Pre-order this book now.

Ask your library to buy it.

Ask your child's high school library to buy it.

If you have high school aged children or loved ones, buy them a copy. Then follow it up with a copy of Just Mercy and The Sun Does Shine.

What I'm trying to say is read it. Share it.

It will no doubt be my favorite YA book of the year.

5/5⭐️

Author Kim Johnson’s portrayal of seventeen year old Tracy Beaumont’s fight for justice is compelling. I loved Tracy’s tenacity in her pursuit to prove her father’s innocence. Tracy’s father has been in prison for seven years and will be executed unless Innocence X (an organization Tracy has been writing to) can intervene. In the midst of the family’s struggle with their father in prison, Tracy’s older brother is falsely accused of killing a fellow classmate. With Jamal on the run and the town divided on his innocence, Tracy begins to investigate what really happened the night of the murder. Johnson’s descriptive writing kept me enthralled. This is definitely a page turner, with themes of the fight for justice, racial inequities, and homage to the book Just Mercy. Having read Just Mercy, I really appreciated the inclusion of an organization that can help prove Tracy’s father’s innocence. At times, my heart dropped with the description of some of the scenes. The visits to the prison, the police entering Tracy’s home, and other strong scenes in the book are heartbreaking and a reminder of our nation’s ugly racial history. And while the ending is expected, we should remember that not all similar cases end in the same manner. I do recommend the book as a discussion piece for middle and high school classrooms.

This book WAS SOOO GOOD I gave this book 5 stars. This book was something that everyone one needs to read and educate themselves on about Black America and criminal justice system and what it does to black people and also racism especially what is going on today. This book showed that what the criminal justice system do the Black Americans who are innocent and being throw in jail for the color of their skin. It was moving, powerful and everyone should read it!!

Tracy Beaumont is on the clock. Her dad is on death row and her brother Jamal has been accused of killing a white girl. With all Tracy is facing to include going to a school where she is hated, Tracy is determined to save her dad and clear her brother’s name.
Tracy Beaumont has been writing letters faithfully to Innocence X (think Bryan Stevenson) for years trying to get them to help her father out, and for years her letters go unanswered. While her main focus is on her father, her brother Jamal (good kid with a track scholarship) is now considered a “thug” and on the run. Tracy along with her best friends begin to investigate and slowly unravel long buried secrets down in Texas.
The author does a wonderful job of incorporating real life events (fictionalized) throughout this book. I loved how the secrets slowly unraveled and just when you think you’ve figured it out, you’re hit with another shocker. By the time the book ends, you’re left with the feeling of needing more of these characters to see how their story continues to develop.
I would highly recommend this book. This book touches on the reality of what a lot of Black people and POC experience in the justice system. Regardless of your innocence you skin color automatically makes you guilty. This Is My America gives you everything you need in a book and the feeling of wanting more.

This may be a hard review to write. I have tears, but not a lot of words right now. I wish I could give this ten stars.

This Is My America felt like non fiction to me. Every single character felt real. The story is sadly too real. Not only did the book make me cry, but the author note just made me cry harder. I had so many different emotions while reading. Definitely a lot of anger. There were sad tears and happy tears. I'm just a wreck.

Tracy lives with her mom, older brother, and younger sister. Her father is in prison, set to die in less than a year. Tracy sends letters to Innocence X, trying to get them to take on her dad's case. She knows he didn't kill anyone. The person he was charged with was shot and killed in his own home while the police tried to arrest him. They shot his son, Quincy, too, and he has permanent leg damage. Jamal is a star athlete and the news is doing a story on him. Tracy decides to bring up her dad's case live on air. She can't think of anything else she can do to save her dad.

The news show didn't go well and Jamal wouldn't even talk to Tracy. Tracy is a journalist for school and she does Know Your Rights workshops. Tracy speaks with the current editor, Angela, about being editor next year. Angela tells her that she doesn't work well with others, but she wants to talk to Tracy about something she's working on. And Tracy shouldn't tell Jamal. Angela and Jamal had been secretly dating for awhile. When Angela is found dead, Jamal is the first and only suspect. His history has shown what happens and he ran. Tracy now needs to find a way to clear her brother and save her dad.

Tracy finds a secret history of the klan and current white supremacists in Galveston. She sees how much social injustice there is and how racism is still all around her.

This book focuses on so many tough topics, including racism, social injustice, bias in the justice system. It's a tough read at times, but so important right now. The author provides a lot of resources and books to read at the back of the book. I definitely plan on checking them out and finding even little ways I can help.

I obviously think this book was wonderful and a must read. Required school reading would be great. I gave this 5 stars and it will be on my top ten of the year.

Thank you to the publisher and netgalley for my review copy.

Antiracist learning in young adult fiction

'This is My America' is a title so important with current events exposing systemic racism in modern America. This young adult title covers the story of a black family whose father was wrongfully accused and imprisoned for murder to be executed. The book shows a race against time with his daughter as a protagonist, to save him from that wrongful conviction.

It reminds me of my recent read 'From the Desk of Zoe Washington' - which is a midgrade story with similar synopsis, showing how great is the issue of incarcerating innocent people of color in the United States.

More to love:
great take on biracial relationships, loyalty, friendship, and racial justice.


Thank you Netgalley and the publisher Random House Books for Young Readers for the ARC in exchange for an honest review. Opinions and feelings are my own.

I think this is a powerful book and in today's climate these stories are so important. I enjoyed all the characters. My only wish is that there was a little more character development throughout the story. They all felt a bit stagnant at times.

Also, I felt there was too much going on. We have one family with two very powerful stories that sometimes gets lost with a little romance that just seemed out of place. Also, I think Jamal's story could have been woven in just a little better. It seemed almost forced sometimes even though it was a huge part or was supposed to be.

This book does give good background on things we as a society love to brush under the rug and not deal with. They bring them to light and remind us all that these things are still happening in our backyards.

All in all this is a powerful story and I think we all should be searching more of these out. The cover is stunning and I look forward to reading more from this author.

5/5 ✨

I want this book to be required reading in every high school in this country. This is such a powerful story and does not hold back punches.

Our main character is a very strong person but her heart does cause her to be careless but it makes sense because she is a teenager. This felt like a very realistic portrayal of a teen who is striving to make a change and save her family. I loved seeing the workshops she held, the ending where we find out she starts her own podcast. It just felt so genuine and real.

Speaking of Tracy I loved her relationship with Dean and Quincy. As someone who is POC I often think about the challenges that come with dating someone white. Because of all the history and differences in upbringings and this book had those conversations so amazingly. It broke my heart but it also made me feel so validated in some of the struggles I've gone through.

I adored the intricacies of the relationship. The dynamics with her family, friends, and Dean's family were all so well fleshed out. Also would love a whole novel on Steve who was the lawyer she writes letters too.

Overall adored this, it had me on the edge of my seat the whole time!

If you loved Just Mercy or Tiffany D Jackson's work I recommend this for you!

I was so excited to get an advance copy of this book and it did not disappoint. There was so much to love about This Is My America, . It was realistic, in a very sad way, that added a lot of credibility to the characters, as well as to the mystery and the way it's investigated. The plot and characters hooked me very quickly!

I love YA books like this with a protagonist whose life and voice aren't usually represented in YA. I'm really excited to read what Kim Johnson comes out with next.

I received this book from NetGalley and Random House's books for young children in exchange of an honest review.

TW: racism, racial injustice, police brutality, murder, Ku Klux Klan, inequality, bullying


Tracy Beaumont is seventeen years old and every week she writes a letter to Innocence X, an organization that could be able to help her and her family free her father, James, an innocent Black man, sentenced to death in Texas. After seven years and uncountable letters, the Beaumounts are running out of time, because James Beaumont has only 267 days left. Then their life is turned upside down again when her older brother, Jamal, is accused of murdering Angela, a white girl, Tracy's colleague in the school newspaper and their classmates. Desperate to do anything in her power to save her family, her brother and father, Tracy decides to discover what really happened to Jamal and Angela at the Pike, the place where she was murdered. What exposè was Angela talking about when she asked Tracy's help?
Is it possible that her murder is connected to the double murders James Beaumont was unjustly accused of? While trying to discover what really happened, helped by her friends and allies, Tracy starts to uncover an ugly truth about the past and present of her city. And the people around her.

This is my America is a powerful, searing and heartbreaking, but hopeful at the same time, debut novel.
Told from Tracy's POV and from her letters to Innocence X, this book is incredible and intense. The writing style is able to engage right away the reader, the plot is thrilling, full of twists and lies and truths and the characterization is skillfully written. I was blown away by this book, This is my America deals with complex and important topics regarding and impacting the lives of Black Americans. I found really interesting, heartbreaking and important reading the author's note, where Kim Johnson talks about the racism in the criminal justice system in America, police brutality, mass incarceration and the rise of white suprematists. This is my America is a work of fiction, but the topics discussed are current, complex and important.

I was captivated right away by This is my America. Tracy is a powerful main character, strong-willed, brave, aware of the injustices in the world, but determined to do anything in her power to educate herself and others and to fight for a better world and justice system. Tracy is surrounded by strong characters, like her brother Jamal, her friends Tasha, Dean and Quincy, while she tries everything to understand what happened the night Angela was killed and discovering some truths able to shock her and the whole city. Through her eyes the reader is able to know a determined and brilliant young woman, loyal to her family and friends, aware of the police brutality and the injustice in the system. I found her workshop, Know Your Rights, both empowering and "sad" at the same time, realizing the importance of learning their rights and how to deal with the police in various scenarios, being Black, and the fact they should have to learn how to deal in the first place.
I liked reading about funny and sweet moments between Tracy and her family and friend and between her and her love interest(s), moments well mixed in her fight and journey to justice. Through her friend Tasha's relationship with her father, the author shows how life after prison isn't easy, underlining the real-life struggles in Tracy's family too.

The title itself underlines a double America and the main character lives in her Black America, where Black people are more likely to get arrested, pulled over, shot or killed and where they are considered in a different way just for the colour of their skin. Unfortunately true is the comparison the main character does in the book:

"When I watch the news, I can tell without even looking at the TV if the suspect if white or Black. A "young man who lost his way" or "was afflicted by mental illness"=white. A "thug" with "trouble in school"= Black"

(quote from the earc, so subject to changes)

The double standard, the ingrained racism is another topics present in the book, a racism Tracy saw in her best friend too and in the city where she lives with her family and where people found easier point the blame to a Black man.
Because of her father violent arrest and injust trial, her father's friends death and his son Quincy being hurt at the hand hand of the police, a profound mistrust of the police is clear and understandable. The author, even underlining the police's corruptions and tampering with evidences and witness, inserts characters like Beverly Ridges and the evolution in Sheriff Brighton's and Officer Clyde's to show that exist police officers that are working to fight against implicit and explicit bias and the police oppression system.

A broken system, a powerful and intense main character, This is my America is a book that broke my heart and gave me hope at the same time. It's a powerful and empowering book and I recommend it to those who are looking for a strong female character, amazing and important plot, serious topics and hopeful and realistic ending. I suggest reading the additional resources and suggested references if you want to educate yourself on the topics of police brutality, racism and injustice in criminal prosecution.

This is my America is a book about not being silent, fighting for and demand justice and equality, about family, friendships and love.

Unforgettable.
Empowering.
Searing.
One of the best book I've read this year.

This is My America is a young adult novel following the story of an African-American family. The father of the family has been wrongfully incarcerated for murder, and his daughter is attempting to recruit a criminal justice organization to take his case before his time runs out and he is executed.

The story deals with many themes, including injustice, racism, friendship, loyalty, biracial relationships, and children with imprisoned parents. The author did some great character development, especially with the main character, and gave insight into an issue that has plagued America for decades. As I (a Caucasian reader) read the story, however, I did not feel attacked for being white, just more aware of circumstances involving African-American males and crime.

I would recommend this book for young (and older) adults, as it has a great message for all to hear.

What I Loved:
This. Book. UGH! It was amazing, and I loved every word, every page.

How I Felt:
This story truly impacted me. I stopped and started the reading of this to consider the words on the page. While this was a fictional story, it rings true over and over again. Tracy’s comments on the racial divides in our society were spot-on and continued to make me think. Her investigation into what really happened the night her brother was accused of murder gave so many opportunities to show readers some of the horrible injustices that are a part of America today.

The plot features a young girl, Tracy, who is trying to get her father’s death sentence overturned before it is too late. She relentlessly writes letters to Innocence X, an organization that assists people in their legal needs, but she has yet to hear back from them. Just as she is beginning to give up on them, her brother is accused of murder, and Tracy is reliving a nightmare for the second time.

The characters were wonderful. Tracy is this sassy, smart, determined young woman. I loved her relentless pursuit of justice for her father, and then for her brother. The other characters were the perfect supporting cast to complete this story and to tell it right.

Overall, I was absolutely in love with This is my America. I enjoyed the story and found it to be a quick read, as I couldn’t put it down. I think that it had some hard-hitting ideas that are important to read about, and I’m so glad I had the opportunity to read it!

To Read or Not To Read:
I would recommend This is my America to ALL readers! This was a poignant book that needs to have a voice in today’s world.

I was provided a gifted copy of this book for free. I am leaving my review voluntarily.

My blog post will be live on 7/14

This book (sadly) couldn't be anymore timely. Johnson's debut is confronting in the best way, tangible, and so so authentic. Definitely a must-read!

I loved this book! Such an important and powerful read mainly based on current events. I loved the fierce and determination Tracy showed throughout the entire book. The flaws in the justice system along with the racism described toward the Beaumont family and POC in general broke my heart. I did however, enjoy the fairy tale/ happy ending. It brought so much light and hope. A true reminder to us all that we need to do better and be better!!! This book should def be a required school reading! It was real and so so raw, definitely a must read!

Thank you so much Random House Children’s and Netgalley for the ARC! I truly enjoyed it.

This story cuts straight to the heart. In the face of Racism and police brutality , this books is right on time . It’s perfect for teens and young adults to read to continue the conversation of injustice in this country. This books highlight some keys issue Black people face such as mass incarcerations ,lack of proper representation and corruption in the police forces . This book reminds me of one of our sad realities as Black people, that White voices will be believe above our own and we are guilty until proven innocent. It is no way a book of finger pointing or accusation , but it’s an eye opener to the struggles of Black people.

The main character Tracy , albeit a teenager , is a fighter and a world changer. She spend her time not only educating herself on the law, but sharing her resources and knowledge with her community . We can all learn from Tracy, who made it her purpose to bring forth justice ,

This book will stay with me for a long time, it’s well written and if you are a fan of the hate u given then this is for you!

A story you can’t stop thinking about for days is evidence of a good book. A story that keeps your mind whirling for weeks is evidence of much more.

This one will do that for you. It truly is remarkable.

Tracy, like many intelligent strong teen girls, is unwaveringly determined. But Tracy is concerned with more than scholarships, where to apply to college, and which boy to date. Instead, She’s focused on freeing her father, who waits on death row for a murder he didn’t commit.

Tracy writes constantly to Innocence X, pleading for help to save her father. Meanwhile her brother, a record-setting athlete with college prospects is accused of murder as well. Forcing Tracy to begin investigating on his behalf as well.

This story is filled with twists, secrets, and suspense. It promotes a better America by presenting what life is like for families of color, provoking empathy and understanding. Books like these bring us closer to healing the chasms which currently devastate our country.

Additional resources are included for readers who would like to learn more about topics addressed in the story.

I received an early copy of this book on Netgalley in exchange for an honest review. Put this book in the hands readers who like Elizabeth Acevedo and Angie Thomas

I received an ARC of this title from NetGalley in exchange for an honest review. All opinions are my own and were not affected by the free copy.

Tracy has been writing letters to Innocence X for seven year, in an attempt to save her father from the death penalty for a crime he did not commit. When the book begins, there is less than a year until her fathers execution. Jamal, her track star brother, is getting ready for college. But when a crime is committed in their town, Jamal becomes the main suspect, and goes on the run.

This book mirrors much of what we are seeing in the news today. It was absolutely heartbreaking than this is the reality too many people face today. The book was well written, and the plot was rarely boring.

I wasn't a fan of the love triangle, it felt a little too forced to me. I did appreciate that each boy truly cared for and respected Tracy. Other than this small detail though, I really enjoyed the book and will definitely be recommending it to the others.

First of all, thank you to Netgalley and the publisher for providing me with an ARC. I absolutely loved this book and it's definitely one of the strongest debuts I've read this year.

This book has everything from a compelling narrative that's relevant to current events, a sweet love story, to an enthralling small-town murder mystery. I found myself hooked on the plot from page 1. I highly recommend this book to anyone, especially younger readers looking into an introduction to real-life problems in America.

I got this book via Netgallery. I picked the book because I found the synopsis to be very intriguing, and I really liked the book over. The book was quite entertaining without any dull moments.. I think this book, is a good read for anyone, however I think it is great Read for young adults. I don’t think I’ve ever read a book, where an African American dad was facing death row. Unfortunately this is reality for some young people; I am glad that this book speaks to a situation, they can identify with

In a small town in Texas, seventeen year old Tracy Beaumont has dedicated her life to getting justice for her father because the legal system failed them. Every week she writes new letters to Innocence X, begging them to take her father’s case even though he now has less than a year before his execution date. An execution for a crime he didn’t commit. After her well-intentioned plan goes awry, her brother has his own brush with the law and now Tracy finds herself fighting not only to prove the innocence of her wrongly convicted family members, but also to find true justice for two murders.

I found this to be an extremely gripping and emotional story that clearly explained the differences between how skin color influences how people are treated in the legal system and in communities. It’s a great book to read in the current climate and I’d highly recommend every white person I know pick this up and really dig down deep into what this book is saying and how it’s being said and use it as a stepping stone for how we can help change happen and how we can make a difference. I really do want to recommend this book to people and I really do hope that it becomes a bestseller. For a debut author, I am especially impressed with Ms. Johnson’s work.

It took me a long time to warm up to the characters in this book. All of them—I just didn’t like them at first and it took some time for anyone to grow on me. I felt like Tracy’s introduction was kind of rough—her opening action was extraordinarily selfish even if her heart was in the right place and it was for the right reasons—but she grew and I grew to like her and understand her, and I grew to like a vast majority of the people she interacted with. I especially liked this because it felt so realistic to me. I don’t meet someone and automatically like or dislike them, and sometimes people do things that you disagree with but that doesn’t make them a bad person. I loved the realism, and I am a sucker for character growth. Plus, even though I know it’s unrealistic, I love a good Nancy Drew-esque story!

I wasn’t a huge fan of the love triangle because I’m not typically a huge fan of love triangles, BUT I do want to ackowledge that I loved the way this one was executed for the respect the boys had for the girl, which you do not often see in love triangles. I’m okay with it because I get that love triangles are kind of a staple of YA books these days and you can’t get past them, and it was at least unique in that regard.

My one major dislike is extremely niche—I work in the legal field (I’m a legal assistant and even more to the point, I have experience in civil rights) and for that reason I try to avoid legal thrillers or legal books like my life depends on it, because... well. Legal stuff does not make for good, compelling storytelling, and it’s almost always painfully unrealistic and I can’t shut off the “it doesn’t work that way” part of my brain. This is a complicated concept to explain in this case because I don’t want to spoil the book with specific examples and I DO think that the MESSAGE of the book was spot on. Yes, the treatment of Blacks in the legal system is disproportionately unfair and that part was spot on and hard-hitting and accurate and needs to be read and understood.

But it’s a little like watching CSI, and the investigators solve a crime by using the angle of startingly hi-definition security footage to catch the reflection of the murderer in a conveniently mysteriously shiny doorknob that they then freeze frame and “enhance” and the murderer is put behind bars approximately 48 hours after this because he confesses? And you know this makes for great television but you also know that it just doesn’t WORK like that? Reading legal books is a lot like that for me. I’m always pulled out of the story because the courtroom scene just doesn’t play out like it would in real life. That definitely came into play here at the end of the book. And it sucks, because I get it—if the courtroom scene in this book followed the procedure of a courtroom scene in real life she’d lose her audience so fast. But... this is why I try to avoid legal stuff in books and keep my full-time job separate from my reading.

Overall, very good, very informative, and I would highly recommend to anyone who wants to understand the Black experience as a white person but who also can’t get into nonfiction and might feel terribly guilty about that. Or to anyone who wants to understand the Black experience as a white person in general. It’s gritty, realistic, well-done and does not at all read like a debut novel.

Thank you to the publisher and to Netgalley for the advance copy in exchance for the honest review. My review will be crossposted to goodreads; posted to amazon, barnes & noble, instagram, and twitter on release day; and posted on Youtube on my July wrap-up as well as on a video highlighting the ARCs I’ve read in the past few months which will be live at the end of July.