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A review by porchrailreads
Dear Justyce by Nic Stone
dark
emotional
reflective
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
5.0
First, I need to once again thank @nicstone for sending me this copy of #DearJustyce.
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This hit hard and required me to do a lot of reflecting.
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I can’t review this without providing some context.
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I teach 4th grade in a school that serves mostly BIPOC students. I have a past career in youth services running programs for teens “in the system.” I’m Hispanic. I was raised by a single mother. I had people who believed in me and I’ve always tried to be that person for all of my students.
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My first year of teaching I also taught a college level course at a medium security prison to a group of men who were mostly BIPOC.
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I saw Quan. I know Quan. I taught Quan. I’m still teaching Quan.
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Dear Justyce is the follow up to the bestseller #DearMartin. Where Dear Martin followed a kid with hope and with support, Dear Justyce follows Quan, a kid in prison (again).
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Quan knows he’s made mistakes, and he’s not one for making excuses, but he’s also fully aware that he had no other route to go because he had no one else’s support. We see this when his teachers accuse him of cheating instead of celebrating him. We see this with his mother who views him as a burden. We see this at every turn in Quan’s life. When he does find support, it’s with the wrong crowd.
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Brilliantly written, flawlessly told, Quan’s story is one every educator needs to read. If you have even one student or color in your classroom, I need you to understand just one tenth of the obstacles that the BIPOC community faces.
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Nic’s clearly done her research. Her discussions on the inequities within the criminal justice and juvenile justice systems are spot on. Her commentary on the need for even just one person as a positive influence is spot on.
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As an educator, I try to be the teacher I needed when I was younger. And I would’ve been honored to have Quan as a student at any point in his story.
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⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️/5
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Do yourself a favor. Read both Dear Martin and Dear Justyce.
.
This hit hard and required me to do a lot of reflecting.
.
I can’t review this without providing some context.
.
I teach 4th grade in a school that serves mostly BIPOC students. I have a past career in youth services running programs for teens “in the system.” I’m Hispanic. I was raised by a single mother. I had people who believed in me and I’ve always tried to be that person for all of my students.
.
My first year of teaching I also taught a college level course at a medium security prison to a group of men who were mostly BIPOC.
.
I saw Quan. I know Quan. I taught Quan. I’m still teaching Quan.
.
Dear Justyce is the follow up to the bestseller #DearMartin. Where Dear Martin followed a kid with hope and with support, Dear Justyce follows Quan, a kid in prison (again).
.
Quan knows he’s made mistakes, and he’s not one for making excuses, but he’s also fully aware that he had no other route to go because he had no one else’s support. We see this when his teachers accuse him of cheating instead of celebrating him. We see this with his mother who views him as a burden. We see this at every turn in Quan’s life. When he does find support, it’s with the wrong crowd.
.
Brilliantly written, flawlessly told, Quan’s story is one every educator needs to read. If you have even one student or color in your classroom, I need you to understand just one tenth of the obstacles that the BIPOC community faces.
.
Nic’s clearly done her research. Her discussions on the inequities within the criminal justice and juvenile justice systems are spot on. Her commentary on the need for even just one person as a positive influence is spot on.
.
As an educator, I try to be the teacher I needed when I was younger. And I would’ve been honored to have Quan as a student at any point in his story.
.
⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️/5
.
Do yourself a favor. Read both Dear Martin and Dear Justyce.