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A review by mllejoyeuxnoel
Dear Martin by Nic Stone
4.0
I received this ARC in a Goodreads giveaway.
Overall an important book with some great elements; unfortunately, I don't think it will escape comparisons to THE HATE U GIVE - here in 2017 or in the future, given the latter's enormous success. I know I was unable to stop myself from holding the two side-by-side in my mind as I read. I liked this book very much for its message, and I think it is an important one for young people to read. However, I wasn't crazy about the format of the narrative, which had a great deal of dialogue presented as if one is reading a script. It really took me out of the story; it felt more like I was back in college, learning via the Socratic method. I also found much of the plot to tie up rather abruptly at the end of the book. I would have liked to see Justyce struggle a bit more emotionally with everything that had happened to him - a place where I think THUG also has the advantage due at least in part (IMO) to its first-person narration.
Still, this book was a quick read and one well worth the time. It's a great introduction to some racial and social justice issues for young readers, and it touches on some broader topics than THUG, including affirmative action. As a white woman who grew up incredibly privileged, I wish someone had given me a book like this when I was young, because nobody at my school was explaining why affirmative action is so important and how it helps create justice. I will happily be sending this book to my niece and nephew as they get a bit older.
Overall an important book with some great elements; unfortunately, I don't think it will escape comparisons to THE HATE U GIVE - here in 2017 or in the future, given the latter's enormous success. I know I was unable to stop myself from holding the two side-by-side in my mind as I read. I liked this book very much for its message, and I think it is an important one for young people to read. However, I wasn't crazy about the format of the narrative, which had a great deal of dialogue presented as if one is reading a script. It really took me out of the story; it felt more like I was back in college, learning via the Socratic method. I also found much of the plot to tie up rather abruptly at the end of the book. I would have liked to see Justyce struggle a bit more emotionally with everything that had happened to him - a place where I think THUG also has the advantage due at least in part (IMO) to its first-person narration.
Still, this book was a quick read and one well worth the time. It's a great introduction to some racial and social justice issues for young readers, and it touches on some broader topics than THUG, including affirmative action. As a white woman who grew up incredibly privileged, I wish someone had given me a book like this when I was young, because nobody at my school was explaining why affirmative action is so important and how it helps create justice. I will happily be sending this book to my niece and nephew as they get a bit older.