Reviews tagging 'Confinement'

This Is My America by Kim Johnson

4 reviews

theasbookworld's review against another edition

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challenging emotional hopeful informative reflective sad fast-paced
  • Plot- or character-driven? A mix
  • Strong character development? Yes
  • Loveable characters? Yes
  • Diverse cast of characters? Yes
  • Flaws of characters a main focus? No

5.0

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zombiezami's review against another edition

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challenging emotional tense fast-paced
  • Plot- or character-driven? Plot
  • Strong character development? No
  • Loveable characters? Yes
  • Diverse cast of characters? Yes
  • Flaws of characters a main focus? No

4.5

I liked the mystery element of this story. The twists and turns kept me guessing throughout.

The main thing I disliked was the love corner between the protagonist and the two boys. I can understand that this was probably used to relieve some of the tension of the story, but it's a dynamic that's so common in young adult fiction at this point, it just made me roll my eyes. 
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anniekslibrary's review against another edition

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dark emotional hopeful medium-paced
  • Plot- or character-driven? A mix
  • Strong character development? Yes
  • Loveable characters? Yes
  • Diverse cast of characters? Yes
  • Flaws of characters a main focus? No

4.0

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.
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elainasbookshelf's review against another edition

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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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