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Dear Martin
240 pages
A raw, urgent exploration of coming of age in a world that refuses to see you as just a kid.
What it feels like
Reading this book feels like holding your breath. It is a propulsive, emotionally charged experience that pulls you directly into the mind of a teenager trying to navigate an unjust world. The prose is sharp and accessible, blending traditional narrative with intimate journal entries that give the story a deeply personal, searching quality. There is a persistent tension running through the pages, a heavy dread that eventually shatters into profound grief and righteous anger. Yet amidst the heartbreak, there is also a profound sense of resilience and the warmth of genuine friendship. It is a perfect read for those who want a fast-paced, unflinching look at contemporary social realities, offering a raw, thought-provoking journey that lingers long after the final page.
- Mood
- tense
- heartbreaking
- emotionally charged
- heavy
- Tone
- raw
- earnest
- urgent
- unflinching
- searching
- Pace
- propulsive
- Themes
- systemic racism · coming of age under pressure · burden of representation · grief and trauma · seeking guidance
- The writing
- Direct, accessible, and conversational, blending sharp narrative with intimate epistolary journal entries and script-like dialogue.
- The arc
- Moves from earnest striving and confusion through devastating, anger-inducing loss, toward a hard-won, realistic resilience.
- Who it's for
- Readers seeking a fast-paced, emotionally resonant exploration of contemporary social issues through a deeply relatable teenage perspective.
Content notes
- police brutality
- racial profiling
- gun violence
- grief
- racial slurs
About the book
"Powerful, wrenching.” –JOHN GREEN, author of Turtles All the Way Down
"Raw and gripping." –JASON REYNOLDS, coauthor of All American Boys
"A must-read!” –ANGIE THOMAS, author of The Hate U Give
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 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.
Description from Open Library.
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On The Come UpAngie ThomasA fierce, rhythmic anthem about the power of words and the fight to be heard on your own terms.
Stamped from the BeginningIbram X. KendiA monumental, paradigm-shifting journey through the intellectual history of American racism that demands a fundamental rewiring of how you view the present.
StampedJason Reynolds and Ibram X. KendiA rhythmic, conversational dismantling of American history that reads less like a textbook and more like an urgent, eye-opening chat with a brilliant friend.
Piecing Me TogetherRenée WatsonA reflective and empowering journey of a young woman navigating the intersection of race, class, and well-intentioned but flawed mentorship.