I received this ARC from Publisher for free in exchange for an honest review. This does not affect my opinion of the book or the content of my review.
Welcome to the next stop on the blog tour for Nic Stone’s Dear Martin. It’s release day and I am so excited to share my review of this powerful book with you! Don’t forget to enter the giveaway. You’ll want to own this one.
About the Book:
Title: DEAR MARTIN
Author: Nic Stone
Pub. Date: October 17, 2017
Publisher: Crown Books for Young Readers
Pages: 224
Formats: Hardcover, eBook, audiobook
Justyce McAllister is top of his class, captain of the debate team, and set for the Ivy League next year—but none of that matters to the police officer who just put him in handcuffs. He is eventually released without charges (or an apology), but the incident has Justyce spooked. Despite leaving his rough neighborhood, he can’t seem to escape the scorn of his former peers or the attitude of his prep school classmates. The only exception: Sarah Jane, Justyce’s gorgeous—and white—debate partner he wishes he didn’t have a thing for.
Struggling to cope with it all, Justyce starts a journal to Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. But do Dr. King’s teachings hold up in the modern world? Justyce isn’t so sure.
Then comes the day Justyce goes driving with his best friend, Manny, windows rolled down, music turned up. Way up. Much to the fury of the white off-duty cop beside them. Words fly. Shots are fired. And Justyce and Manny get caught in the crosshairs. In the media fallout, it’s Justyce who is under attack. The truth of what happened that night—some would kill to know. Justyce is dying to forget.
Find it: Amazon, Audible, B&N, iBooks, TBD, Goodreads
My Thoughts:
When I read the synopsis of this book I knew I wanted to read it. Then I read blurbs by some of my favorite authors (like Jason Reynolds, Angie Thomas, and Becky Albertalli) and knew I had to read it! I finally picked it up recently and devoured it in one sitting.
Dear Martin is such an intense book. I was immediately caught up in Justyce’s story and didn’t want to step away from it. I think a lot of this had to do with the storytelling style. Most of the book is your typical novel format. However, there are two different formats included that I really enjoyed. First: Justyce’s letters to Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. I’ve always been a fan of letters in books. It’s such a great way to really get to know a character. That was particularly true in this case. The reader learns so much about Justyce and how he’s thinking and feeling through these letters. The second format had to do with some of the dialogue. Throughout the story some of the discussions were written more like a script. I liked how this really focused the reader on what was being said and how the discussions went. It made it feel more real and intense. These style choices really added to the story for me.
This book was not always easy to read, and I mean that in a good way. There are some hard truths confronted. So many times characters would say things that I found infuriating, mostly because I’ve heard the same arguments from people I’ve come in contact with and I hate that it’s even still a discussion we need to have. Other times I would be so heartbroken by the things Justyce (and the people he knows) has to deal with. I hate that this is still the world we live in. But I 100% think that issues of racial injustice are so important to talk and think about. These hard truths need to be confronted… especially when they make us uncomfortable. Hopefully that discomfort will lead to action and real change.
Emotionally intense and, ultimately, hopeful, Dear Martin is a powerful story. I’m glad I read it and I cannot wait to share it with the teens in my life.
About the Author:
Nic Stone was born and raised in a suburb of Atlanta, GA, and the only thing she loves more than an adventure is a good story about one. After graduating from Spelman College, she worked extensively in teen mentoring and lived in Israel for a few years before returning to the US to write full-time. Growing up with a wide range of cultures, religions, and backgrounds, Stone strives to bring these diverse voices and stories to her work.
You can find her goofing off and/or fangirling over her husband and sons on most social media platforms as @getnicced.
Website | Twitter | Instagram | YouTube | Goodreads
Giveaway:
3 winners will receive a finished copy of DEAR MARTIN, US Only.
Tour Schedule:
Week One:
10/16/2017- LILbooKlovers– Interview
10/17/2017- YA Bibliophile– Review
10/18/2017- Mama Reads Blog– Guest Post
10/19/2017- Here’s to Happy Endings– Review
10/20/2017- Eli to the nth– Excerpt
Week Two:
10/23/2017- Chasing Faerytales– Review
10/24/2017- Omg Books and More Books– Interview
10/25/2017- BookHounds YA– Review
10/26/2017- Novel Novice– Guest Post
10/27/2017- The Bookish Libra– Review
Week Three:
10/30/2017- Never Too Many To Read– Review
10/31/2017- Mrs. Knott’s Book Nook– Interview
11/1/2017- Reese’s Reviews– Excerpt
11/2/2017- Novel Ink– Review
11/3/2017- Wandering Bark Books– Guest Post
Week Four:
11/6/2017- Amanda Gernentz Hanson– Review
11/7/2017- Lisa Loves Literature– Excerpt
11/8/2017- Feed Your Fiction Addiction– Review
11/9/2017- Lost in Ever After– Interview
11/10/2017- A Backwards Story– Review
Kaitlyn A.
I cannot wait for this book! I have been looking forward to it for quite some time!
Meigan
Excellent review! This is definitely one of my most-anticipated 2017 releases, mainly because it’s such a timely and relevant book that’s tackling issues that our young black kids and teens are facing, even as we speak. There aren’t nearly enough books hitting the shelves that are addressing societal problems, particularly ones that teens and kids to relate to, so that makes me doubly excited for this one.
Jen
So excited that this is out in the world!!
Amanda
I can’t wait to read the book. After so many incidents and so many debates on social media, I’m happy that there’s a book, a fiction that cultivates this topic seriously.