This Is My America, Kim Johnson
This Is My America, Kim Johnson
3 Rating(s)
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This Is My America

Author: Kim Johnson

Narrator: Bahni Turpin

Unabridged: 9 hr 34 min

Format: Digital Audiobook Download

Published: 07/28/2020

Synopsis

"Incredible and searing." --Nic Stone, #1 New York Times bestselling author of Dear Martin

The Hate U Give meets Just Mercy in this unflinching yet uplifting first novel that explores the racist injustices in the American justice system.

Every week, seventeen-year-old Tracy Beaumont writes letters to Innocence X, asking the organization to help her father, an innocent Black man on death row. After seven years, Tracy is running out of time--her dad has only 267 days left. Then the unthinkable happens. The police arrive in the night, and Tracy's older brother, Jamal, goes from being a bright, promising track star to a "thug" on the run, accused of killing a white girl. Determined to save her brother, Tracy investigates what really happened between Jamal and Angela down at the Pike. But will Tracy and her family survive the uncovering of the skeletons of their Texas town's racist history that still haunt the present?

Fans of Nic Stone, Tiffany D. Jackson, and Jason Reynolds won't want to miss this provocative and gripping debut.

About The Author

KIM JOHNSON held leadership positions in social justice organizations as a teen. She's now a college administrator who maintains civic engagement throughout the community while also mentoring Black student activists and leaders. This Is My America is her debut novel. It explores racial injustice against innocent Black men who are criminally sentenced and the families left behind to pick up the pieces. She holds degrees from the University of Oregon and the University of Maryland, College Park. Kim lives her best life in Oregon with her husband and two kids. Find her at KCJOHNSONWRITES.COM and follow her on Twitter and Instagram @kcjohnsonwrites.

Reviews

Goodreads review by Bookishrealm on July 29, 2020

2020 has a been crap year, but it's producing some gems! TW: murder, off the page lynching (historical), racism, Black trauma, white nationalist groups This Is My America is more than just a book about a young girl attempting to get her father out of prison. It is a close examination of mass incarce......more

Goodreads review by BookNightOwl on July 30, 2020

Thank you Netgalley and Random House Children's for providing an ARC of This is My America by Kim Johnson. Tracy writes letters to Innocence X to help get her father out of prison for a crime he didnt commit. For 7 years he has been sitting on death row. Then a crime is committed in their town in Tex......more

Goodreads review by Nnenna | notesbynnenna on August 20, 2020

GUYS. This book was incredible and I’m pretty sure that I have a new favorite YA book. It follows Tracy, whose father is on death row. Her dad doesn’t have a lot of time left and she’s doing everything in her power to try and clear his name, including writing weekly letters to Innocence X, an organiz......more

Goodreads review by Michelle on October 09, 2020

I think that the slew of books on the topics of racial justice and racial inequality by ownvoices authors are very important and I'm thankful I had the opportunity to read this one. It's billed as a combination of Dear Martin and Just Mercy and while I can't say for sure that this is true (I haven't......more

Goodreads review by Claude's on September 21, 2020

Well that was an incredible book. I have to say that was the most emotional I have been in a YA book that tackles the issue of community and police racism, and inequality in the justice system. At times I felt furious, at times I felt fearful and stressed, and at times I was overwhelmed by sadness. I......more

Quotes

An NPR Best Book of the Year

"An incredible and searing examination of the often-tragic collision of racism and a flawed criminal justice system. Read and reread . . . and reread again." —Nic Stone, #1 New York Times bestselling author of Dear Martin

"This Is My America promises a powerful story about racial injustice, featuring stunning prose reminiscent of Nic Stone and Angie Thomas.” —Paste Magazine

"Harrowing and worthwhile; a call-to-action from the anti-racist insights of a generation of black activists." —Kirkus Reviews, starred review

“Activist Johnson’s powerful debut is a timely testimony that echoes the social realities behind today’s #BlackLivesMatter protests.” —Publishers Weekly, starred review

"This strong debut will strike home with socially conscious readers." —Booklist 

"A strong debut. Will appeal to readers of Angie Thomas and fans of criminal justice podcasts like Serial and In the Dark." —SLJ

“This debut YA novel is an incisive condemnation of the racist criminal justice system, mass incarceration and capital punishment. . . . A necessary add to all shelves, especially those focused on anti-racism and #BlackLivesMatter.” —Shelf Awareness

Awards

  • Florida Teens Read
  • Missouri Gateway Readers Award
  • Oklahoma Book Award
  • Oregon Book Award
  • Pacific Northwest Book Award
  • Tennessee Volunteer State Book Award
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