Can’t Wait Wednesday – THIS IS MY AMERICA by Kim Johnson
“Waiting On” Wednesday is a weekly event, hosted at Breaking the Spine, which encourages fellow bloggers to spotlight upcoming releases that we’re excited about. It is a meme that I have loved participating in for over a year now, but as Jill is no longer actively posting, from now on I’ll be linking to Can’t Wait Wednesday, hosted by Tressa at Wishful Endings, which is a spinoff of the original WoW meme.
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My selection for this week is THIS IS MY AMERICA by Kim Johnson. I was sold on this book as soon as I saw it being compared to Dear Martin, which was one of my favorite reads from 2017, and when I saw that Nic Stone herself had done the blurb on the cover. It sounds like a powerful, relevant and timely read, and from the reviews I’ve seen so far, it’s incredibly well written too, with characters that are going to capture your heart.
THIS IS MY AMERICA by Kim Johnson
Publication Date: July 28, 2020
From Goodreads:
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.
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I’d love to hear what upcoming book releases you’re waiting on this Wednesday? Leave me your link in the comments below and I’ll stop by and check out your CWW selection for this week. 🙂
Never heard of this author, but the story definitely sounds intense, feeling and thought-provoking. I’ll definitely check this out! Hugs, RO
Hugs back at ya!
This is definitely a timely read — and God, I hope everyone and anyone gets to read this. These are the books that need to be taught everywhere — in schools, book clubs and the like.
I hope to soo.
Great choice, this does sound very timely.
It really does.
That cover is STUNNING! I loved Dear Martin too so I’ll definitely be picking this up. Thanks for sharing, Suzanne!
You’re welcome!
What a perfect choice, especially right now. I’m definitely adding this to the list!
Yeah, it’s very relevant to what’s going on in our world right now.
I saw this on NG the other day. The cover is stunning!
It really is. Looks like a work of art!
So I’ve not seen this before but what a lovely cover. I’m adding it to my TBR pronto!
Hopefully we’ll both love it!
This one is on my TBR as well. Great pick! You can check out my Wednesday post in the link below.
Hopefully we’ll both love it!
This looks a compelling, gripping read – thank you for sharing, Suzanne.
You’re welcome!
It does sound like a relevant, powerful and timely read, indeed. And to be honest, the summary has made me curious. That book goes definitely on my wishlist. Thank you for sharing it with us.
You’re welcome!
This book sounds gripping, Suzanne. Definitely timely. Such a difficult time and indeed Black lives matter and the fact that we have to say that is sad. Thanks for sharing.
You’re welcome!
This story sounds interesting, thank you for your intro of it!
You’re welcome!
Added this one to my TBR the other day and it sounds so good. Also very timely, of course!
It really is.
This sounds like such a relevant and powerful story! I can see why it’s your WOW pick! It lookslike I need to add Dear Martin to my TBR since it was on of your favorite reads of 2017.
If you read it, I hope you enjoy it.
This does sound amazing. I really liked Dear Martin as well. Adding this to my wish list. I hope you love this one when you read it.
Thanks, I hope so too!
This is on my wish list too!! It sounds fantastic.
Doesn’t it?
Oh, I hadn’t heard of this one, but it looks SO good!!
Doesn’t it? I got chills reading the synopsis.
I think this would be an excellent book to read. I’m adding it to my wish list.
I hope you enjoy it!