4.5/5: ‘Dear Martin’ is a Young Adult, Realistic Contemporary by Nic Stone; Justyce McAllister, a senior in High School finds himself a victim of Racial Profiling – as a top student, Yale-bound – his negative encounter with the police leads to the beginnings of a special project: he looks to the teachings of Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. for answers. Stone’s narrative includes letters Juystce writes directly to Dr. King as well as dialogue structured like the script to capture the fast-paced conversations within Justyce’s debate class. Stone explores topics like microaggressions, as we watch Justyce’s classmates make jokes at his expense and accuse him of being “too sensitive”; systemic racism, white privilege and white fragility, as some question the reality of racial profiling or the need for affirmative action; and police brutality, as Justyce is forced to constantly relive his negative police encounter, and later watch his best friend have one that does not end as nicely. Stone handles each with fierce honesty, but also with a strong sense of empathy for all sides. She recognizes the complex nuances of racial conflict and debates, and while she does not excuse racism or bad behaviour from any group, she offers insight into what members of different groups might be feeling and thinking in the midst of these highly-charged and difficult conversations. While the main character is a black male, and the goal of this book is primarily to offer a window into the fears many black males face daily, it in no way condemns the police or white people. Each is given a voice in a conversation towards reconciliation. However, Stone never offers any excerpts of Dr. King’s teachings, and we don’t get any insight into what specifically Justyce is reading or looking through as he reflects on them and tries to apply them to his life. While the project is introduced as the main plot point, it didn’t seem to play much of role in the development of the plot or character, and I often forgot he was doing it until a new “Dear Martin” letter would show up. Perhaps that small flaw isn’t much of a flaw at all since it piqued my curiosity. I was motivated to listen to and read more of Dr. King’s teachings to relearn and meditate on what he has to say, especially in the midst of all the racial tension that continues to build in our country today. I’d recommend Dear Martin to students who are interested in or struggling to understand, current events such as the Black Lives Matter Movement; or students looking for the vocabulary to speak about their own experiences with social injustice. However, Stone never offers any excerpts of Dr. King’s teachings, and we don’t get any insight into what specifically Justyce is reading or looking through as he reflects on them and tries to apply them to his life. While the project is introduced as the main plot point, it didn’t seem to play much of role in the development of the plot or character, and I often forgot he was doing it until a new “Dear Martin” letter would show up. Perhaps that small flaw isn’t much of a flaw at all since it piqued my curiosity. I was motivated to listen to and read more of Dr. King’s teachings to relearn and meditate on what he has to say, especially in the midst of all the racial tension that continues to build in our country today. I recommend Dear Martin to students who are interested in, or struggling to understand, current events such as the Black Lives Matter Movement; or students looking for the vocabulary to speak about their own experiences with social injustice – Crucial!