Title: Dear Martin
Author: Nic Stone
Pages: 224
Publisher: Simon & Schuster Children's UK
Release Date: 3rd May 2018
Blurb from Goodreads:
Justyce McAllister is top of his class and set for the Ivy League – but none of that matters to the police officer who just put him in handcuffs. And despite leaving his rough neighbourhood 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 police officer 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.
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 police officer 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.
My Review:
*I received a copy of this book in exchange for an honest review. Thanks to Simon and Schuster UK Children's and NetGalley*
Justyce 'Jus' McAllister works hard at school and is one of the top students. But when a police officer sees Jus helping his drunk girlfriend into her car, all the officer sees is a black man hurting a white girl and Jus ends up in handcuffs.
Afterwards, Jus starts writing to Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. hoping that Dr. King's teachings can help him move on from the event.
But then something worse happens. Something that will change Jus's life forever.
I had heard a lot of good things about Dear Martin and I was worried that I would think it was over-hyped, but I ended up enjoying it.
Jus was a good protagonist - he was easy to relate to and I could understand why being handcuffed for no reason made him question everything. I felt really sorry for him.
I liked Manny and SJ. They were good characters.
I found myself blinking away tears several times, especially at a certain event.
The plot was interesting and thought-provoking. Something happened which had me gasping (and swearing) in shock.
Dear Martin is quite a short read but it packed a punch and I don't think it needed to be any longer.
Overall this was an enjoyable and important read.
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