Author: Nic Stone
Publication Date: 10/17/2017
Pages: 224
Publisher: Crown Books
Raw, captivating, and undeniably real, Nic Stone joins industry giants Jason Reynolds and Walter Dean Myers as she boldly tackles American race relations in this stunning #1 New York Times bestselling debut, a William C. Morris Award Finalist.
Justyce McAllister is a good kid, an honor student, and always there to help a friend—but none of that matters to the police officer who just put him in handcuffs. Despite leaving his rough neighborhood behind, he can’t escape the scorn of his former peers or the ridicule of his new classmates.
Justyce looks to the teachings of Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. for answers. But do they hold up anymore? He starts a journal to Dr. King to find out.
Then comes the day Justyce goes driving with his best friend, Manny, windows rolled down, music turned up—way up, sparking the fury of a white off-duty cop beside them. Words fly. Shots are fired. Justyce and Manny are caught in the crosshairs. In the media fallout, it’s Justyce who is under attack.
The New York Times bestseller, Dear Martin, tells the coming of age story of Justyce McAllister. Justyce is an African American teen torn between two worlds – his mostly white private school and his old neighborhood where his mom still lives. After an incident with the police where he is racially profiled and almost arrested, Justyce really starts to struggle with his identity. He questions his blackness, his friendships, his feelings for his white debate partner all while dealing with the current societal climate of the United States. Justyce attempts to work through all of this by writing “Dear Martin” letters to Martin Luther King Jr. and attempting to live as Martin would have lived. Through a series of events that push Justyce to his breaking point, he realizes who he is as a person and who he wants to be in the future.
This is a thought-provoking and powerful read. Teenagers will relate to the main character while also being exposed to some of the toughest issues facing our society. Nic Stone writes about racism, social injustice, violence, and the struggle to find your own identity. It is an easy read and would be a great suggestion for reluctant readers as well as any high school age teens or adults. As with The Hate U Give and All American Boys, Dear Martin tackles important topics affecting today’s society and will inspire readers to think and reflect about their place in our world.
The Redhead Review 