As Gray As Black & White: A story of identity

by Faith Knight

Most 14-year olds can't choose the race they'd prefer to be, but Mark Lawson can, after a carefully-concealed secret comes to light. A secret that pits him against his classmates, his baseball team, and the one person who thought he could be trusted.
As Grey As Black & White is set in Montgomery, Alabama during the mid-60s when the public school system was still struggling to avoid desegregating its schools. The book provides a different view of Civil Rights and the desire for a better equality than mere integration. A must read.

Genres: Audiobook, Young Adult

234 pages, Kindle Edition

First published November 15, 2019

About the author

Faith writes Adult, MG and YA contemporary and historical fiction. Once in awhile she’ll put out a self-help book if she feels the need. She enjoys bible reading, watching 1940s movies, and cooking. She lives in North Carolina with her husband Lafonsa

Reviews

[Casey R Kelley · Rating 5 out of 5]

I learned of this book with the author sent me a DM on TikTok. I wasn’t sure when I would get to it but as a mood reader was struggling to pick something to read so randomly decided to read it from KU. OMG it was phenomenal.

About halfway through I realized that it is the race version of one of my favorite books of all time, Perfect Peace by Daniel Black. One of the key elements in this story is how society plays a role in our indoctrination. While his mother was actively anti-racist, his peers had the most influence on his perceptions and beliefs of “colored people.” It was fascinating to see him struggle with what he learned and believed versus what he experienced and saw firsthand.

I am 30+ books in for the year and this might be my most impactful read of the year.

[K. · Rating 5 out of 5]

This book had me hooked from the first page, and it’s now one of my favorite reads of 2025. Against the backdrop of the 1960s segregated south, a white teenager (Mark Lawson) finds out he’s actually mixed race, born of a white mother and part-black father who is now deceased. Mark is forced to leave everything he knows - his home, his friends, his school, and his security, to enter an unfamiliar landscape he was taught to fear and distrust.

The characters are beautifully written and the tension is palpable; the story of Mark Lawson’s journey to reclaim his identity is one that will stick with me for a long time. Highly recommend!

[Laura Akers · Rating 5 out of 5]

Imagine being a white, blond-haired, blue-eyed high school boy in the South in 1967. You are friends with the Black kid on your baseball team but have to be on the down low about your friendship due to prejudice. Then you learn your deceased father was Black. Your white mom doesn't make much money, and your shot at employment means you should pick her race. What do you do?

This book is a heart-rending and powerful exploration that jumps the reader right into the difficult times of the Civil Rights movement. The situation presented allows for an intelligent and nuanced look at a young man forced to confront current events but also to decide who he wants to be.

I highly recommend this YA novel for any age.

[Vnunez-Ms_luv2read · Rating 5 out of 5]

This book should be a must read. The storyline is believable and it may open your eyes to things you may not have thought about. Very interesting story about a young man who thought he was White to only find out he is considered Black. Very engrossing read and one that definitely holds your interest. Thanks to NetGalley, the author and the publisher for the ARC of this book in return for my honest review. Receiving the book in this manner had no bearing on this review.

[GladysMarie Harris · Rating 5 out of 5]

The author allowed us to walk in the shoes of being white then being Black in America. The restrictions and limitations that were justified and imposed upon Blacks in America while they were only trying to survive and live their life.

[Jennifer · Rating 5 out of 5]

Racism and prejudices are a form of unjustified real hate .

[Deedee · Rating 5 out of 5]

4.5 Stars. Kindle Audio.

[Melissa Allen · Rating 3 out of 5]

Hoopla bonus borrow