Dear Martin by Nic Stone

 

BIBLIOGRAPHY

Stone, Nic. 2017. DEAR MARTIN. New York: Crown Publishing Group.  ISBN: 9781101939499

Stone, Nic. 2017. DEAR MARTIN. Dion Graham, Narr.) [Unabridged Audiobook]. Audible. https://www.audible.com/pd/Dear-Martin-Audiobook/B074FC374M?action_code=ASSGB149080119000H&share_location=pdp&shareTest=TestShare (Original work published 2017.)

PLOT SUMMARY

This engaging story focuses on the struggles of Justyce McAllister. While he is a top student in his class and has his eyes set on Ivy League, there are constant issues at his mostly white school. Follow Justyce as he is seen through the eyes of officers that have racial profiling issues despite him being a good kid. Justyce seeks refuge in writing a journal titled “Dear Martin” as if he is writing to Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. His goal is to be like MLK, Jr. and strive to take nonviolent routes when dealing with racism. Things take a turn when his best friend is killed in front of him due to racial profiling and he veers off the path of goodness. Despite him being injured in the shooting too, he feels the pressure of him being profiled due to his race.

CRITICAL ANALYSIS

Listening to this book on Audible was an amazing experience! Dion Graham narrates the entire story for four hours and thirty-two minutes. He makes you feel as if you are sitting in front of Justyce McAllister as he is telling his story. This was an easy book to finish in one listen because you get completely sucked in. There was no music or background noise and it was not needed, the narration provided plenty of engagement.

Nic Stone writes this story from the point of view of Justyce McAllister, a young African American trying to understand why the color of his skin and not his intelligence sets him apart from others. He does a fantastic job letting the reader know the thoughts, experiences, and actions of Justyce throughout the book. 

The writing is easily understandable by teenagers or young adults of any ethnicity. The dialogue between the characters is relatable to what you would hear and see in most high schools today.

This book does have a heavy focus on racism and the Black Lives Matter movement that still concerns us today. This would make for a great talking piece in the classroom and to open the door for similar-style books.

REVIEW EXCERPTS / AWARDS

Booklist (August 2017)

Stone’s debut confronts the reality of police brutality, misconduct, and fatal shootings in the U.S., using an authentic voice to accurately portray the struggle of self-exploration teens like Justyce experience every day. Teens, librarians, and teachers alike will find this book a godsend in assisting discussions about dealing with police, as well as the philosophical underpinnings of King’s work. Vivid and powerful.

Horn Book Magazine (November/December 2017)

The opening scene is one of several that illustrate Justyce’s feeling that “no matter what I do, the only thing white people will ever see me as is a nig--an ‘n’-word.” Ranked fourth in his class at exclusive Braselton Preparatory Academy, he’s been accepted to Yale, but his classmates assume it’s only because of affirmative action. In his own neighborhood, people criticize him for being a “race-traitor” who’s “gotta stay connected to the white man for the ride to the top.” To sort his life out, Justyce begins writing “Dear Martin” letters to Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. Alternating with the main narrative, the letters are an effective device. What would Dr. King think about recent events surrounding Michael Brown, Eric Garner, and the many others who have died and become headlines, the real-life people who inspired this novel? Stone veers away from easy resolutions while allowing hope to reside in unexpected places.

Kirkus Reviews (August 15, 2017)

In this roller-coaster ride of a debut, the author summons the popular legacy of Martin Luther King Jr. to respond to the recent tragic violence befalling unarmed black men and boys. Stone seems to position Justyce and his best friend as the decidedly well-mannered black children who are deserving of readers’ sympathies. They are not those gangsters that can be found in Justyce’s neighborhood. There’s nuance to be found for sure, but not enough to upset the dominant narrative. What if they weren’t the successful kids? While the novel intentionally leaves more questions than it attempts to answer, there are layers that still remain between the lines. Though constrained, the work nevertheless stands apart in a literature that too often finds it hard to look hard truths in the face. Take interest and ask questions. 

Publishers Weekly (July 31, 2017)

First-time author Stone explores an African-American student's increasingly intense feelings of displacement in his predominantly white high school in a tense story that will grab readers' attention and make them think. Written as a mixture of script-style dialogues, third-person narrative, and letters to Martin Luther King Jr., the novel explores high school senior Justyce McAllister's confrontations with racism and his search for identity at a prestigious prep school, where he is one of only eight black students. Though some characters are a bit one-dimensional (including Justyce's debate partner/romantic interest and the interchangeable bros at his school), this hard-hitting book delivers a visceral portrait of a young man reckoning with the ugly, persistent violence of social injustice. 

School Library Journal (September 1, 2017)

The length and pace of this well-written story make it a perfect read for reluctant and sophisticated readers alike. The main characters are well-balanced and will resonate with teens. However, the voice of African American women is largely absent from the narrative. The characterization of Justyce's mother and his girlfriend are one-dimensional compared to some of the other protagonists. Still, this important work should be read alongside Jason Reynolds's and Brendan Kiely's All-American Boys and Kekla Magoon's How It Went Down. -VERDICT An good choice for school and public libraries.

Awards: 

• New York Times, 11/12/17

• William C. Morris YA Debut Nominees, 2018

CONNECTIONS

Other books by Nic Stone:

• Stone, N. CLEAN GETAWAY. ISBN 9781984892973

• Stone, N. FAST PITCH. ISBN 9781984893017

• Stone, N. DEAR JUSTYCE. ISBN 9781984829672

Other books narrated by Dion Graham:

• Tinsley, J. IT WAS ALL A DREAM. ISBN 9781667068213

• Baldwin, J. ANOTHER COUNTRY. ISBN 9780792760511

• Bazawule, B. THE SCENT OF BURNT FLOWERS. ISBN 9780593496237

In the classroom:

• Social Studies - Would be an asset novel to help open discussion/debates about racism in our country and what direction we are moving.

• ELAR - Journal or writing prompts that discuss the characteristic traits of Justyce and how they change throughout the story. How does this relate to you as a student?