#1 NEW YORK TIMES BESTSELLER • WILLIAM C. MORRIS AWARD FINALIST • ONE OF TIME MAGAZINE’S 100 BEST YA BOOKS OF ALL TIME After a traffic stop turns violent at the hands of the police, a young Black teen grapples with racism—and what it means for his future. Critically acclaimed author Nic Stone boldly tackles America’s troubled history with race relations in her gripping debut novel. “Raw and … gripping debut novel.
“Raw and gripping.” –JASON REYNOLDS, #1 New York Times bestselling co-author of Stamped: Racism, Anti-Racism, and You
Justyce 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 without cause.
When faced with injustice, 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 and a friend spark the fury of an off-duty cop. Words fly, shots are fired, and the boys get caught in the crosshairs. But in the media fallout, it’s Justyce who is under attack.
”A must-read!” –ANGIE THOMAS, #1 New York Times bestselling author of The Hate U Give
“Powerful, wrenching.” –JOHN GREEN, #1 New York Times bestselling author of Turtles All the Way Down
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A powerful, wrenching, and compulsively readable story that lays bare the history, and the present, of racism in America.
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: 10/17/2017
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This is the first book I have read from this author. The cover is simple but makes a powerful statement.
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: I absolutely loved this book. Being born in Baltimore, Maryland I knew alot of people who were just like Justyce. I witnessed a couple of them being racially profiled and gunned down trying to do good things for others. In this day and age, people need to read a book like this. I thought the writing was very deep and powerful. I felt so many emotions while reading this book. The author did a phenomenal job writing a novel that is very groundbreaking and transcending for the world that we currently live in. I want to put this book in the hands of every teenager and adult because they will become more educated. I recommend this book to everyone. This is by far one of the most emotionally moving novels I have ever read.
I need you to know this book – Dear Martin – is magical. Magical in a sense that it hits you right in the heart then reaches in and tugs on the strings so they stretch, pop and snap. You can’t read this book and not feel something (I cried, though this isn’t a surprise for those who follow my IG feed ).
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Stone did an incredible job of developing Justyce and his story from beginning to end. It deals with racism and bigotry with a 360degree view. Ultimately it asks these beautiful questions: Who am I? Where do I fit? What do I believe? This narrative is accessible, understandable and relatable for everyone at any age. .
“There’s no escaping the Black Man’s Curse.”
Wow you guys, Dear Martin by Nic Stone is a very powerful debut novel and one that definitely hit me hard for being in the young adult genre. I loved Justyce so much as a character and I was very excited to recently learn that this is a series and there is another book coming out in September 2020. I decided to do the audio and I’m glad I did, although I will definitely be buying a physical copy as well. The narrator is Dion Graham and he did an amazing job voicing this book.
Dear Martin is going to be such a timeless read and it touches on so many important topics. I really enjoyed Stone’s writing style and this book gave me all the feels. I was sad, angry, and appalled (to name a few) at things that happened, and I love when a book (especially a young adult) can give me so many feelings. I’m only sad that I didn’t read this right away when it came out! It’s a super short book and audiobook as well, and I was easily able to finish it in one day.
Even if you aren’t a young adult, I highly recommend reading Dear Martin and I fully believe it will resonate no matter what age you are.
Wow. What a powerful story. This book expertly weaves a picture of what African-Americans deal with every single day. Justyce McAllister faced trial after trial in DEAR MARTIN and found the strength to continue, despite the many obstacles standing in his way. I can only imagine how frustrating it is to be an African-American man when the system is built to work against your every move.
Though the story was straightforward, the issues are not. There were many times in this book where an innocent Justyce—who is really trying to do the right thing—is painted as something he is not. The deeply ingrained prejudices held by many of the white characters reflect a hateful cancer in our society. If you play your music too loud, you must be a thug. If you get angry and lash out when someone calls you a racial slur or appropriates your culture, you’re a thug. If you talk to someone in a gang, you must be a gang member too. White people get away with far more than people of color, but this is, unfortunately, no surprise.
Justyce’s name is perfect. It’s unfair that he didn’t get even close to the justice he deserved. But the end of this book left me feeling hopeful. Like, maybe changing one person’s attitude could have a cascade effect. If that one person changes another person’s viewpoint and another and another, maybe there’s a chance for equality down the line. It needs to come sooner rather than later.
Something’s gotta give.
Enough is enough.
Justyce McAllister, I love you and everything you stand for.
Personally, I prefer this novel over “The Hate U Give.”
This book and books like it are vital reading for our youth and the country at large. Too many people still can’t see how this type of event, situation and story are still relevant and prevalent in today’s society. Too many people just can’t wrap their minds around the fact that others can be this ignorant and hateful. I was one of them, once upon a time. I thought we had evolved to a point where the racism and snap judgement were an anomaly and not the rule. I was wrong. So very wrong.
Dear Martin takes a look at one young man’s journey to find himself and make himself a better person by way of trying to emulate Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. Through the letters he writes, he discovers things about himself, society, and even those closest to him and learns to think differently and act differently. Unfortunately, it wasn’t enough to stop the tragedies that he faced. In moving detail, this book goes through those tragedies and how Justyce reacts and changes because of them. I think it’s amazing how the author was even able to show some of the side character’s growth and education in these matters as well.
I was touched and moved and I am already listening to the 2nd book in this universe. I think I’ve found a new author to follow in Nic Stone.
Fantastic! Eye-opening! Highly recommend to everyone–especially the white privileged.
Disclosure: contains racism, police brutality, and gun violence
Justyce is a Senior in high school just trying to get through to graduation. He’s got amazing grades, the top of his class and has his heart set on going to Yale. He has his on again off again girlfriend, is in the debate club and is a student at one of the best schools. One day he gets handcuffed while attempting to help his intoxicated girlfriend. The reasoning behind this? The color of his skin. He starts a project on his own, writing the Martin Luther King Jr. trying to find some answers. What starts to unfold before him becomes clear and makes him more and more upset. How can it get much worse? The people who he thought were his friends don’t seem to understand the hurt they inflict while being so nonchalant about racial profiling as if it doesn’t even exist. One day Manny comes over completely distraught and the two friends go out for a drive. And then it happens. The music is blaring, words are exchanged, and then shots are fired. Manny and Justyce are shot at by a white off duty police officer. Will there finally be justice brought? Why is this still even happening in this day and age?
I read this via audio book. I’ve been wanting to read it for some time now and I’m glad I finally did! Though short as it was, I enjoyed every minute of it. It was a very powerful and intense book. In many ways this reminded me of The Hate U Give. I rate this . #dearmartin #nicstone #nicstonedearmartin #audiobooklove #booksofinstagram #bookstagram #booklover #lovetoread #bookworm
One of the most powerful reads I’ve read.
Maybe because it hits too close to home.
With all the injustice happening in the world, this story was a vivid reality of what life is like for African-Americans, told by an African-American. People need to hear the stories to bring about change. We all need to stop turning a blind eye to any injustices that constantly surround our lives. These horrible things don’t just happen in the US. It happens here in Canada and more. You would think racial attacks were a thing of the past, but they’re not.
This book may be labeled as fiction, but it couldn’t have felt more real.
Read it. Let it affect you. Then change.
A poignant and lyrical look at MLKs teaching against a contemporary setting.
Justyce McCallister is a bright young black man on his way to an Ivy League college. Life’s not easy for him, though. Because he’s black, he finds himself a victim of racial profiling and racism. He also finds himself rubbing shoulders with some rather rough characters.
His journal, a letter to Martin Luther King is his way of trying to make sense of the injustices and figure out how to handle it all. Although the book doesn’t go into Martin Luther King’s teachings, it references his way of peace.
Told in a third-person point of view with short, script-like dialog, Dear Martin tackles many aspects of racism: racial profiling, interracial relationships, and even attitudes gang members have toward black people who excel in school and in the workplace.
The book is timely for the situations we find ourselves in. It’s good for initiating discussions on the subject. Note: there is a lot of profanity and adult material in the book, so it’s not appropriate for younger readers.
This is the first time I have read one of her books and I absolutely loved it!
Having by the character of the story always ask what would Martin do really brought race issues into life in a contemporary way for young adults to better understand. I loved that.
i owuld love to read this book
A perspective that needed shared.
When I first read this book, it had so much to do with current events and it really was a roller coaster for me, I love this book…it brings awareness to society that THINGS NEED TO CHANGE
This was a great book!! It flys by and the writing is really good. I loved Justyce and SJ. I loved the different viewpoints and the discussion in their Socio Evo class. It’s very thought provoking and real. It would be a great book for high school classrooms.
It’s a very good book
It is an amazing book