. Unable to bear children herself due to medical complications, Ethel channels her maternal yearning into something revolutionary: the Brown Baby Plan, a one-woman adoption agency that would eventually place over five hundred mixed-race children with loving families.

Johnson renders Ethel with complexity that elevates her beyond mere sainthood. She is driven, yes, but also flawed—her determination occasionally borders on missionary zeal, and her methods, while well-intentioned, sometimes prioritize efficiency over the messy realities of human relationships. The author doesn't shy away from showing how even the most compassionate systems can produce unintended consequences, a nuance that gives the novel its moral weight.

Ozzie Philips represents the second narrative thread. A young Black soldier from Philadelphia who volunteers for the Army in 1948, Ozzie seeks to prove himself in a military freshly desegregated by Truman's executive order. What he finds in Germany is a bittersweet freedom—liberated from America's Jim Crow restrictions yet still encountering racism from white servicemen. His romance with Jelka, a German woman struggling in the war's aftermath, produces a daughter, Katja. But army regulations, an absent husband's potential return, and Ozzie's own conflicted loyalties conspire to tear the family apart before it can truly form.

The third perspective belongs to Sophia Clark, who in 1965 becomes one of the first Black students to integrate West Oak Forest Academy, a prestigious Maryland boarding school. Sophia's journey from a brutal existence on a Maryland farm to academic opportunity becomes a mystery of identity when she begins suspecting her adoption origins might trace back to Germany. Her search for truth forms the novel's most propulsive storyline, even as it reveals the painful cost of secrets and administrative mix-ups.

The Craft of Connection

Johnson's narrative structure deserves particular recognition. The alternating timelines could have felt disjointed, but instead they create a mounting sense of inevitability. Readers understand connections before the characters do, generating tension that propels the novel forward. The author employs this technique with precision, doling out revelations at a pace that satisfies without overwhelming.

The prose itself carries the weight of each era with authenticity:

Post-war Germany sections are rendered in spare, almost stark language that mirrors the stripped-down landscape
Ozzie's chapters pulse with the rhythms of 1940s jazz and the coded language Black soldiers used to navigate white spaces
Sophia's boarding school experience captures the particular isolation of being a racial pioneer, where every interaction carries the burden of representation

Johnson's research shines through without becoming pedantic. Details about military procedures, adoption bureaucracy, and the social codes of various communities feel lived-in rather than looked-up. The author clearly immersed herself in the documentary Brown Babies: The Mischlingskinder Story and numerous other sources, yet she wears her research lightly, allowing character and emotion to remain paramount.

Where the Novel Shines

The greatest strength of Keeper of Lost Children by Sadeqa Johnson lies in its refusal of simplistic narratives. German mothers aren't villainized for giving up their children; instead, Johnson illuminates the impossible positions these women occupied in a devastated, judgmental society. Black soldiers aren't portrayed as either heroes or villains, but as young men navigating complex moral terrain while facing discrimination both at home and abroad. Even Ethel, the novel's closest approximation to a protagonist, makes decisions that haunt her—well-meaning mistakes that upend lives.

The supporting characters pulse with life. Julia Jones, Ethel's friend among the military wives, provides both comic relief and emotional grounding. Max, Sophia's classmate who shares her German adoption background, offers a mirror for her journey of self-discovery. Franz, one of Ethel's adopted children who tries to scrub the brown from his skin, embodies the psychological toll of internalized racism in a single devastating scene.

Johnson also excels at depicting the microaggressions and casual cruelties that defined integration efforts. Sophia's experience at West Oak Forest Academy rings painfully true—the fake slave auction in the locker room, the rumor about Negro students having tails, the subtle and not-so-subtle ways white classmates and teachers mark her as different. These scenes never feel gratuitous; they serve the larger narrative of identity formation under hostile scrutiny.

Critical Considerations

While Keeper of Lost Children by Sadeqa Johnson succeeds on multiple levels, it occasionally stumbles under the weight of its own ambitions. The three-perspective structure, while generally effective, sometimes results in uneven pacing. Ethel's chapters, particularly in the middle section, can feel repetitive as she navigates bureaucratic obstacle after bureaucratic obstacle. The reader understands her determination, but watching her petition the same courts with the same arguments grows tedious.

Sophia's storyline, the most contemporary of the three, sometimes feels rushed in comparison to the others. Her transformation from farm laborer to boarding school student to investigator of her own past happens at breakneck speed. More gradual development of her friendship with Willa and her romance with Max would have strengthened the emotional payoff of later betrayals and reconciliations.

The novel's resolution, while emotionally satisfying, ties up loose ends with perhaps too neat a bow. Given the complexity Johnson establishes throughout, the convergence of all three storylines in the final chapters feels slightly contrived. Life's messiness, which the author captures so well elsewhere, gives way to a more conventional narrative closure that, while earned, doesn't quite match the nuanced realism of what came before.

Additionally, some readers might find Jelka, Ozzie's German lover and Katja's mother, remains somewhat underdeveloped compared to other characters. While her circumstances are clearly delineated, her interior life never comes into full focus. This may be a deliberate choice—we see her through Ozzie's eyes and later through documentary evidence—but it creates an absence at the heart of one of the novel's central relationships.

Thematic Resonance

At its core, Keeper of Lost Children by Sadeqa Johnson grapples with questions that remain urgent today:

What constitutes family? The novel argues that biology matters less than commitment and love
Who gets to define identity? Sophia's journey illustrates how external forces—from adoption paperwork to racial categories—attempt to fix what should remain fluid and self-determined
How do we reckon with well-intentioned harm? Ethel's work saved lives but also severed connections; the book asks us to hold both truths simultaneously
What does liberation look like for Black Americans? Ozzie's experience in Germany suggests that true freedom requires more than legal changes

The title itself carries multiple meanings. Ethel is literally a keeper of lost children, but so too are the German mothers who reluctantly give up their babies, and even Sophia's adoptive parents who "keep" her for economic purposes rather than love. Everyone in this novel is both keeper and kept, bound by systems larger than themselves yet responsible for the choices they make within those constraints.

Final Reflections

Keeper of Lost Children by Sadeqa Johnson is ambitious historical fiction that succeeds more often than it stumbles. Johnson has gifted readers with an entry point into a forgotten history, populating it with characters who feel simultaneously specific to their moment and universally human. The novel's emotional resonance comes not from manipulation but from earned pathos—we care about these people because Johnson has made them real.

The book serves as an important reminder that history's margins contain stories worth excavating, that the women and children often relegated to footnotes shaped our world in profound ways. While the pacing occasionally lags and some plot mechanics creak under scrutiny, these are minor complaints about a work that dares to tackle complex themes with nuance and compassion.

For readers who appreciate historical fiction that challenges as it entertains, that educates without preaching, and that honors forgotten lives without sanctifying them, this novel delivers. Johnson continues to establish herself as one of our most important chroniclers of Black women's experiences across time, and Keeper of Lost Children by Sadeqa Johnson stands as testament to the power of stories to recover what history tried to erase.

[Courtney N · Rating 5 out of 5]

Incredible.

A paramount book that weaves together a trio of stunning stories to create one beautiful, educational, and poignant masterpiece.

I expected nothing less from Sadeqa Johnson at this point but somehow I’m still amazed at the quality of this story and all I was able to take away from it. This solidified her as a must-read author for me and she just may be my new favorite historical fiction author. The characters were brilliant and rich, the settings were vivid, the story lines were done to perfection and it was a book that made you feel an entire range of emotions.

In a time where historical fiction has felt especially heavy, this book uplifted me. Not because it did not touch on hard hitting themes (I cried several times) but because it felt so pure, so purposeful and so tilted towards hope that I felt a certain peace while reading it.

As a biracial woman, I appreciated this highlight of what happened to biracial children in Germany in the aftermath of WWII. I learned something new and that’s always a plus for me.

I could not put this down! It was a true page turner, it almost bordered on a mystery, and I was dying to get to the end to get answers.

I’m giving this a 4.5 (rounded up) simply because I did feel the ending wrapped up a bit too quickly and really wanted that final resolution to have a few more pages.

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Thank you NetGalley and Simon and Schuster for this ARC in exchange for an honest review.

[Gail Nelson · Rating 5 out of 5]

4.5 stars for me. Easy, interesting read. Great character portrayals. Always love her books!

[brewdy_reader · Rating 5 out of 5]

Thank you @simonbooks and @simon.audio for the free galley and ALC ♡

View my video review on bookstagram

Keeper of Lost Children reminded me why historical fiction matters. It allows us to be moved by what happened before.

It humanizes history.
It explores overlooked perspectives.
It allows us to understand the roots of modern society.

So we can see that what is happening today isn’t something that came out of nowhere or happened in isolation.

Set across three closely connected timelines, the novel explores post–World War II policies and the often overlooked consequences.

The narration features multiple voices, including Adam Lazarre-White whose smooth delivery will be recognizable to fans of S. A. Cosby’s audiobooks.

White voices Ozzie Phillips, a Black serviceman deployed to Germany during the reconstruction period after World War II.

While Ozzie is overseas, President Truman declares the desegregation of the U.S. military, and the novel doesn’t shy away from showing the immediate and brutal contrast between policy and reality. In the United States, a Black man would risk his life simply by looking at a white woman.

In Europe, however, racial boundaries were far less rigid, and interracial relationships were common. The story explores the complicated aftermath of these relationships, particularly the children born from them, many of whom could not be brought back to the United States. This reality led to a generation of “lost children”.

Tender, heart wrenching, and beautiful, Keeper of Lost Children shines a light on a little-discussed chapter of history with meaningful social insight.

4.5⭐️

[Jen · Rating 5 out of 5]

Look for this one on February 10th!
Sadeqa Johnson has done it again! I've read three books and a novella by Ms. Johnson, and she consistently has strong character development and writes about important, overlooked history, making her an auto-buy author for me. This novel clearly involved many hours of research!

The historical portions of this novel focus on racism happening in the United States from WWII to the 1960s and babies born to US African American service members and German women during WWII. Soldiers were transferred to other locations or returned home, and German mothers were ostracized because of their mixed-race children. The real-life advocate and hero, Mabel Grammer, stepped in after WWII to find homes in the US for the children already in German orphanages. She helped complete adoption paperwork and coordinate travel to the United States for over 500 children. Mabel and her husband adopted 12 of these children. The coordination of all of this without the internet seems like a huge feat!

Three different timelines are presented in this novel, but the author makes it effortless to keep up with each and makes the reader want to keep reading to put the pieces together. This is a slow-paced novel, but it is necessary to build the story of the individuals in the timelines. I loved all of the song references in the novel and look forward to making a playlist with the songs she included.

I received an e-ARC and look forward to reading the author's note upon the book's release.

I would like to thank NetGalley and the publishing house, Simon & Schuster/37 Ink, for providing an e-ARC for review. All thoughts and opinions written in this review are my own.

[Rayna Swan · Rating 4 out of 5]

Beautiful story of resilience and strength. Each interconnected story was woven together effortlessly.
While it was predictable, I enjoyed the journey. 4.5 stars.