Keeper of Lost Children
In this new novel from the New York Times bestselling author of The House of Eve, one American woman’s vision in post WWII Germany will tie together three people in an unexpected way.
Ethel Gathers, the proud wife of an American Officer, is living in Occupied Germany in the 1950s. After discovering a local orphanage filled with the abandoned mixed-race children of German women and Black American GI’s, Ethel feels compelled to help find these children homes.
Philadelphia born Ozzie Phillips volunteers for the recently desegregated army in 1948, eager to make his mark in the world. While serving in Manheim, Germany, he meets a local woman, Jelka, and the two embark on a relationship that will impact their lives forever.
In 1965 Maryland, Sophia Clark is given an opportunity to attend a prestigious all white boarding school and escape her heartless parents. While at the school, she discovers a secret that upends her world and sends her on a quest to unravel her own identity.
Toggling between the lives of these three individuals, Keeper of Lost Children explores how one woman’s vision will change the course of countless lives, and demonstrates that love in its myriad of forms—familial, parental, and forbidden, even love of self—can be transcendent.
“Keeper of Lost Children is an irresistible story that held me spellbound from the very first page. Sadeqa Johnson has an uncanny gift for mining the past and transforming it into unforgettable fiction. With its intricate plot and seamlessly shifting timelines, only a writer of Johnson’s caliber could weave together such a cohesive and deeply moving narrative. Readers won’t want to miss this one.”
—Nathan Harris, New York Times bestselling author of The Sweetness of Water
“Sadeqa Johnson has done it again! Riveted by each character's story, I was captured from the very first page. This is historical fiction at its finest, although I’ve come to expect nothing less from this extraordinary author.”
—Victoria Christopher Murray, New York Times bestselling author of Harlem Rhapsody
“Powerful. . . .Through the eyes of three richly drawn characters, Keeper of Lost Children explores love, identity, and the far-reaching consequences of war. What emerges is a sweeping and immersive tale of courage, hope, and the search for belonging across borders and generations.”
—Christina Baker Kline, #1 New York Times bestselling author of Orphan Train
“A powerful and beautifully told novel about hidden secrets and the hunger to belong. I loved it.”
—Claire Leslie Hall, New York Times best selling author of Broken
Review of Keeper of Lost Children
Booklist
“Johnson once again uncovers overlooked corners of history, blending emotional storytelling with historical depth. Inspired by the real experiences of mixed-race children abandoned after WWII, she sheds light on a little-known chapter of postwar history and the resilience of those who sought to protect the children society tried to forget. Through vivid historical settings, Johnson gives voice to history's voiceless and delivers a moving exploration of hope, courage, and the ties that bind us through generations.”
