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. 🙂

36 replies
  1. RO
    RO says:

    Never heard of this author, but the story definitely sounds intense, feeling and thought-provoking. I’ll definitely check this out! Hugs, RO

  2. verushka
    verushka says:

    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.

  3. Vi @Inkvotary
    Vi @Inkvotary says:

    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.

  4. lisa
    lisa says:

    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.

  5. Lindy@ A Bookish Escape
    Lindy@ A Bookish Escape says:

    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.

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