YA Materials, Literature Logs, Book #20: Dear Martin

Title: Dear Martin

Author: Nic Stone

Category: YALSA's Amazing Audiobooks for Young Adults

Justyce is an intelligent boy in his senior year of high school at a private, highly acclaimed school. That doesn't matter, though, when one night he finds himself the victim of racial profiling when he was simply trying to get his drunk girlfriend home. Even months later, Justyce suffers from painful memories of handcuffs being snapped around his wrists and the fear he felt that night. In an attempt to combat this racial injustice, Justyce begins to write letters to Dr. Martin Luther King Jr., and tries to "live like" him when he can. However, the more time goes on, the more Justyce notices racial microaggressions everywhere at his predominantly white school, and he can't sit by and let it happen, not after what he experienced.

Dear Martin is such a powerful book, much like Long Way Down. Its characters feel real, like kids that really exist in many communities all over the country, and Justyce's struggles are so real. I loved listening to this book. The audio narration was great as well. I would use this book likely during Black History Month, but I feel it should be read all the time. It has a lot to say, and I believe those things should be heard, especially by teenagers like Justyce. In a library setting, this novel could be used to start conversations with teens about racial injustice and how to combat it in everyday life.