The book was made into a 2009 TV movie on the Lifetime Television network, starring Philip Johnson as America and Rosie O'Donnell as his therapist.

Mrs. Harper has grown old and arthritic, and Browning has moved into America's old bedroom, which they share.

When America begins school, he meets Liza, who shares some of his bad behavior, and they develop crushes on each other.

America likes the feeling of Browning touching him so begins to promote his sexual relations.

Then, out of anger and in a drunken stupor, America sets Browning's bed on fire with his lighter, killing him.

America goes to New York and lives with a marijuana dealer named Ty (Charles Tyler).

[clarification needed] At Applegate, America befriends Wick, Marshall and Ernie, and is acquainted with the seemingly intellectually disabled Fish.

[clarification needed] At first, America refuses to talk to Dr. B, but eventually he begins to open up to him.

When he is in the kitchen, though, he wastes enormous quantities of carrots because they remind him of cooking dinners with Browning.

Dr. B informs America there is a spot open in a transitional home, where he will live with two other young people, Kevin and Ben, and a social worker named Phillip.

When America is eighteen, he receives a letter from Brooklyn, which tells him that they are brothers, and that they are associated.

Dr. B teaches him positive self-talk to eliminate painful memories, but America still wants to see Mrs. Harper.

The books ends with a dream about everyone who had a positive impact on America's life, lifting him up by the hand of God.

America was listed as the 100th most banned and challenged book in the United States between 2000 and 2009, according to the American Library Association.

It stars Rosie O'Donnell as the therapist Dr. Maureen Brennan, Ruby Dee as Mrs. Harper and Philip Johnson as America.