This Is My America by Kim Johnson

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BEST YOUNG ADULT BOOKS OF 2020

The blurb calls This Is My America by Kim Johnson a mix of Just Mercy and Dear Martin and I would agree. Throw in a whodunit mystery and I got myself another winner.

Dear Martin meets Just Mercy in this unflinching yet uplifting YA 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 and Jason Reynolds won’t want to miss this provocative and gripping debut.

This Is My America by Kim Johnson

MY THOUGHTS

I read some fantastic novels recently that covered important topics that I would consider must read. Wonderful stories, that are eye-opening, thoughtful but also thought provoking. Heart-breaking as well as uplifting. This Is My America was all of the above.

Wonderfully narrated by one of my most favorite voices – Bahni Turpin. This book had me hooked in no time.

The YA novel hit just the right note in regards to topic, characters and story.

Of course it was heart-breaking at times. As with Just Mercy, the hopelessness that comes with family members innocently incarcerated for life and especially on death row is crushing.

But Tracy, the heroine in this novel worked unwaveringly and tirelessly on proving her father’s innocence. She impressed me with her knowledge, and tenacious attitude. And the whodunit subplot, centered around her brother was as interesting as her father’s case.

The 9 hrs and 34 mins went by in a blink. And I can only recommend the book and especially the audiobook to anyone, young as well as adult readers. The story was engaging, captivating, and the topic is a must read.