The Color of a Lie: Chapters 31-42

by Kim Johnson
In this historical novel set in 1955, a Black family moves to a white-only town and begins passing for white, but their life there is threatened when one of them begins to uncover the town's dangerous secrets.

Here are links to our lists for the book: Prologue-Chapter 6, Chapters 7-14, Chapters 15-22, Chapters 23-30, Chapters 31-42
15 words 12 learners

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Full list of words from this list:

words only definitions & notes
  1. read between the lines
    understand what is implied but not expressed on the surface
    I watched his surprise, trying to read between the lines, figure out if Alex had told his father.
  2. grating
    unpleasantly harsh in sound
    “But if my dad finds out…” His voice was grating now.
  3. patter
    make light, rapid and repeated sounds
    She peeked her head closer, then closed the curtains before I heard her feet patter off.
  4. onslaught
    a sudden and severe onset of trouble
    Then watched an onslaught of cars coming toward Lily’s house.
  5. violation
    an act that disregards an agreement or a right
    I clenched my fists at the violation of them being here.
  6. hallowed
    worthy of religious veneration
    I clawed myself inside, hoping superstitions about the hallowed ground would stop whatever was chasing me and I would find Lily safe inside, escaped to the tunnels.
  7. delirious
    experiencing hallucinations
    He must be delirious.
  8. seethe
    be in an agitated emotional state
    It was Darren, not Ben, who’d locked Harry in. Or maybe both of them had done it. I seethed.
  9. stunned
    filled with the emotional impact of overwhelming surprise
    I stood stunned. Unable to decide whether Ben’s story was true.
  10. hearty
    showing warm and sincere friendliness
    She had this high, open laugh, a hearty laugh.
  11. boycott
    refusal to have commercial dealings with some organization
    A massive boycott was brewing.
  12. reconcile
    bring into consonance or accord
    When I got the job at Concord Park, it was my way of helping, use passing to convince other white people it was okay to move into Concord Park. I’m ashamed for what I’m doing; it was my way of reconciling it.
  13. scapegoat
    someone who is punished for the errors of others
    I had to be the scapegoat if Darren’s body was ever found.
  14. indebted
    owing gratitude to another for help or favors
    I nodded, studying his face. So angry with him. So indebted in hope he’d keep our secret.
  15. bearing
    (usually plural) a person's awareness of self
    “Hold on, let me get my bearings. I’ve been on that bus for a day. I can barely walk.”
Created on Tue Aug 19 07:55:40 EDT 2025 (updated Thu Sep 18 16:23:24 EDT 2025)

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