People of Means: A Novel

(Hardback)

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From the acclaimed author ofThe Kindest Lie, a propulsive novel about a mother and daughter each seeking justice and following their dreams during moments of social reckoning1960s Nashville and 1992 Chicago; perfect for readers of Brit Bennett and Tayari Jones.

"People of Means left me breathless! A beautifully crafted story...profound and sharp."Sadeqa Johnson New York Times bestselling author of The House of Eve

Two women. Two pivotal moments. One dream for justice and equality.

In the fall of 1959, Freda Gilroy arrives on the campus of Fisk University full of hope, carrying a suitcase and the voice of her father telling her shes part of a family legacy of greatness. Soon, the ugliness of the Jim Crow South intrudes, and shes thrust into a movement for social change. Freda is reluctant to get involved, torn between a soon-to-be doctor her parents approve of and an audacious young man willing to risk it all in the name of justice. Freda finds herself caught between two worlds, and two loves, and must decide how much shes willing to sacrifice for the advancement of her people.

In 1992 Chicago, Fredas daughter Tulip is an ambitious PR professional on track for an exciting career, if workplace politics and racial microaggressions dont get in her way. But with the ruling in the Rodney King trial weighing heavily on her, Tulip feels called to action. When she makes an irreversible professional misstep as she seeks to uplift her community, she must decide, just like her mother had three decades prior, what shes willing to risk in the name of justice and equality.

Insightful, evocative, and richly imagined with stories of hidden history,People of Meansis an emotional tour de force that offers a glimpse into the quest for racial equality, the pursuit of personal and communal success, and the power of love and family ties.

"A memorablestory of mothers and daughters, family dynamics, the complicated meaning of success, the pull of love, and the fight for racial equality, People of Means is a timely look at who we are as a nationand who we can become, if only we have the courage to follow our hearts." Kristin Harmel, New York Timesbestselling author of The Paris Daughter

Reviews

"People of Means left me breathless! A beautifully crafted story rife with struggle, intrigue, and the sheer determination to achieve and hold on to the American dream with poise and dignity. Nancy Johnson has a knack for layering the complexities of class and culture while shining a light on a little piece of history with sound details, vivid imagery and the indomitable spirit of women strong enough to answer a higher calling even when it means risking it all. Profound and sharp, this sophomore novel is a delight." Sadeqa Johnson New York Times bestselling author of The House of Eve "Johnson doesn't shy away from the complex and conflicting emotions and consequences that both characters face as they decide to take a stand, and in this way, she speaks for all those who have ever faced a decision about how far to go in the name of what's right. A memorablestory of mothers and daughters, family dynamics, the complicated meaning of success, the pull of love, and the fight for racial equality, People of Means is a timely look at who we are as a nationand who we can become, if only we have the courage to follow our hearts." Kristin Harmel, New York Timesbestselling author of The Paris Daughter "Nancy Johnson's poignant story of a mother and daughter, who, in their youths, are reluctantly pulled into the struggle for equal rights and equitable justice, asks hard but necessary questions about whether and how each of us should take action to right the wrongs. People of Means brings a compassionate, fresh, nuanced, and important perspective to fiction that centers the Black American experience. I hope book clubs will embrace this worthy tale!" Therese Anne Fowler, New York Times bestselling author of A Good Neighborhood Nancy Johnson's People of Means spins a compelling narrative that explores the courage of a Black mother and daughter as they navigate the tumultuous waters of societal change. Beautifully written, propulsive and poignant, this novel is a meditation on love and resilience. I loved this gorgeous book! Jean Kwok, New York Times bestselling author of Searching for Sylvie Lee and The Leftover Woman [A]n illuminating multigenerational drama of a Black mother and daughter finding their way amid Americas racial inequities. Its a satisfying tale of intergenerational reckoning. Publishers Weekly This novel is a shimmering, heartrendingode to the indelible force of legacy; how the echoes of resilience, triumphand love resound through and across generations. In these pages, Nancy Johnson hasaccomplished that elusivefeat of creating a story that is at once timelessandincredibly timely. Christine Pride, co-author of We Are Not Like Them Johnsons rich examinations of ambiguities in this moral dilemma take center stage, but institutional racism and its constant, draining impact are the boards these players stand on. And cant escapeThe Kindest Lie is an easy, accessible novel filled with hard, important truths. New York Times Book Review, Editors Choice The Kindest Lie is a layered, complex exploration of race and class. Johnson is particularly adept at drawing the dividing lines between African Americans and working-class Whites, while at the same time illuminating the things they share It is a tale of how lies and omissions can shape and warp us. It is a story about reconciliation, set against a backdrop of racism and resentments. But more than anything, it is a meditation on family and forgiveness. Washington Post "A fantastic story of a marriage and what happens when one spouse secretly had a child prior to knowing the other.... This modern-day depiction of a woman in crisis and what she discovers about what she left behind is well-written, timely, and oh-so-memorable." Good Morning America on The Kindest Lie "[A] triumph, a deeply affecting work of truth and reconciliation over what it means to live the American Dream--and not just for the winners." Los Angeles Times on The Kindest Lie Powerful insights emerge on the plurality of Black American experience and the divisions between rural and urban life, and the wealthy and the working class. Johnsons clear-eyed saga hits hard. Publishers Weekly, starred review, on The Kindest Lie "A heart-wrenching story of family, racism, poverty, and love." Good Housekeeping on The Kindest Lie Hope and change upend quickly in Johnsons timely, heartwarming debut. O Magazine on The Kindest Lie Similar to The Vanishing Half by Brit Bennett, The Kindest Lie is an engrossing story about race, class, and coming to grips with your past The Kindest Lie will not only pull at your heartstrings, but it will also make you want to call your family, fight racial injustice, and hold on tighter to those you love. With every page you turn, you'll see just how powerful unconditional love really is." Popsugar "It takes tremendous talent to seamlessly combine social commentary with a powder keg of a plot, and Nancy Johnson accomplishes just that in her gripping debut novel, The Kindest Lie, addressing issues of race, class, privilege and upward mobility.... A fictional callback to Isabel Wilkersons Caste, The Kindest Lie also brings to mind Brit Bennetts The Vanishing Half, in which another young Black woman returns to her hometown to try to reconcile her past, present and future. Dont miss this powerful debut." Bookpage, starred review

Author Bio

A native of Chicago's south side, Nancy Johnson is Senior Manager of Brand Communications and Writing for the College of American Pathologists, the world's largest association of board-certified pathologists. For more than a decade, she worked as an Emmy-nominated, award-winning television journalist at CBS and ABC affiliates in markets nationwide from Tampa Bay, FL, to Madison, WI. Her work has appeared in O, The Oprah Magazine and has been supported by Tin House, Kimbilio Fiction, and the Hurston-Wright Foundation. She blogs regularly for Writer Unboxed and leads panel discussions on writing and publishing. A graduate of Northwestern University and The University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill, Nancy lives in downtown Chicago. The Kindest Lie is her first book.