Dear Martin by Nic Stone


Dear Martin by Nic Stone



                Set in Atlanta, Dear Martin, is the story of Justyce McAllister, a seventeen-year old Black boy from Atlanta, Georgia. The story starts off with an encounter between Justyce and a police officer where he ends up in handcuffs on the ground after having committed no crime. His world is forever shaken. All of the microaggressions he may have brushed off before, are now glaringly obvious. All of the people that surround him at the prep school he attends on scholarship are showing their true colors. He looks to Martin Luther King Jr. for strength. Writing in his journal letters to Martin, in an attempt to make sense of it all.

                I’m an emotional wreck after reading this novel. Justyce could have been so many different young men I knew growing up. Seeing his life on the page, seeing all of his trials and tribulations and the injustice he faced is gut wrenching. There were moments in this book where my jaw dropped and I was so disgusted. Then I looked around and realized how true and just believable all of this was. I’m disheartened and yet at the same time overjoyed because this book exists and it will hopefully fall into the hands of the people who need to read it. The people that need to see themselves on the page and want to see change.

                Stone did a beautiful job with this novel. Her world building and character development were extremely well done. This plot is so powerful and more stories like this need to be told. Stories where the dialogue is honest and painful. Stories where the characters depict real life situations and honest pain! Justyce’s character was so well written, a multidimensional character full of depth, passion and emotion. The entire entourage of characters were well fleshed out and had such an impact. 
  
              I don’t know when I’ll stop thinking about this book honestly. I started reading and couldn’t stop, finishing in one sitting. I was zoned in and invested in Justyce’s life, his outcome, his success. This book was an emotional roller coaster and one that I can’t help but recommend. It was so damn good. I give this 5 out of 5 stars. Read this book.

Comments

Popular posts from this blog

Enemy of All Mankind: A True Story of Piracy, Power, and History's First Global Manhunt by Steve Johnson

Odetta: A Life in Music and Protest by Ian Zack

The Testaments by Margaret Atwood