Reviews

Dear Justyce by Nic Stone

lmaher221's review against another edition

emotional inspiring sad tense slow-paced

3.0

ljhind's review against another edition

dark emotional informative reflective sad tense medium-paced

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

4.0

jorja_jj's review against another edition

emotional funny hopeful informative inspiring reflective sad tense 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

jeeniusreads's review against another edition

challenging emotional informative inspiring reflective medium-paced

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

3.25

literary_intoxicated's review against another edition

emotional hopeful inspiring fast-paced

• Strong character development? Yes
• Loveable characters? Yes
• Diverse cast of characters? Yes

5.0

alittleoverdue's review against another edition

5.0

Five raving stars from me! I cannot recommend this five-star read highly enough. The story is a sequel to Stone's "Dear Martin", but you can absolutely read this story without having read the first book or it's been awhile. This book is told from the perspective of Quan, in a series of letters to Justyce (the protagonist of "Dear Martin"). Quan recounts the circumstances that led to his incarceration for a crime he didn't commit. This book takes a searing look at systemic racism, the imperativeness of having someone in your life looking out for you, hope, and redemption. Side note: we all need a Doc in our lives. Other side note: Nic Stone is on fire - three books out this year alone!

**Thanks to NetGalley for a free e-galley of this book in exchange for an impartial review).

carly_rael's review against another edition

challenging emotional hopeful informative sad medium-paced

4.0

mrsloudlibrarian's review against another edition

emotional informative inspiring 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

5.0

anxiouslybooked's review against another edition

5.0

This sequel to Dear Martin does not disappoint. Dear Justyce takes readers on a journey exposing the school-to-prison pipeline and the injustice that many black and brown young adults face in this country. Readers follow Vernell LaQuan Banks Jr. through his experience as a young child watching his father being arrested to Vernell, himself being incarcerated. While incarcerated, Vernell (Quan), writes letters to Justyce McAllister, who is completing his first year, Pre-Law at Yale. Through these correspondences, readers learn more about Quan’s story and what ultimately leads him to be incarcerated. This novel was hard to put down, yet strikingly hard to read at times as a teacher. Nic Stone does a phenomenal job showing what life is like for teens who live life with financial instability, hostile family relationships, gang violence, and racial bias and injustice. While this book is a work of fiction it is rooted in an alarming reality. Readers who enjoyed books like Dear Martin, The Hate U Give by Angie Thomas, and Long Way Down by Jason Reynolds should read this timely and eye-opening novel.

is_it_the_weekend's review against another edition

challenging dark emotional hopeful informative inspiring reflective sad tense 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

5.0