Reviews tagging 'Police brutality'

Dear Justyce by Nic Stone

42 reviews

taliatalksbooks's review

challenging emotional hopeful medium-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? A mix
• Strong character development? Yes
• Loveable characters? Yes
• Diverse cast of characters? Yes
• Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

3.5

Dear Justyce by Nic Stone was a powerful sequel to Dear Martin. Though shorter books, both of these novels effectively and succinctly highlight the impact of race in the US Justice System. These ramifications create a complex web of emotions, that Stone allows readers (especially those of us who are not people of color) to get a first hand glimpse into the thoughts and reasonings of someone in these positions. This book does a great job communicating the fear, distrust, and discomfort associated with our justice system, and gives readers a new outlook, even if they’re not from areas like the setting of this book. I really loved the character development and writing of this book, and I think the pair are absolutely must reads. 

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Domestic abuse, Drug use, Violence, Police brutality, Physical abuse, Racial slurs, Death, Gore, Gun violence, Grief, and Racism

chaoticnostalgia's review

hopeful reflective fast-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? A mix
• Strong character development? Yes
• Loveable characters? Yes
• Diverse cast of characters? Yes
• Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

3.5

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Racism, Violence, Gun violence, Death, Classism, Grief, and Physical abuse

Moderate: Abandonment, Panic attacks/disorders, Police brutality, and Cancer

Minor: Pregnancy and Drug use

kaerene's review against another edition

emotional hopeful reflective sad fast-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? Plot
• Strong character development? Yes
• Loveable characters? Yes
• Diverse cast of characters? Yes
• Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated

5.0

I really enjoyed Dear Justyce. It took me a minute to remember the characters and the story/situation as I read Dear Martin last year and apparently remembered none of it as I’m pretty sure I sped read it in one setting. ANYWAY! Unlike last year, I enjoyed the switch from third to first person as it really helped the story along. I liked reading Quan’s letters and then learning about his history and the life events that led him in his journey throughout the book. 

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Mental illness, Domestic abuse, Violence, Panic attacks/disorders, and Police brutality

Moderate: Forced institutionalization, Child abuse, Confinement, Gun violence, and Abandonment

kiahsbooks's review against another edition

challenging emotional hopeful inspiring sad tense 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? Yes

4.0

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Gun violence

Moderate: Murder, Violence, Racism, Police brutality, Panic attacks/disorders, and Domestic abuse

Minor: Cancer

kanthereader's review

challenging dark emotional sad tense medium-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? A mix
• Strong character development? It's complicated
• Loveable characters? Yes
• Diverse cast of characters? No
• Flaws of characters a main focus? No

5.0

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Police brutality

kyrstin_p1989's review against another edition

challenging dark emotional hopeful inspiring reflective sad tense fast-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? Plot
• Strong character development? Yes
• Loveable characters? Yes
• Diverse cast of characters? Yes
• Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

4.5

Sad yet hopeful. This book allows us to see what the world could look like, if we gave a damn. It provides a realistic look into the school to prison pipeline and so beautifully articulates the why for young men & women who get caught up in illegal activities when they know they shouldn’t. 

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Cancer, Cultural appropriation, Death, Bullying, Child abuse, Fire/Fire injury, Injury/Injury detail, Racial slurs, Grief, Classism, Confinement, Police brutality, Suicidal thoughts, Abandonment, Addiction, Gun violence, Murder, Panic attacks/disorders, and Racism

katelynprice's review

challenging reflective medium-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? Character
• Strong character development? Yes
• Loveable characters? Yes
• Diverse cast of characters? Yes
• Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

4.0

Nic Stone is a fantastic writer and has given us another well-written book about black teen incarceration, police brutality, and systemic racism. Her books are so readable, relatable, and downright necessary. I didn't love this one quite as much as I did Dear Martin, but I still consider both to be beneficial reading. If I could require people to read particular books, both in this series would be on the required reading list. 

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Domestic abuse and Cursing

Moderate: Racism, Confinement, Gun violence, Murder, and Panic attacks/disorders

Minor: Terminal illness and Police brutality

caterina's review

emotional hopeful inspiring reflective sad fast-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? A mix
• Strong character development? Yes
• Loveable characters? Yes
• Diverse cast of characters? Yes
• Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated

4.0

A strong sequel following a character from the first book who had much less support, and yet this book too is hopeful, full of lovable characters, and even more than the first imagines a better world. If there's ever a surprise book #3, I'm reading it too!

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Police brutality, Panic attacks/disorders, Racial slurs, Racism, and Confinement

Minor: Domestic abuse and Death

honeyvoiced's review

hopeful reflective fast-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? Character
• Strong character development? Yes
• Loveable characters? Yes
• Diverse cast of characters? Yes

3.75

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Domestic abuse, Police brutality, and Racism

Moderate: Death, Child abuse, and Panic attacks/disorders

Minor: Cancer

ajason06's review

challenging emotional reflective fast-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? A mix
• Strong character development? Yes
• Loveable characters? Yes
• Diverse cast of characters? Yes
• Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

5.0

I was thoroughly excited for Nic Stone's sequel to Dear Martin. 

My favorite aspect of the book was the camaraderie of the support within the community. This is a powerful realization and an important thing to remember. Even this book's themes are heavy and hard to deal with. Everyone has the right to be heard. I really appreciated the two colliding stories (the good and the bad) of Quan and Justyce and how they affected them both differently.

Great follow up to Dear Martin  

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Racism, Police brutality, Racial slurs, and Violence

Moderate: Child abuse and Domestic abuse