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A review by amandasbookreview
Dear Martin by Nic Stone
challenging
emotional
sad
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
5.0
“You can’t change how other people think and act, but you’re in full control of you. When it comes down to it, the only question that matters is this: If nothing in the world ever changes, what type of man are you gonna be?”
DEAR MARTIN
Dear Martin by Nic Stone is narrated by Dion Graham is about a young man named Justyce. Justyce goes to a private school. He gets amazing grades and is a part of the debate team. He has also been accepted to Yale. Then he is arrested without cause for trying to help his drunk ex-girlfriend get home safely. This moment changes everything for him. He starts keeping a journal of letters written to Martin Luther King Jr. He tries to understand how to be like Dr. King when the whole world seems to be against him. Then this whole world changes forever…
Sweet Jesus. This audiobook was less than 6 hours long but it still hit all of the emotions. Trigger Warnings: police brutality, police shooting, racism, and gaslighting. This book has similar themes to The Hate U Give. The pace is fast and it is short but discusses the problems that Black Americans face every day. One thing is that Justyce does have adults he can turn to, and there are many who don’t have that option. But I do appreciate how this young man feels that he can’t approach some of the adults in his life. It will definitely be relatable to many teens who deal with the same issues.
Justyce is surrounded by white peers who make racist jokes at his expense, but he struggles with deciding whether he should stand up for himself—and be penalized for doing so or just letting these harmful words slide. He is often seen as a suspect and not as a person. In his journal, readers see that internal struggle with trying to act like Dr. King but question whether his teachings and methods are still relevant today.
I’m not gonna lie. I sobbed. I came to school and looked at my students who may be going through similar situations. We need to do better. But not just individually, but as a society. The problem we have is systemic and will take a lot of change for true justice to occur. 5 out of 5 stars.
Sweet Jesus. This audiobook was less than 6 hours long but it still hit all of the emotions. Trigger Warnings: police brutality, police shooting, racism, and gaslighting. This book has similar themes to The Hate U Give. The pace is fast and it is short but discusses the problems that Black Americans face every day. One thing is that Justyce does have adults he can turn to, and there are many who don’t have that option. But I do appreciate how this young man feels that he can’t approach some of the adults in his life. It will definitely be relatable to many teens who deal with the same issues.
Justyce is surrounded by white peers who make racist jokes at his expense, but he struggles with deciding whether he should stand up for himself—and be penalized for doing so or just letting these harmful words slide. He is often seen as a suspect and not as a person. In his journal, readers see that internal struggle with trying to act like Dr. King but question whether his teachings and methods are still relevant today.
I’m not gonna lie. I sobbed. I came to school and looked at my students who may be going through similar situations. We need to do better. But not just individually, but as a society. The problem we have is systemic and will take a lot of change for true justice to occur. 5 out of 5 stars.