{"id":7813,"date":"2020-07-29T05:58:50","date_gmt":"2020-07-29T09:58:50","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.kaitgoodwin.com\/books\/?p=7813"},"modified":"2020-07-30T20:15:17","modified_gmt":"2020-07-31T00:15:17","slug":"blog-tour-this-is-my-america-by-kim-johnson-excerpt-giveaway","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.kaitgoodwin.com\/books\/blog-tour-this-is-my-america-by-kim-johnson-excerpt-giveaway\/","title":{"rendered":"Blog Tour: This is My America by Kim Johnson (Excerpt + Giveaway!)"},"content":{"rendered":"<p class=\"ubb-blog-tour-banner\"><a href=\"http:\/\/www.rockstarbooktours.com\" target=\"_blank\"><img src=\"https:\/\/www.kaitgoodwin.com\/books\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/07\/THIS-IS-MY-AMERICA.jpg\" alt=\"Blog Tour: This is My America by Kim Johnson (Excerpt + Giveaway!)\"><\/a><\/p><p>Happy Wednesday and welcome to my stop on the THIS IS MY AMERICA blog tour! I&#8217;m so excited because today I have an excerpt of the book to share with you! This book is truly amazing and I&#8217;m so so excited to for you to find out more about THIS IS MY AMERICA and Kim Johnson, plus enter to win a print copy!<\/p>\n<p><!--more--><\/p>\n<p><img decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/www.kaitgoodwin.com\/books\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/07\/Triangle-Banner-Summer-2020.png\" alt=\"Divider\" \/><\/p>\n<img decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/www.kaitgoodwin.com\/books\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/07\/this-is-my-america-cover.png\" alt=\"Blog Tour: This is My America by Kim Johnson (Excerpt + Giveaway!)\" title=\"Blog Tour: This is My America by Kim Johnson (Excerpt + Giveaway!)\" class=\"ubb-cover-image alignleft\"><strong>This Is My America<\/strong> by <a href=\"https:\/\/www.kaitgoodwin.com\/books\/reviews\/authors\/kim-johnson\/\">Kim Johnson<\/a> <br><strong>Published on<\/strong>  July 28, 2020 by <a href=\"https:\/\/www.kaitgoodwin.com\/books\/reviews\/publishers\/random-house-books-for-young-readers\/\">Random House Books for Young Readers<\/a> <br><strong>Genres:<\/strong> <a href=\"https:\/\/www.kaitgoodwin.com\/books\/reviews\/genres\/ya\/\">YA<\/a>, <a href=\"https:\/\/www.kaitgoodwin.com\/books\/reviews\/genres\/contemporary\/\">Contemporary<\/a> <br><strong>Pages:<\/strong> 416 <br><strong>Add to <\/strong><a href=\"https:\/\/www.goodreads.com\/book\/show\/53712637-this-is-my-america\" target=\"_blank\">Goodreads<\/a> <br><blockquote class=\"ubb-synopsis\"><p>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\u2014her dad has only 267 days left. Then the unthinkable happens. The police arrive in the night, and Tracy\u2019s older brother, Jamal, goes from being a bright, promising track star to a \u201cthug\u201d 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\u2019s racist history that still haunt the present?<\/p>\n<\/blockquote>\t\t<script type=\"application\/ld+json\">\n{\n\t\"@context\":\"https:\/\/schema.org\",\n\t\"@type\":\"Review\",\n\t\"datePublished\": \"2020-07-29T09:58:50+00:00\",\n\t\"description\": \"Happy Wednesday and welcome to my stop on the THIS IS MY AMERICA blog tour! I'm so excited because today I have an excerpt of the book to share with you! This book is truly amazing and I'm so so \",\n\t\"publisher\": {\n\t\t\"@type\": \"Organization\",\n\t\t\"name\": \"Kait Plus Books\"\t},\n\t\"url\": \"https:\\\/\\\/www.kaitgoodwin.com\\\/books\\\/blog-tour-this-is-my-america-by-kim-johnson-excerpt-giveaway\\\/\",\n\t\"itemReviewed\": {\n\t\t\"@type\": \"Book\",\n\t\t\"name\": \"This Is My America\",\n\t\t\"author\": {\n\t\t\t\"@type\": \"Person\",\n\t\t\t\"name\": \"Kim Johnson\",\n\t\t\t\"sameAs\": \"\"\t\t},\n\t\t\"isbn\": \"1250194687\"\t},\n\t\"author\": {\n\t\t\"@type\": \"Person\",\n\t\t\"name\": \"Kaity\",\n\t\t\"sameAs\": \"https:\\\/\\\/www.kaitgoodwin.com\\\/books\\\/\"\t},\n\t\"reviewRating\": {\n\t\t\"@type\": \"Rating\",\n\t\t\"ratingValue\": false,\n\t\t\"bestRating\": \"5\"\n\t}\n}\n\n\n\n\t\t<\/script>\n\t\t\n<p><img decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/www.kaitgoodwin.com\/books\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/07\/Triangle-Banner-Summer-2020.png\" alt=\"Divider\" \/><\/p>\n<p><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" class=\"aligncenter size-full wp-image-7753\" src=\"https:\/\/www.kaitgoodwin.com\/books\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/07\/Read-an-Excerpt-Summer-2020.png\" alt=\"\" width=\"1024\" height=\"200\" srcset=\"https:\/\/www.kaitgoodwin.com\/books\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/07\/Read-an-Excerpt-Summer-2020.png 1024w, https:\/\/www.kaitgoodwin.com\/books\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/07\/Read-an-Excerpt-Summer-2020-300x59.png 300w, https:\/\/www.kaitgoodwin.com\/books\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/07\/Read-an-Excerpt-Summer-2020-768x150.png 768w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 1024px) 100vw, 1024px\" \/><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">I\u2019m jolted awake by the shuffle of someone in the hallway. I rub my eyes, then realize what it is. Our upstairs toilet runs, especially at night when someone doesn\u2019t give it a good flush. The sound won\u2019t stop, so I force myself up.<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">I can\u2019t help but run my fingers along the grooves of the walls, knowing Daddy\u2019s the one that put them up. Every ding or repair is unchanged, like he left it. The only thing different in the house is my room. I\u2019ve painted my walls a rotation of colors, hoping one of them would soothe away my bad dreams. Shake up the house enough to look different, but in the dark, I can see it like it was before.<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">\u201cHurry up,\u201d I whisper at the bathroom door, so I don\u2019t wake Mama.<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Corinne doesn\u2019t answer. When I notice the door is open a sliver, I push it, blink with the bright light blinding me for a second.<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Jamal\u2019s splashing water on his face. His eyes are shut as he wrings his hands together over the sink. I rub my eyes because it looks like red water swirling down the drain.<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">\u201cDamn, Jamal. What happened to you?\u201d<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">\u201cShit.\u201d Jamal jumps back, grabbing a towel. His hands are all jittery as cleans up his face, then bunches the towel into a ball.<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">I watch the last bit of pink-colored water disappear down the drain.<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">\u201cWhy you always in my business?\u201d Jamal pushes past me, and I\u2019m taken aback at his response. He sounds like he got caught, but I\u2019d already known he\u2019d be in late.<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">\u201cWhat\u2019d I catch you doing?\u201d I hit his shoulder playing around, and he flinches. He\u2019s scared. But of what?<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">\u201cJamal. You okay?\u201d<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">I touch his neck to get the rest of what\u2019s on him off, then I make a face when I realize it\u2019s blood. There\u2019s a long scratch across his neck.<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">\u201cWhat happened?\u201d I flick the water on and wash up. \u201cYou okay?\u201d<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">I watch him hard because nothing about this fits his late-night routine. I can\u2019t tell if he\u2019s coming or going. I move to ask another question, but Jamal\u2019s already heading off to his room. He gives me a look like I better keep my promise and not dare wake Mama, then shuts his door.<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">I lie down and listen for movement. The air is thick and hot. There\u2019s heaviness in the atmosphere, like so many nights when the past takes over the present. I try and tell my brain it\u2019s just the wave of an old smell, a phrase someone says that can put me on high alert. I\u2019ve never been able to get over what happened enough to live fully in the now, always rush back to the night Daddy was taken from us. A moment that won\u2019t erase.<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">My sense of d\u00e9j\u00e0 vu is heightened by the sound of a vehicle riding down our quarter-mile gravel driveway. I listen more closely, and my heartbeat picks up, throbbing when I recognize there must be two or three cars driving way too fast for our road. A minute later, a knock at the door jolts me.<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">I run down the hallway to the stairs.<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">\u201cGet back to your room.\u201d Mama\u2019s already at the front door. She waves me away.<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">\u201cWho is it?\u201d I mean to whisper, but I\u2019m yelling.<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">She looks through the peephole and rests her face on the door. I see the lights flash blue and red before she confirms it.<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">\u201cPolice,\u201d Mama whispers.<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">She doesn\u2019t need to say more. Something awful has happened.<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Corinne meets me at the stairs in her rainbow pajamas. She clutches her thin arms around me.<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">\u201cWhat is it, Tracy?\u201d<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">\u201cEverything is fine. Go back to bed,\u201d I say, although I\u2019m holding her as tight as she is me.<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">I want to let her go, but I\u2019m frozen. My heart is beating in my throat, pounding, thrumming out through my ears.<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Over my shoulder, I glance at Jamal\u2019s room. There\u2019s no way he\u2019s asleep so fast.<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Inside I\u2019m tangled up, searching for a reason why they\u2019re here. If I was standing by Jamal, we could look at each other without saying a word. Just know it\u2019s them that\u2019s wrong, not us. But something went down with Jamal, and whatever it was, I sense I should let him be.<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">I leave Corinne and make my way downstairs. My Know Your Rights training kicking in.<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Mama waves me back, but I don\u2019t stop. I\u2019m concerned it\u2019s gotta be about Daddy.<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">He\u2019s hurt.<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Worse.<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">\u201cWhat\u2019s happening?\u201d Corinne calls from the stairs. Her eyes scrunch up like if she thinks real hard, she\u2019ll figure what\u2019s going on all by herself without having to ask.<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">I look up one more time at Jamal\u2019s door, but it stays shut. Doubt hits me. He must\u2019ve been on his way out when I saw him. He\u2019s going to trip when he gets home.<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">\u201cThings are fine,\u201d I say. \u201cI\u2019m sure of it.\u201d<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">I take deep breaths, swallowing up the panic that\u2019s racing to my brain. I try and push down the memories of the time they came for Daddy. Thank God Corinne wasn\u2019t born yet. She didn\u2019t have to see him dragged by his neck through the house by police. I screamed nonstop when Jamal opened the door and the cops pushed him aside. They rushed Daddy, threw him on the ground, and shoved a knee in his back.<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Daddy told me he wanted to lie still, but your body does the opposite. Survival. Someone\u2019s holding you down, you want to ask why, yell out in pain. They beat his head down, expecting with each punch he was supposed to take it in silence. Each cry he made, they hit him harder until he shut his mouth and they cuffed him.<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Mama was stuck between fighting for Daddy, holding on to her pregnant belly, and keeping me calm. My scream ricocheted in the background as they read his rights, accusing him of murdering Mr. and Mrs. Davidson.<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Corinne never held that memory, but I know she feels it in everything we breathe. It\u2019s in the polite nods across the street we have to make, the way our family turns down our music when there are others around. Say <\/span><i><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">yes ma\u2019am<\/span><\/i><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\"> and <\/span><i><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">no sir.<\/span><\/i><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\"> Leave our jackets and backpacks in the car when we go shopping.<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">It\u2019s in the way I carry myself that tells our story now. I can\u2019t risk being accused of anything. Because if something goes wrong or missing, I know it\u2019s in the back of someone\u2019s mind that maybe I had something to do with it. And it\u2019s in the way that the voice of the strongest woman I know stumbles when saying, \u201cHello, Officer\u201d as she walks through the visitation gates to see Daddy.<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Only recently has it been cemented in my mind and made clear, that acting civil, being deferential, doesn\u2019t matter. It\u2019s like Mama has always said, <\/span><i><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Black lives don\u2019t matter enough to them.<\/span><\/i><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\"> That evidence is live and in color, on every news channel in America.<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">I\u2019m snapped back to the present as they yell, \u201cPolice. Open up.\u201d<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Mama goes for the door.<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">\u201cMama, no,\u201d I say. \u201cNot until we see they have a warrant.\u201d<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">\u201cBaby, no. This ain\u2019t a workshop. This is real life. Look at Corinne.\u201d<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Corinne is shaking, terrified on the steps.<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Mama pushes me behind her, then cinches her robe\u2019s belt and loosens the chain lock, before cracking the door open. A flood of blue-and-red lights stream through the house, and then a bright white flashes in Mama\u2019s face. She steps back and blocks the light with her hand. When she does this, she\u2019s shoved back by the sheriff, John Brighton, pushing the door open more, gun drawn. His face is stern, red-fleshed around his neck, and his steel-colored hair flicking over his eyes. If I didn\u2019t know better, he\u2019s frightened.<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">We should be the ones afraid, not him.<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">\u201cWe\u2019re here to take in Jamal Beaumont, ma\u2019am.\u201d He flashes a warrant up.<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">I suck in my teeth. All my training to review the warrant slips my mind as fear snakes up my legs and freezes me from moving. I look up to Jamal\u2019s room. Behind my shoulder, his door slowly opens to a crack. I\u2019m reminded of his odd behavior. Jamal must\u2019ve got into a fight. I look to Corinne, praying she won\u2019t cry out for Jamal on the stairs.<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">With my arms folded, I finally settle my list of what I should be doing as I make eye contact with Jamal. I only see a sliver of him, but it\u2019s like I can read his mind. That thing that siblings always have ingrained in their DNA\u2014never rat on each other\u2014lips sealed. The blood I saw tonight will never be mentioned. They wouldn\u2019t wait for his side of the story.<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">I step in front of Mama, making sure to only keep the door ajar. Mama digs her nails into my skin accidently. It helps me focus on staying silent. If I\u2019m calm, Mama will be also.<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">\u201cLet me review the warrant, please.\u201d I take the warrant from the Sheriff Brighton\u2019s hand, but I\u2019m not fully reading it. I\u2019m stalling.<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">The house creaks as Jamal scuffles around in his room. The rusty glide of his bedroom window opening sends prickles down my spine. Mostly sounds I\u2019ve gotten used to when he comes home by curfew, only to scoot out the window to stay out later. I\u2019m not sure if I\u2019m thinking it, but I swear there\u2019s another thump outside.<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">In my head, I imagine seeing Jamal jumping off the roof and sprinting away. I keep my face stone-cold. Because no matter what my brother might\u2019ve done, I\u2019m not gonna let them take him away from us.<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">With each delayed moment, it\u2019s another second for Jamal to escape. I will him to get to the river trail and up through the hills, running the route he takes every day to train during track season. He knows every nook and cranny in the dark because we\u2019ve played hide-and-seek in the woods for years, and my brother is a master at it. I pray the sheriff doesn\u2019t have tracking dogs and Jamal can cut through the woods to the other side of the highway and catch a bus.<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">\u201cIt\u2019s late, Sheriff,\u201d Mama says behind me. \u201cCome back tomorrow.\u201d<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">\u201cGet your boy.\u201d Sheriff Brighton looks like an older version of his son, Chris, a white man with strawberry-blond hair, just shorter but matching body type with more fluff than muscle. His voice has the same sharp bite to it.<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Behind the sheriff, a squad full of cars are parked outside our house. Some cops posted by the cars, others putting protective gear on.<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">\u201cWhat the hell,\u201d I whisper under my breath.<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Mama\u2019s back is as rigid as a board as Corinne joins us in the entryway. I don\u2019t know what to do, because the warrant looks legit. I want to run to Corinne, to be by her side and block them from Jamal, but I know it won\u2019t make a difference. Corinne\u2019s weight pulls on me. I know it\u2019s more important to keep her away. Keep her safe.<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">\u201cI said, get your boy,\u201d the sheriff says.<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">A few more officers draw in closer to the door, like they\u2019re about to rush our entryway.<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">\u201cAlmost done,\u201d I say. \u201cIt\u2019s our right to verify a warrant.\u201d<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">I wonder what it\u2019s like to be someone who\u2019d feel safe in their presence. I try to trick my mind, pretend we called them. It helps me settle more, and I give Mama a squeeze hoping I can do the same for her. But it doesn\u2019t last long, because the word <\/span><i><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">boy<\/span><\/i><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\"> keeps running in my head. A bitter taste flushes in my mouth, the way that it drawls out like just another slur in coded language.<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">The officers, guns drawn, spread to each entrance of the house.<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Mama\u2019s struck with fear, with grief, and it\u2019s like she gave them permission from that moment and it didn\u2019t matter I was planning on reading this warrant over a thousand times. Mama removes the chain lock and opens the door wider. They flood past us, scattering through the house and up the stairs before she can say she\u2019ll bring him down.<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">As they make their way upstairs, I pray that God led him into the woods and Jamal is doing what he knows best, using his God-given legs to run.<\/span><\/p>\n<p><img decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/www.kaitgoodwin.com\/books\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/07\/Triangle-Banner-Summer-2020.png\" alt=\"Divider\" \/><\/p>\n<p style=\"text-align: center;\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" class=\"aligncenter size-full wp-image-7693\" src=\"https:\/\/www.kaitgoodwin.com\/books\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/07\/All-About-the-Author-Summer-2020.png\" alt=\"\" width=\"1024\" height=\"200\" srcset=\"https:\/\/www.kaitgoodwin.com\/books\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/07\/All-About-the-Author-Summer-2020.png 1024w, https:\/\/www.kaitgoodwin.com\/books\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/07\/All-About-the-Author-Summer-2020-300x59.png 300w, https:\/\/www.kaitgoodwin.com\/books\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/07\/All-About-the-Author-Summer-2020-768x150.png 768w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 1024px) 100vw, 1024px\" \/><\/p>\n<p><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" class=\"alignleft wp-image-7819 size-full\" src=\"https:\/\/www.kaitgoodwin.com\/books\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/07\/Kim.jpg\" alt=\"\" width=\"200\" height=\"201\" srcset=\"https:\/\/www.kaitgoodwin.com\/books\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/07\/Kim.jpg 200w, https:\/\/www.kaitgoodwin.com\/books\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/07\/Kim-150x150.jpg 150w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 200px) 100vw, 200px\" \/><\/p>\n<p class=\"font_8\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\"><strong>KIM JOHNSON<\/strong> held leadership positions in social justice organizations as a teen and in college. She\u2019s now a college administrator who maintains civic engagement throughout the community while also mentoring Black student activists and leaders. She is also the graduate advisor and member of an historically Black sorority. This Is My America is her debut novel and explores racial injustice against innocent Black men who are criminally sentenced and the families left behind to pick up the pieces. She holds degrees from the University of Oregon and the University of Maryland, College Park.<\/span><\/p>\n<p>&nbsp;<\/p>\n<p style=\"text-align: center;\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" class=\"aligncenter size-full wp-image-7694\" src=\"https:\/\/www.kaitgoodwin.com\/books\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/07\/Follow-the-Author-Summer-2020.png\" alt=\"\" width=\"1024\" height=\"200\" srcset=\"https:\/\/www.kaitgoodwin.com\/books\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/07\/Follow-the-Author-Summer-2020.png 1024w, https:\/\/www.kaitgoodwin.com\/books\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/07\/Follow-the-Author-Summer-2020-300x59.png 300w, https:\/\/www.kaitgoodwin.com\/books\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/07\/Follow-the-Author-Summer-2020-768x150.png 768w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 1024px) 100vw, 1024px\" \/><\/p>\n<p style=\"text-align: center;\"><a href=\"https:\/\/www.kcjohnsonwrites.com\/\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Website<\/span><\/a><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\"> | <\/span><a href=\"https:\/\/twitter.com\/Kcjohnsonwrites\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Twitter<\/span><\/a> <span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">| <\/span><a href=\"https:\/\/www.facebook.com\/KCjohnsonwrites\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Facebook<\/span><\/a><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\"> | <\/span><a href=\"https:\/\/www.instagram.com\/kcjohnsonwrites\/\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Instagram<\/span><\/a><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\"> | <\/span><a href=\"https:\/\/www.pinterest.com\/kcjohns0435\/\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Pinterest<\/span><\/a><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\"> | <\/span><a href=\"https:\/\/www.goodreads.com\/author\/show\/18824198.Kim_Johnson\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Goodreads<\/span><\/a><\/p>\n<p><img decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/www.kaitgoodwin.com\/books\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/07\/Triangle-Banner-Summer-2020.png\" alt=\"Divider\" \/><\/p>\n<p><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" class=\"aligncenter size-full wp-image-7696\" src=\"https:\/\/www.kaitgoodwin.com\/books\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/07\/Follow-the-Tour-Summer-2020.png\" alt=\"\" width=\"1024\" height=\"200\" srcset=\"https:\/\/www.kaitgoodwin.com\/books\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/07\/Follow-the-Tour-Summer-2020.png 1024w, https:\/\/www.kaitgoodwin.com\/books\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/07\/Follow-the-Tour-Summer-2020-300x59.png 300w, https:\/\/www.kaitgoodwin.com\/books\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/07\/Follow-the-Tour-Summer-2020-768x150.png 768w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 1024px) 100vw, 1024px\" \/><\/p>\n<h2 style=\"text-align: center;\"><strong>Week One<\/strong><\/h2>\n<table style=\"font-weight: 400;\">\n<tbody>\n<tr>\n<td>\n<p style=\"text-align: center;\">7\/13\/2020<\/p>\n<\/td>\n<td style=\"text-align: center;\"><u><a href=\"http:\/\/www.bookhoundsya.net\/\" data-saferedirecturl=\"https:\/\/www.google.com\/url?q=http:\/\/www.bookhoundsya.net\/&amp;source=gmail&amp;ust=1595697369987000&amp;usg=AFQjCNHZG24BesgZh67CkBcFPbNFTxiCqA\">BookHounds YA<\/a><\/u><\/td>\n<td style=\"text-align: center;\">Excerpt<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<tr>\n<td>\n<p style=\"text-align: center;\">7\/14\/2020<\/p>\n<\/td>\n<td style=\"text-align: center;\"><u><a href=\"https:\/\/shejustlovesbooks.com\/\" data-saferedirecturl=\"https:\/\/www.google.com\/url?q=https:\/\/shejustlovesbooks.com\/&amp;source=gmail&amp;ust=1595697369987000&amp;usg=AFQjCNG1E2AoMjPS-vloJtreUBehZLhTHA\">She Just Loves Books<\/a><\/u><\/td>\n<td style=\"text-align: center;\">Review<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<tr>\n<td>\n<p style=\"text-align: center;\">7\/15\/2020<\/p>\n<\/td>\n<td style=\"text-align: center;\"><u><a href=\"http:\/\/adreamwithindream.blogspot.com\/\" data-saferedirecturl=\"https:\/\/www.google.com\/url?q=http:\/\/adreamwithindream.blogspot.com\/&amp;source=gmail&amp;ust=1595697369987000&amp;usg=AFQjCNEd7Pl27TLw25cIFCda_B9XLhuvNg\">A Dream Within A Dream<\/a><\/u><\/td>\n<td style=\"text-align: center;\">Excerpt<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<tr>\n<td>\n<p style=\"text-align: center;\">7\/16\/2020<\/p>\n<\/td>\n<td style=\"text-align: center;\"><u><a href=\"http:\/\/thepagesinbetween.com\/\" data-saferedirecturl=\"https:\/\/www.google.com\/url?q=http:\/\/thepagesinbetween.com\/&amp;source=gmail&amp;ust=1595697369987000&amp;usg=AFQjCNFSgTBnLuJQqNS5xr81pjhbsguJjg\">Thepagesinbetween<\/a><\/u><\/td>\n<td style=\"text-align: center;\">Review<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<tr>\n<td>\n<p style=\"text-align: center;\">7\/17\/2020<\/p>\n<\/td>\n<td style=\"text-align: center;\"><u><a href=\"http:\/\/www.herestohappyendings.com\/\" data-saferedirecturl=\"https:\/\/www.google.com\/url?q=http:\/\/www.herestohappyendings.com\/&amp;source=gmail&amp;ust=1595697369987000&amp;usg=AFQjCNEEKbqT1SlsGbmdcXf75zzinYPuJA\">Here&#8217;s to Happy Endings<\/a><\/u><\/td>\n<td>\n<p style=\"text-align: center;\">Review<\/p>\n<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<\/tbody>\n<\/table>\n<h2 style=\"font-weight: 400; text-align: center;\"><strong>Week Two<\/strong><\/h2>\n<table style=\"font-weight: 400;\">\n<tbody>\n<tr>\n<td>\n<p style=\"text-align: center;\">7\/20\/2020<\/p>\n<\/td>\n<td style=\"text-align: center;\"><u><a href=\"http:\/\/www.notinjersey.com\/\" data-saferedirecturl=\"https:\/\/www.google.com\/url?q=http:\/\/www.notinjersey.com\/&amp;source=gmail&amp;ust=1595697369987000&amp;usg=AFQjCNGEmv_rcpWusbeZ4LFYrMaViAWUNw\">Not In Jersey<\/a><\/u><\/td>\n<td style=\"text-align: center;\">Review<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<tr>\n<td>\n<p style=\"text-align: center;\">7\/21\/2020<\/p>\n<\/td>\n<td style=\"text-align: center;\"><u><a href=\"https:\/\/thebookwyrmsden.com\/\" data-saferedirecturl=\"https:\/\/www.google.com\/url?q=https:\/\/thebookwyrmsden.com\/&amp;source=gmail&amp;ust=1595697369987000&amp;usg=AFQjCNFoIFUQ5v8Ksm8_u_FOy1KaNabKJg\">The Bookwyrm&#8217;s Den<\/a><\/u><\/td>\n<td>\n<p style=\"text-align: center;\">Review<\/p>\n<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<tr>\n<td>\n<p style=\"text-align: center;\">7\/22\/2020<\/p>\n<\/td>\n<td style=\"text-align: center;\"><u><a href=\"https:\/\/brisbooknook.com\/\" data-saferedirecturl=\"https:\/\/www.google.com\/url?q=https:\/\/brisbooknook.com\/&amp;source=gmail&amp;ust=1595697369987000&amp;usg=AFQjCNFbgPk_CZNZSx_hHu9BZPNKRHHsCQ\">Bri&#8217;s Book Nook<\/a><\/u><\/td>\n<td>\n<p style=\"text-align: center;\">Review<\/p>\n<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<tr>\n<td>\n<p style=\"text-align: center;\">7\/23\/2020<\/p>\n<\/td>\n<td style=\"text-align: center;\"><u><a href=\"https:\/\/confessionsofayareader.wordpress.com\/\" data-saferedirecturl=\"https:\/\/www.google.com\/url?q=https:\/\/confessionsofayareader.wordpress.com\/&amp;source=gmail&amp;ust=1595697369987000&amp;usg=AFQjCNGrpHTLKYsa-KpoqYmBclEFLApp2A\">Confessions of a YA Reader<\/a><\/u><\/td>\n<td>\n<p style=\"text-align: center;\">Review<\/p>\n<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<tr>\n<td>\n<p style=\"text-align: center;\">7\/24\/2020<\/p>\n<\/td>\n<td style=\"text-align: center;\"><u><a href=\"http:\/\/emeliesbooks.home.blog\/\" data-saferedirecturl=\"https:\/\/www.google.com\/url?q=http:\/\/emeliesbooks.home.blog\/&amp;source=gmail&amp;ust=1595697369987000&amp;usg=AFQjCNF6XYoQJqMfhEZjfmZvTq1n_7QPCw\">Emelie&#8217;s Books<\/a><\/u><\/td>\n<td>\n<p style=\"text-align: center;\">Review<\/p>\n<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<\/tbody>\n<\/table>\n<h2 style=\"font-weight: 400; text-align: center;\"><strong>Week Three<\/strong><\/h2>\n<table style=\"font-weight: 400;\">\n<tbody>\n<tr>\n<td>\n<p style=\"text-align: center;\">7\/27\/2020<\/p>\n<\/td>\n<td style=\"text-align: center;\"><u><a href=\"http:\/\/hurnpublications.com\/\" data-saferedirecturl=\"https:\/\/www.google.com\/url?q=http:\/\/hurnpublications.com\/&amp;source=gmail&amp;ust=1595697369987000&amp;usg=AFQjCNGgdTNacf_onSUt9xTurMCid8P79g\">Hurn Publications<\/a><\/u><\/td>\n<td>\n<p style=\"text-align: center;\">Review<\/p>\n<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<tr>\n<td>\n<p style=\"text-align: center;\">7\/28\/2020<\/p>\n<\/td>\n<td style=\"text-align: center;\">\n<p style=\"text-align: center;\"><u><a href=\"http:\/\/blessedmommysc.blogspot.com\/\" data-saferedirecturl=\"https:\/\/www.google.com\/url?q=http:\/\/blessedmommysc.blogspot.com\/&amp;source=gmail&amp;ust=1595697369987000&amp;usg=AFQjCNFq36l25Z5LEBbt-FdAjEmsCEvogg\">Lifestyle of Me<\/a><\/u><\/p>\n<\/td>\n<td>\n<p style=\"text-align: center;\">Review<\/p>\n<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<tr>\n<td>\n<p style=\"text-align: center;\"><strong>7\/29\/2020<\/strong><\/p>\n<\/td>\n<td style=\"text-align: center;\"><strong><u><a href=\"http:\/\/blessedmommysc.blogspot.com\/\" data-saferedirecturl=\"https:\/\/www.google.com\/url?q=http:\/\/blessedmommysc.blogspot.com\/&amp;source=gmail&amp;ust=1595697369987000&amp;usg=AFQjCNFq36l25Z5LEBbt-FdAjEmsCEvogg\">Kait Plus Books<\/a><\/u><\/strong><\/td>\n<td>\n<p style=\"text-align: center;\"><strong>Excerpt<\/strong><\/p>\n<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<tr>\n<td>\n<p style=\"text-align: center;\">7\/30\/2020<\/p>\n<\/td>\n<td style=\"text-align: center;\"><u><a href=\"https:\/\/www.rajivsreviews.com\/\" data-saferedirecturl=\"https:\/\/www.google.com\/url?q=https:\/\/www.rajivsreviews.com\/&amp;source=gmail&amp;ust=1595697369987000&amp;usg=AFQjCNEOKgBCzfWw_WEfYGSJj6wnXxBzaw\">Rajiv&#8217;s Reviews<\/a><\/u><\/td>\n<td>\n<p style=\"text-align: center;\">Review<\/p>\n<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<tr>\n<td>\n<p style=\"text-align: center;\">7\/31\/2020<\/p>\n<\/td>\n<td style=\"text-align: center;\"><u><a href=\"https:\/\/stuckinthestacks.com\/\" data-saferedirecturl=\"https:\/\/www.google.com\/url?q=https:\/\/stuckinthestacks.com\/&amp;source=gmail&amp;ust=1595697369987000&amp;usg=AFQjCNGvOYIQn5_RZ0iciTbhF5nc1xbnNA\">Stuck in the Stacks<\/a><\/u><\/td>\n<td>\n<p style=\"text-align: center;\">Review<\/p>\n<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<\/tbody>\n<\/table>\n<h2 style=\"font-weight: 400; text-align: center;\"><strong>Week Four<\/strong><\/h2>\n<table style=\"font-weight: 400;\">\n<tbody>\n<tr>\n<td>\n<p style=\"text-align: center;\">8\/3\/2020<\/p>\n<\/td>\n<td style=\"text-align: center;\"><u><a href=\"https:\/\/popthebutterfly.wordpress.com\/\" data-saferedirecturl=\"https:\/\/www.google.com\/url?q=https:\/\/popthebutterfly.wordpress.com\/&amp;source=gmail&amp;ust=1595697369987000&amp;usg=AFQjCNFKb9wJQ-38JHpLcZ6YcVHxG2qTfg\">Popthebutterfly Reads<\/a><\/u><\/td>\n<td>\n<p style=\"text-align: center;\">Review<\/p>\n<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<tr>\n<td>\n<p style=\"text-align: center;\">8\/4\/2020<\/p>\n<\/td>\n<td style=\"text-align: center;\"><u><a href=\"https:\/\/agingerlyreview.wordpress.com\/\" data-saferedirecturl=\"https:\/\/www.google.com\/url?q=https:\/\/agingerlyreview.wordpress.com\/&amp;source=gmail&amp;ust=1595697369987000&amp;usg=AFQjCNHxFGXMExeg09uvhoiKZr9DJH26uA\">A Gingerly Review<\/a><\/u><\/td>\n<td>\n<p style=\"text-align: center;\">Excerpt<\/p>\n<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<tr>\n<td>\n<p style=\"text-align: center;\">8\/5\/2020<\/p>\n<\/td>\n<td style=\"text-align: center;\"><u><a href=\"http:\/\/www.twochicksonbooks.com\/%20\" data-saferedirecturl=\"https:\/\/www.google.com\/url?q=http:\/\/www.twochicksonbooks.com\/%2520&amp;source=gmail&amp;ust=1595697369988000&amp;usg=AFQjCNELZPagKHkc_qALaknus87seMmV8A\">Two Chicks on Books<\/a><\/u><\/td>\n<td>\n<p style=\"text-align: center;\">Excerpt<\/p>\n<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<tr>\n<td>\n<p style=\"text-align: center;\">8\/6\/2020<\/p>\n<\/td>\n<td style=\"text-align: center;\"><u><a href=\"http:\/\/www.lifeofafemalebibliophile.com\/\" data-saferedirecturl=\"https:\/\/www.google.com\/url?q=http:\/\/www.lifeofafemalebibliophile.com\/&amp;source=gmail&amp;ust=1595697369988000&amp;usg=AFQjCNESgPcb7byTYOeYN_NbCfaE1x5Q8g\">Life of a Female Bibliophile<\/a><\/u><\/td>\n<td>\n<p style=\"text-align: center;\">Review<\/p>\n<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<tr>\n<td>\n<p style=\"text-align: center;\">8\/7\/2020<\/p>\n<\/td>\n<td style=\"text-align: center;\"><u><a href=\"https:\/\/www.instagram.com\/momfluenster\/\" data-saferedirecturl=\"https:\/\/www.google.com\/url?q=https:\/\/www.instagram.com\/momfluenster\/&amp;source=gmail&amp;ust=1595697369988000&amp;usg=AFQjCNFVvkOZbezA9I2HuFx_O1Wojm0ilQ\">Momfluenster<\/a><\/u><\/td>\n<td>\n<p style=\"text-align: center;\">Review<\/p>\n<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<\/tbody>\n<\/table>\n<p><img decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/www.kaitgoodwin.com\/books\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/07\/Triangle-Banner-Summer-2020.png\" alt=\"Divider\" \/><\/p>\n<p><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" class=\"aligncenter size-full wp-image-7695\" src=\"https:\/\/www.kaitgoodwin.com\/books\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/07\/Enter-the-Giveaway-Summer-2020.png\" alt=\"\" width=\"1024\" height=\"200\" srcset=\"https:\/\/www.kaitgoodwin.com\/books\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/07\/Enter-the-Giveaway-Summer-2020.png 1024w, https:\/\/www.kaitgoodwin.com\/books\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/07\/Enter-the-Giveaway-Summer-2020-300x59.png 300w, https:\/\/www.kaitgoodwin.com\/books\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/07\/Enter-the-Giveaway-Summer-2020-768x150.png 768w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 1024px) 100vw, 1024px\" \/><\/p>\n<p style=\"text-align: center;\"><a href=\"http:\/\/www.rafflecopter.com\/rafl\/display\/e2389ba21117\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\">Enter here for a chance to win a print copy of THIS IS MY AMERICA by Kim Johnson!<\/a><\/p>\n<p style=\"text-align: center;\"><strong>(US Only!)<\/strong><\/p>\n<p><img decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/www.kaitgoodwin.com\/books\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/07\/Triangle-Banner-Summer-2020.png\" alt=\"Divider\" \/><\/p>\n<p><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" class=\"aligncenter size-full wp-image-7697\" src=\"https:\/\/www.kaitgoodwin.com\/books\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/07\/Tell-Me-Your-Thoughts-Summer-2020.png\" alt=\"\" width=\"1024\" height=\"200\" srcset=\"https:\/\/www.kaitgoodwin.com\/books\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/07\/Tell-Me-Your-Thoughts-Summer-2020.png 1024w, https:\/\/www.kaitgoodwin.com\/books\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/07\/Tell-Me-Your-Thoughts-Summer-2020-300x59.png 300w, https:\/\/www.kaitgoodwin.com\/books\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/07\/Tell-Me-Your-Thoughts-Summer-2020-768x150.png 768w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 1024px) 100vw, 1024px\" \/><\/p>\n<p>Doesn&#8217;t this book sound amazing? I&#8217;ve added it to my tbr, have you added it to yours? Let me know in the comments and have a splendiferous day!<\/p>\n<p><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" class=\"aligncenter size-full wp-image-7699\" src=\"https:\/\/www.kaitgoodwin.com\/books\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/07\/Well-Wishes-Candy-Fishes-Kait-summer-2020.png\" alt=\"\" width=\"600\" height=\"320\" srcset=\"https:\/\/www.kaitgoodwin.com\/books\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/07\/Well-Wishes-Candy-Fishes-Kait-summer-2020.png 600w, https:\/\/www.kaitgoodwin.com\/books\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/07\/Well-Wishes-Candy-Fishes-Kait-summer-2020-300x160.png 300w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 600px) 100vw, 600px\" \/><\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>Happy Wednesday and welcome to my stop on the THIS IS MY AMERICA blog tour! I&#8217;m so excited because today I have an excerpt of the book to share with you! This book is truly amazing and I&#8217;m so so excited to for you to find out more about THIS IS MY AMERICA and Kim Johnson, plus enter to win a print copy!<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":1,"featured_media":7814,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"_jetpack_newsletter_access":"","_jetpack_dont_email_post_to_subs":false,"_jetpack_newsletter_tier_id":0,"_jetpack_memberships_contains_paywalled_content":false,"_jetpack_feature_clip_id":0,"_jetpack_memberships_contains_paid_content":false,"footnotes":"","jetpack_publicize_message":"","jetpack_publicize_feature_enabled":true,"jetpack_social_post_already_shared":true,"jetpack_social_options":{"image_generator_settings":{"template":"highway","default_image_id":0,"font":"","enabled":false},"version":2},"jetpack_post_was_ever_published":false},"categories":[484,1001,27],"tags":[537,489,651,1900,462,2061,2060],"reading-challenges":[],"class_list":["post-7813","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-book-tours","category-excerpt","category-giveaways","tag-blog-tour","tag-book-tour","tag-excerpt","tag-july-2020","tag-kait-plus-books","tag-kim-johnson","tag-this-is-my-america","book-author-kim-johnson","book-publisher-random-house-books-for-young-readers","book-genre-contemporary","book-genre-ya"],"jetpack_publicize_connections":[],"jetpack_sharing_enabled":true,"jetpack_featured_media_url":"https:\/\/www.kaitgoodwin.com\/books\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/07\/This-is-My-America-Featured.png","_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.kaitgoodwin.com\/books\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/7813","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.kaitgoodwin.com\/books\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.kaitgoodwin.com\/books\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.kaitgoodwin.com\/books\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/1"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.kaitgoodwin.com\/books\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=7813"}],"version-history":[{"count":5,"href":"https:\/\/www.kaitgoodwin.com\/books\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/7813\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":8008,"href":"https:\/\/www.kaitgoodwin.com\/books\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/7813\/revisions\/8008"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.kaitgoodwin.com\/books\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/7814"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.kaitgoodwin.com\/books\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=7813"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.kaitgoodwin.com\/books\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=7813"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.kaitgoodwin.com\/books\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=7813"},{"taxonomy":"reading-challenges","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.kaitgoodwin.com\/books\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/reading-challenges?post=7813"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}