Genre: Young Adult/Contemporary
Page Length: 224 pages
Format: ARC (received at BookCon)
Publisher: Crown Books for Young Readers
Publication Date: October 17, 2017
About Dear Martin (via Goodreads):
Justyce McAllister is top of his class, captain of the debate team, and set for the Ivy League next year—but none of that matters to the police officer who just put him in handcuffs. He is eventually released without charges (or an apology), but the incident has Justyce spooked. Despite leaving his rough neighborhood, he can’t seem to escape the scorn of his former peers or the attitude of his prep school classmates. The only exception: Sarah Jane, Justyce’s gorgeous—and white—debate partner he wishes he didn’t have a thing for.
Struggling to cope with it all, Justyce starts a journal to Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. But do Dr. King’s teachings hold up in the modern world? Justyce isn’t so sure.
Then comes the day Justyce goes driving with his best friend, Manny, windows rolled down, music turned up. Way up. Much to the fury of the white off-duty cop beside them. Words fly. Shots are fired. And Justyce and Manny get caught in the crosshairs. In the media fallout, it’s Justyce who is under attack. The truth of what happened that night—some would kill to know. Justyce is dying to forget.
Nic Stone's debut novel left me speechless and an emotional mess in the best of ways. Dear Martin was such a poignant yet hopeful debut and it told such an important story that is an absolute must-read for anyone and everyone.
Unapologetically real and raw, Dear Martin made me feel all the feels. LITERALLY ALL OF THEM. I was sobbing, screaming, shaking, and gasping in shock all in the span of 200ish pages (plus the bonus instances when I nearly threw my book across the room in anger or wanted to smack my head against all surfaces in annoyance).
The screaming, sobbing, and book-flinging emotions definitely were not a detriment though. Nic Stone delivered an emotional rollercoaster of a book, and the pure emotions I felt while reading about Justyce's experiences were incomparable to any novel I've ever read before. The emotional whirlwind only added to my experience and helped me recognize so much about the real world. Justyce's story was so authentic and relevant, and Nic Stone truly opened my eyes and broke my heart with her remarkable debut.
Although I was overcome by a lot of tears and anger, Nic Stone also authentically captured the teen experience as a whole. Whether it was school and the struggle of college acceptances, or covering extracurriculars like debate, Stone made sure that academics and other activities didn't fall to the wayside, making the contemporary even more realistic and relatable. The friendships were also so wonderful and real in the story. I found myself laughing and grinning so hard when I didn't feel the need to pummel the racist jerks throughout the book. The characters were so enjoyable to read about (except for aforementioned racist jerks) and were so masterfully written, with several lesser characters also going through dramatic transformations.
My favorite character was definitely Justyce though. He is by far one of my favorite characters of all time, and he was a character I couldn't help but love right from the start. His voice is so true and honest, and he is an absolute sweetheart. His story was a heartbreaking one, and he had a long and difficult journey, but he was able to persevere, and I loved watching him grow while still staying true to himself.
All in all, Dear Martin was an incredible, heart-wrenching, and mind-blowing read. Nic Stone truly packs a punch in her debut, and everyone NEEDS to read it when they have the chance. I can only hope that my review gave this book justyce.
Although I was overcome by a lot of tears and anger, Nic Stone also authentically captured the teen experience as a whole. Whether it was school and the struggle of college acceptances, or covering extracurriculars like debate, Stone made sure that academics and other activities didn't fall to the wayside, making the contemporary even more realistic and relatable. The friendships were also so wonderful and real in the story. I found myself laughing and grinning so hard when I didn't feel the need to pummel the racist jerks throughout the book. The characters were so enjoyable to read about (except for aforementioned racist jerks) and were so masterfully written, with several lesser characters also going through dramatic transformations.
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| basically me unapologetically cheering on Justyce throughout Dear Martin |
All in all, Dear Martin was an incredible, heart-wrenching, and mind-blowing read. Nic Stone truly packs a punch in her debut, and everyone NEEDS to read it when they have the chance. I can only hope that my review gave this book justyce.
My Rating: 5 stars
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