We chat with author Kim Johnson about her new release Invisible Son, which follows a wrongly accused teen desperate to recclaim both his innocence and his first love.
Hi, Kim! Can you tell our readers a bit about yourself?
Yes! So good to be here. I grew up in Oregon and, as early as middle school, was active in community organizations around justice, equity, diversity, and inclusion. My calling for the past twenty years has been working in higher education to support college students of all backgrounds. I balance my career as a writer, mom of two, wife, and vice provost, and I have been finishing my MFA for the past two years. I recently moved to the Washington, DC, area to be closer to my family and give our kids a broader experience.
When did you first discover your love for writing and stories?
My mom regularly took us to the public library to bring home stacks of books, and I mainly chose mysteries and ghost stories. Twenty-year-old me would never believe that I am now a writer because I always thought writing was my weakness. At thirty-two, I rediscovered YA, which woke something up inside me, helping me realize I have always been a dreamer and a storyteller—I just never wrote them down.
Lightning round! Tell us the first book you remember reading, the one that made you want to become an author, and one you can’t stop thinking about!
- First book: The Nancy Drew series
- The book that made me want to be an author: Twilight, The Hunger Games, and Divergent made YA visible to me, and the We Need Diverse Books movement made me take action to write what I wanted to see.
- I still can’t stop thinking about: Aristotle and Dante Discover the Secrets of the Universe by Benjamin Alire Sáenz
Your latest novel, Invisible Son, is out now! If you could describe it in only five words, what would they be?
Compelling, heart-racing, fast-paced, emotional, intense
What can readers expect?
This is very much a Kim Johnson novel, a complex story that explores humanity in its various forms. We see Andre’s joy through his love of YouTube reaction videos and swimming, while also delving into his changing neighborhood, his connection to the community, and his return after being wrongly accused of a crime. All of this unfolds alongside a mystery set during the pandemic and a brewing racial reckoning faced by the country. Readers will be engrossed in Andre’s life, family, and friendships, and experience a range of emotions—laughter, tears, anger, and vulnerability. It is sad and joyful, heartbreaking and hopeful.
Where did the inspiration for Invisible Son come from?
The title was inspired by classic novels Invisible Man and Native Son, as my book explores modern political and social issues through the perspective of a Black teenage boy. It serves as a witness to the rise of calls for justice in 2020, capturing the experiences of Gen Z. Initially working on a historical novel to escape thoughts of the pandemic, I found inspiration while watching the YouTube channel of Black twins creating reaction videos to songs from the past. Witnessing their search for joy during the pandemic, particularly through their online presence, sparked the story. I wanted to encapsulate the moment and its connection to the world, especially the pandemic, while also providing relatable characters for young boys I met during school visits who were trying to dream about a future when the world wanted to tell them they are something else. Exploring justice in this novel was essential to me as so many of my readers loved the main character Tracy in This Is My America but wanted to know Jamal’s story as well. Telling Andre’s story allowed me to build a new experience for readers but along some common themes.
Were there any moments or characters you really enjoyed writing or exploring?
There is so much to love about Andre, but I have to start with the chapter playlist titles. I loved picking out songs that would set the tone for the chapter and would be the type of songs Andre would listen to in his YouTube first-listen reaction videos. The songs can be found on a Spotify playlist.
I thoroughly enjoyed writing about Andre’s friendship with Boogie and his crush Sierra—the girl next door. Andre is fully fleshed out with emotions, wants, joy, and sentimentalism. We watch him on the roller coaster of emotions and see how much he loves his family and wants to make them proud. I loved exploring those relationships and his growth, navigating his family, his love of swimming and music, and him taking charge of discovering the truth behind his arrest.
What do you hope readers will take away from Invisible Son?
I hope readers fall in love with the Andres of the world, the kids who just want to be. Want to hope and dream, if we as a society would just get out of their way. I also hope readers jump into the mystery of the story while being connected to who Andre really is and how this five-month window of his life affected not only him but all the real-life stories happening at that time.
What’s next for you?
The Color of a Lie comes out in 2024! It is a socially conscious YA historical thriller set in 1955 that delves into the dark legacy and allure of suburban dreams, from the perspective of a white-passing Black family. We meet seventeen-year-old Calvin, who goes on a journey across two sides of town, trying to follow his parents’ rules while falling in love and being at the center of a mystery. I drew inspiration from literary works like Nella Larsen’s Passing and Brit Bennett’s The Vanishing Half while conjuring the thought-provoking social commentary of films like Suburbicon and shows like Them.
Lastly, do you have any book recommendations for our readers?
Forgive Me Not by Jennifer Baker, At the Speed of Lies by Cindy Otis, Seven Minutes in Candyland by Brian Wasson, Your Plantation Prom Is Not Okay by Kelly McWilliams, Our Missing Hearts by Celeste Ng, Promise Boys by Nick Brooks, and Warrior Girl Unearthed by Angeline Boulley
