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emotional
informative
reflective
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
I don’t remember a lot from my first time reading “Dear Martin”, but this has been my second time and I’ve completely devoured it in a matter of hours.
I first read this book before the George Floyd murder, when Black Lives Matter was a movement that most looked over. After educating myself and surrounding myself and my social media feeds with Black people and their experiences, I feel that I’ve gained more from Justyce McAllister and his story.
Justyce is a very unique character and I’m glad I got a look inside his life, which represents the lives of a lot of Black youth in America. This book is one of the firsts that I’ve annotated and I can assure you that from seeing Jus’s experiences through his eyes, I’ve gotten angry a lot but I’ve also learned a lot.
From Jus himself to Manny, to SJ, and to Doc, I’ve learned about my own White privilege. I related a lot to SJ specifically because she is White and takes a very liberal stand. She has no problem getting into confrontation, which isn’t surprising considering she is Justyce’s debate partner. What I liked a lot about her, since she is a White character written in a book about racial inequality, is that SJ acknowledges her privilege and takes accountability. In one chapter she apologizes to Jus for speaking for him, which reiterates the whole “Don’t speak FOR or OVER Black people, instead raise their voices.” Basically, she’s all about using her privilege as a way to help oppressed minorities. She’s so awesome!
Another character that I admired (somewhat) that isn’t Jus was Jared Christensen. Throughout the entire beginning and middle half, he was one of the biggest reasons I tabbed the book with the color red when annotating. But his character development really shines through near the end, especially in the epilogue. It shows that he’s learned. And I was glad to see that Jus was that person who taught him.
This book is just an all-around must-read. It taught me a lot — opened my eyes even — and I think that it should be on everyone’s TBR.
I first read this book before the George Floyd murder, when Black Lives Matter was a movement that most looked over. After educating myself and surrounding myself and my social media feeds with Black people and their experiences, I feel that I’ve gained more from Justyce McAllister and his story.
Justyce is a very unique character and I’m glad I got a look inside his life, which represents the lives of a lot of Black youth in America. This book is one of the firsts that I’ve annotated and I can assure you that from seeing Jus’s experiences through his eyes, I’ve gotten angry a lot but I’ve also learned a lot.
From Jus himself to Manny, to SJ, and to Doc, I’ve learned about my own White privilege. I related a lot to SJ specifically because she is White and takes a very liberal stand. She has no problem getting into confrontation, which isn’t surprising considering she is Justyce’s debate partner. What I liked a lot about her, since she is a White character written in a book about racial inequality, is that SJ acknowledges her privilege and takes accountability. In one chapter she apologizes to Jus for speaking for him, which reiterates the whole “Don’t speak FOR or OVER Black people, instead raise their voices.” Basically, she’s all about using her privilege as a way to help oppressed minorities. She’s so awesome!
Another character that I admired (somewhat) that isn’t Jus was Jared Christensen. Throughout the entire beginning and middle half, he was one of the biggest reasons I tabbed the book with the color red when annotating. But his character development really shines through near the end, especially in the epilogue. It shows that he’s learned. And I was glad to see that Jus was that person who taught him.
This book is just an all-around must-read. It taught me a lot — opened my eyes even — and I think that it should be on everyone’s TBR.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Death, Racism, Police brutality, Grief
Minor: Gun violence, Violence
dark
emotional
funny
hopeful
inspiring
reflective
sad
tense
medium-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
This book is the best book I have ever read!
Content Warnings
Graphic: Death, Hate crime, Grief, Car accident, Murder
Moderate: Child death, Drug use, Gun violence, Hate crime
Minor: Cursing, Violence
emotional
inspiring
sad
fast-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Character
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
Complicated
Diverse cast of characters:
Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Complicated
Content Warnings
Graphic: Gun violence, Racial slurs, Racism, Grief
Moderate: Death, Police brutality, Murder
challenging
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:
Yes
Actively avoiding GoodReads for fear of racist comments that I might find. I read this in a single day. It helps that the book is short. But more than anything, I was attached to Justyce's story. This is another one of those honest books that doesnt shy from the reality of matters or attempt to make the racism palettable. In fact, Nic Stone went IN on the racist comments, mindsets, behaviors. I mean, there are some moments when youre reading what white kids are capable of doing and you think "there is no way they don't see the problem with that" but I know that it's very possible. I have seen and argued with people that were the exact same way as Jared and Blake. When Justyce got accepted into Yale early admission I was a little sad for him. I live in New Haven, down the street from Yale, I teach Black and brown students who have lived in New Haven their whole life. New Haven itself is diverse, but Yale? Yale is elitist. While it does the bare minimum with diversity and inclusion (which is decidedly different from equity and justice), it is an institution founded on the exclusion of non-white, non-wealthy, non-male. It has improved, but it's a system. Not to mention the overhype of Ivy leagues. I just knew that Justyce would have to keep fighting to feel seen or understood even after graduating from his prep school. I am very interested in how some characters have grown. I think the end really speaks to what a college education can do for the capacity to think critical and be more open. I, however, will always take a "changed" racist with a grain of salt. It's unsettling. I understand how someone who sits relatively in the middle can he moved, but someone who was so dead set on their prejudices? It makes me wonder if I should or (could) forgive the white boys from my high school who behaved the same as these white boys? But can I forgive myself for the microaggressions I have thrown into the world? Should I be forgiven?
I think Justyce's experiment of Being Like Martin is a great vehicle for asking these questions. Justyce asks himself (or Martin) very difficult questions about how he should move through the world as a black boy. He asks questions about interracial relationships, whether theyre worth it. Dear Martin brings attention to the nature and impact of interpersonal/low-level racism on systemic racism. I am glad this book is as popular as it is because it is a message that deserves to be heard. Especially in a time when Black people are refusing to be used and abused by the system that has continuously attempted to hold them down.
I think Justyce's experiment of Being Like Martin is a great vehicle for asking these questions. Justyce asks himself (or Martin) very difficult questions about how he should move through the world as a black boy. He asks questions about interracial relationships, whether theyre worth it. Dear Martin brings attention to the nature and impact of interpersonal/low-level racism on systemic racism. I am glad this book is as popular as it is because it is a message that deserves to be heard. Especially in a time when Black people are refusing to be used and abused by the system that has continuously attempted to hold them down.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Child death, Confinement, Cursing, Death, Gun violence, Hate crime, Racial slurs, Racism, Police brutality, Grief, Murder
Moderate: Bullying, Gun violence, Hate crime, Racial slurs, Racism, Violence, Police brutality, Grief, Murder
Minor: Alcoholism, Domestic abuse, Genocide, Sexism, Slavery, Toxic relationship, Vomit, Antisemitism
challenging
emotional
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:
Yes
Content Warnings
Graphic: Death, Gun violence, Racism
Moderate: Alcoholism, Hate crime, Racial slurs, Police brutality, Grief, Murder
Minor: Drug use, Vomit
challenging
emotional
hopeful
inspiring
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:
Complicated
Content Warnings
Graphic: Gun violence, Racial slurs, Racism, Violence, Police brutality, Grief, Murder
challenging
dark
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
Such a powerful read.
I think this book is super important and impactful. I loved Jus and the range of growth and emotion he went through. This book made me laugh, cry, and incredibly angry. I also think the range of characters in this is so important to show all the different perspectives and aspects. The writing style was hard to get used to at first, but once I did it was fine.
I think this book is super important and impactful. I loved Jus and the range of growth and emotion he went through. This book made me laugh, cry, and incredibly angry. I also think the range of characters in this is so important to show all the different perspectives and aspects. The writing style was hard to get used to at first, but once I did it was fine.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Child death, Cursing, Death, Gun violence, Hate crime, Racial slurs, Racism, Violence, Police brutality, Grief, Murder, Gaslighting, Toxic friendship, Alcohol, Injury/Injury detail, Classism
challenging
dark
emotional
hopeful
informative
reflective
sad
tense
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Character
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
Yes
Diverse cast of characters:
Complicated
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Complicated
4.5 stars
I was feeling very burnt out while reading this. Life right now is rough, and even rougher for BIPOC. I've been very invested with the BLM, trans rights, and defunding police movements over the last couple weeks, so I felt now was a great time to read this book. But I actually think I would have gotten a lot more out of it if I had read it when it wasn't on my mind already. The injustices black people, indigenous people, and people of colour are currently facing are horrifying. It's a lot to dismantle, and a lot of work and personal growth left to do. So I burned myself out by picking up this book.
But when I finally got fully into it, I wept. It was perfect. What needed to happen, happened. It didn't have a rosy, picture perfect, tied up ending. Maybe it was a little neater than real life, but hey it is a YA novel after all.
I think anyone new to these movements, especially youth, would find this book a great resource.
Recommend to educators, parents, and anyone wanting to start getting involved in social reform.
I was feeling very burnt out while reading this. Life right now is rough, and even rougher for BIPOC. I've been very invested with the BLM, trans rights, and defunding police movements over the last couple weeks, so I felt now was a great time to read this book. But I actually think I would have gotten a lot more out of it if I had read it when it wasn't on my mind already. The injustices black people, indigenous people, and people of colour are currently facing are horrifying. It's a lot to dismantle, and a lot of work and personal growth left to do. So I burned myself out by picking up this book.
But when I finally got fully into it, I wept. It was perfect. What needed to happen, happened. It didn't have a rosy, picture perfect, tied up ending. Maybe it was a little neater than real life, but hey it is a YA novel after all.
I think anyone new to these movements, especially youth, would find this book a great resource.
Recommend to educators, parents, and anyone wanting to start getting involved in social reform.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Gun violence, Racial slurs, Racism, Grief
challenging
emotional
informative
reflective
sad
fast-paced
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
Yes
Diverse cast of characters:
Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
Content Warnings
Graphic: Gun violence, Racial slurs, Racism, Police brutality
Moderate: Alcoholism, Bullying, Child death, Cursing, Death, Toxic relationship, Blood, Grief
challenging
dark
emotional
funny
hopeful
reflective
sad
tense
fast-paced
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
Yes
Diverse cast of characters:
Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Complicated
Content Warnings
Graphic: Alcoholism, Child abuse, Child death, Cursing, Death, Domestic abuse, Drug use, Emotional abuse, Gun violence, Hate crime, Racial slurs, Racism, Violence, Police brutality, Grief