Dear Martin (Hardcover)
Staff Reviews
Dear Martin is similar to The Hate You Give in that it confronted police brutality in America, and it provided me with an idea of the experience minorities in America face everyday that I as a majority would never experience. Dear Martin is a heartfelt novel of the daily struggle my fellow humans face every day. This book was complex in the explanation, but simple in its message. We could all benefit from using a bit of empathy, and taking the perspective this book offers makes it easier to reach out.
— Bridget, Student at Excel Academy in Arvada, CO
This book really kept me wanting to read more. I think part of the reason was because there was never really a dull moment. The way it was written it also made me angry so many times, so I just wanted to keep reading to see people get their karma. For example, when charges were pressed against Justyce for punching a fellow student, you just wanted to continue reading just to see that something happened to the one who thought it would be a good idea to dress as a KKK member. The author does a very good job at portraying a Catch 22 for anything Justyce does. She kind of makes it so that she’s damned if she does something, and damned if she doesn’t. I think that this book is really important to read. It really helps you get a brand new view of the world. You probably know that racism is terrible, but never really know what it’s like until you read it. The imagery is so well written that you are able to disconnect from your world, and feel as though you’re the one being arrested, or profiled for nothing. That is why I think this book is crucial for so many people to read, because it helps all readers get a brutally honest understanding of racial profiling.
— Megan, Excel Academy in Arvada, COAfter 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." –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
You can find her fangirling over her husband and sons on Twitter and Instagram at @getnicced or on her website nicstone.info.
A New York Times Bestseller!
A William C. Morris Award Finalist!
An ALAN / Amelia Elizabeth Walden Award Finalist!
A 2018 BookExpo Editors' Buzz Selection!
An Indies Introduce Selection!
A Kids' Indie Next List pick!
“A powerful, wrenching, and compulsively readable story that lays bare the history, and the present, of racism in America.” –John Green, #1 New York Times bestselling author of Turtles All the Way Down
"Painfully timely and deeply moving." –Jodi Picoult, #1 New York Times bestselling author
"Raw and gripping." –Jason Reynolds, #1 New York Times bestselling author of Long Way Down
"Absolutely incredible, honest, gut-wrenching. A must read!" –Angie Thomas, #1 New York Times bestselling author of The Hate U Give
"Teens, librarians and teachers alike will find this book a godsend...Vivid and powerful." –Booklist, Starred Review
"A visceral portrait of a young man reckoning with the ugly, persistent violence of social injustice."
–Publishers Weekly