The Johnson Four: A Novel

A 1960s teen pop group determined to conquer the music world must contend with the cost of fame—and a ghost with a grisly past—in this riveting family story from the New York Times bestselling author of The Black Kids. Odysseus Johnson dreams of musical stardom for his three sons: Roman, the rebel, more interested in being a teenager than a performer; Rocco, arguably the most talented of the bunch but different in a way the world doesn’t understand; and dutiful River, the youngest, who dreams of fame just like his dad. Driving back from another failed audition in Detroit, the Johnson boys encounter the ghost of Christmas Jones the Third, an effervescent, if lonely, little Black boy who carries the scars of his horrific past as an orphan and minstrel sensation. Desperate for family, Christmas begs the Johnsons to bring him home with them. When Odysseus refuses, Christmas stows away in the family Cadillac. Despite their initial horror, Christmas becomes a part of the Johnson family. With the promise of opportunities in California, Odysseus moves the family out west, and the boys’ talent starts getting noticed. But just as the brothers are finally on the cusp of fame, Christmas commits a violent act that wreaks havoc on the Johnsons’ lives, and the family is torn asunder in the aftermath. Roman flees the country. Rocco is institutionalized. River’s solo star rises. Christmas disappears. Spanning decades, roving from the rapacious music industry and the ravages of Vietnam to the dark corridors of a mental institution and the very planes of the afterlife, The Johnson Four is epic in scope. And at its beating heart is the unforgettable story of a family trying to find their way back to one another.

About the Author :
Christina Hammonds Reed’s debut YA novel, The Black Kids, was a New York Times bestseller, a William C. Morris Award finalist, and a California Book Award Silver Medalist. She lives in the Los Angeles area with her lovely little family. The Johnson Four is her adult debut.

Review :
“Christina Hammonds Reed has crafted an unforgettable family saga that glitters with interwoven threads of fame, war, and the unquenchable longing for home. With a dynamic cast of characters and prose as soulful as the music it conjures, The Johnson Four is an epic that will have you questioning the nature of love and existence as you race through its pages.”—Emma Brodie, author of Songs in Ursa Major “At times uproariously funny and, at others, searingly tragic, The Johnson Four is an epic novel that not only embraces the luminous range of human emotion but deftly expands our understanding of all that we carry. With breathtaking ambition and lively storytelling, Christina Hammonds Reed spins a song of heartbreak and triumph that will echo with you far past the final pages. . . . An unforgettable achievement!”—Thao Thai, author of Banyan Moon “In her masterful weave of history and pop culture with a touch of the supernatural, Christina Hammonds Reed elevates the fictional origin story of a band of brothers to the level of awe-inspiring mythology. The Johnson Four is my favorite kind of read: epic and immersive, riding the line between darkness and light, with a cast of characters who kept me alternately laughing and stressed through the rhythms of their lives. This right here is classic soul.”—Dawnie Walton, author of The Final Revival of Opal & Nev