A review by elainasbookshelf
This Is My America by Kim Johnson

challenging dark informative inspiring fast-paced
  • Strong character development? Yes
  • Loveable characters? It's complicated
  • Diverse cast of characters? No
  • Flaws of characters a main focus? No
 
I hadn't seen this book until my mom got it for me in November, saying "this book is SO you" (I'm currently working towards becoming an indigent defense attorney, AKA the lawyer assigned to people who can't afford one). What I mean to say is that this book isn't getting far enough love. Why hadn't I heard of it?

This book is what we all need right now. We've just watched our previous federal administration murder 13 people who'd been on death row. Black people make up 13% of the population but 41% of the people on death row. (Source: Death Penalty Information Center + Kim Johnson's note in the back of the book). 173 people have been exonerated from death row, the majority of which are Black.

This book showcases the issue from the personal level. You see the people our systems impact. It follows Tracy Beaumont, a high school student who has written letters to Innocence X (fictional Equal Justice Initiative x The Innocence Project) to work on her father's case, who is sitting on death row. She is convinced her father is innocent and works tirelessly to prove as such, but almost everyone else seems to have given up. Did I mention there's a character modeled after Bryan Stevenson!!!

I did not expect all this from a YA book, but I love that Johnson is writing young adult content about difficult topics that impact young adults.

Even though I felt sick to my stomach a large part of the time I was reading it, this book is un-put-down-able. Highly recommend.

CW: Racism, violence, KKK, lynching, cops working with the KKK 
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