A debut, powerful, effective telling of what life is like in America for People of Color.

Tracy Beaumont is doing everything in her power to get her dad free and out of jail and furthermore off of Death Row. Meanwhile, her older brother, Jamal, a track star who has so much potential both scholastically and athletically, is wrongly accused of a crime he did not commit. Both Tracy's dad and brother are victims of a racist history that haunts her small town.

Tracy refuses to stand by and watch her family be torn apart again and again and decides to do all she can to have the light shine upon the injustices that exist around her.

This book is very timely, for obvious reasons, as it can help all readers realize the sick and twisted nature of the world in which we live, in this time and place! This book makes you, anybody who reads it, want to stand up for jusice to be served and do something instead of just standing by idly and allowing these attrocities to continue. Read this book, then share it with your mom, your dad, your siblings, your grandparents, aunts, uncles, cousins, friends, teachers, pastors, etc. Everybody and their mother ought to read this book, as Kim Johnson's style of writing is one that is so full of emotion and truth in these unsettling times; we can all learn from this!

This book was so good.

It was amazing to see a YA thriller by a black writer with a black protagonist that also features contemporary black issues. This will be such an engaging, strong book to use with my class to talk about serious issues. I will be using this book in my classroom!

WOW. I'm mad at myself for keeping this one on my virtual shelf for so long. It was infuriating, perfectly written, heartbreaking, and absolutely gripping. This is one I'll definitely read again.

I'm disappointed that it took me so long to read this one! It was truly incredible.

While this book dealt with serious topics and themes, Tracey and others still felt like teens, which is a testament to Johnson's immaculate writing. Highly recommend for fans of Just Mercy, whodunnit mysteries, teens solving crimes, and books about racial justice.

I really wanted to love this one considering it has been compared to Just Mercy, but I didn't enjoy it.

You know what I loved about this story? Primarily, it is so relevant to what is happening today. But, it also has a gripping mystery element as to what happened to Angela. Add to the fact that the characters are just compelling that you immediately root for!

This story is so relevant to what we are all experiencing today. It shows the blatant injustice and racism towards people of a different color, orientation, or caste. I really admired the author because she brings up additional cases like the KKK into the mix. I can only imagine the constant fear and protection people have to live with when they face such groups. She managed to include everything like romance, mystery, suspense, and drama while staying consistent with the theme.

I loved Tracy as the main character. To be honest, I didn’t really like her in the beginning when she takes control of Jamal’s interview. But, once the story-line progressed, I fell in love with her. The author nicely shows that even the smallest actions that Tracy does have a big impact. Beverly was another favorite, and I wished we saw more of her. It would be interesting to see a separate story-line focusing on Beverly’s life and the challenges she faces in her role. I also loved the romance between Dean and Tracy. It does not step away from the plot, but it also highlights that not all people of a certain color are bad.

Overall, I really enjoyed reading “This Is My America” and look forward to reading future books by the author.

"An AK-47 in a white hand has more rights than a Black kid with Skittles."

Amazing! This was one of my favorite reads of 2020 and it hit hard. Reminiscent of The Hate U Give, this read was intensely powerful and hard-hitting. I'm having a hard time gathering up all of my thoughts because this was so impactful. There is so much here to consider and unpack.

This is My America so honestly and unflinchingly delivered thoughts on and examples of systemic racism that explored areas I hadn't even considered. It is an incredibly emotional read and really lays bare all of the ways that our communities, our police systems, our educational systems are biased and unnecessarily more critical of and harsh on those of color. I was absolutely dumbfounded by this book and couldn't read it fast enough. Johnson's writing is beautiful and fully accessible, feeling both comfortable and unsettling at the same time. It made me really explore my own predispositions and recognize the bigger picture. It left me still somewhat reeling and breathless.

Tracy is a wonderful character and the choice to deliver the story from her point of view was brilliant. I love exploring this subject through the eyes of someone who is still developing, still deciding who they should be and how they should approach the world. Tracy is strong, resourceful, and determined. She definitely has things to learn and her age does add some vulnerability. These things serve only to make her a more realistic and sympathetic character. I loved that she had so much education behind her and was used to demonstrate that Black individuals are often having to learn and consider things in their daily lives that go beyond the pale. No one should have to fear for their lives just because they wear a hoodie or walk with their hands in their pockets in a neighborhood that isn't their own.

This is an incredibly important read that needs to be put in the hands of every person. My heart and gut just ached through the majority of this story. It was one of those things where you know this kind of stuff is out there, but it's just so easy to go on with your own life and forget that others have to deal with this kind of disrespect simply because of the color of their skin.


* Disclaimer: I received a copy of this novel from the publisher in exchange for an honest review. *

This was a really strong and really necessary exploration of systemic racism in the US criminal justice system and how deeply white supremacy is rooted into it. The story is told in a very realistic style, which makes it a heavy, emotional read at times, but it had me crying from happiness towards the end - it's ultimately hopeful as well.

This book is quite close to flawless. It was painful and engrossing, such a vividly painted novel about the state of the prison and "criminal justice" system in the United States. I truly hope Kim Johnson continues to write more in the young adult sphere. The world and it's teens (and more adults) need these stories - both to learn from and to see their real life reflected. I need more people to read this one!

This book is an incredibly powerful story, illustrating the racist and deeply flawed criminal justice system in the United States. This book will draw you in and keep you hooked until the very end.

I received a copy of this book in exchange for an honest review.

Purchased this YA/middle grade novel for my middle school library. Superb character development, elegant world building, and compelling plotting.

THIS IS MY AMERICA is one of those books that should be on high school reading lists everywhere. This powerful story about racism, activism, and ultimately, hope, has so many compelling threads: a smart and determined MC named Tracy who won’t give up on justice, a family who won’t give up on each other, and a town that has to come to terms with the sins of its past and present. There is so much to admire about Tracy – her bravery, her love for her family & friends, and her tenacity and resourcefulness as she works to help get her father (wrongfully imprisoned years earlier) released and, in the process, uncovers a web of secrets that threaten the lives of everyone in her family (most significantly, her older brother Jamal). This book has so much to say about institutional injustice, generational trauma and white supremacy, but also about the inspiration to be found in passionate young people who stand up for what is right and work to make change. And it’s all wrapped up in a mystery that will keep you turning pages until the very end. Highly, highly recommend.

Based on the review copy provided to me, I purchased this book. After the Black Lives Matter movements, students in my middle school wanted more stories that represented them or educated them about others’ lived experiences. The format was extremely popular!

An incredibly powerful debut that very well mirrors both past and present events in our society, tackling the realities and wrongfulness of our criminal justice system while incorporating a “who did it” aspect that’ll leave you questioning and wondering till the very end.

MUST READ!!! Captured my attention immediately. Amazing writing had me overflowing with tears! The author's note was extremely impactful in its honesty. Totally copying the further reading list!

What a book! So many excellent topics to discuss in this story. The injustice of the judiciary system and what black Americans face on the daily. A book full of love, friendship, loyalty, differences . This book will make you feel so many things . The pressure of high school, college planning, teen life, a father in jail waiting execution and so much more.. I love my fierce Tracy. I believe this book should be required reading .

This was a really good, fast paced book that followed Tracy as she fought to get her father off of death row. It has already been 7 years and he had less than a year remaining before the state of Texas took his life for a double murder he did not commit. I found this book to be really straightforward and loved Tracy's character as well as the rest of the Beaumont family. Honestly all of the characters were great, even the villains in the story. I really see this becoming a film, it's perfect for the screen and less traumatic to watch versus some other film adoptions of Black novels. I don't want to spoil anything but I will say there is mystery, action, suspense, fear and even betrayal. There was also a bit of a love triangle, and exploration of how having a family member in prison impacts a family. 100% worth reading-- I am so glad I finally sat down with this one.

This book came at a time when lots of books of a similar nature were hitting the market, but I feel it still managed to set itself apart in its uniqueness. This would be a fantastic pairing with excerpts from (or even the whole work of) Bryan Stevenson's "Just Mercy" adaptation for Young Readers. I intend to include it as a future choice for my social justice book clubs alongside titles like "The Hate U Give" and "All American Boys."

An absolute powerhouse book about the realities of race and injustice in the American system. It hit home during such a true and pivotal time we live in right now. Great storytelling and such as real look into what has happened to African American men in our country.

This book is SO relevant to the problems we are facing in America today and really opened my eyes to the problems with mass incarceration that the black community faces. A must read, especially for those hoping to gain a fresh perspective!