Dear Martin by Nic Stone Full Review

TW: Racial discrimination, wrongful arrest, microaggressions

Dear Martin by Nic Stone was a solid read; I would rate it a 9.5/10. It contained difficult discussions, pointed out everyday hypocrisy, and contained great character development with just the right amount of emotion. The one downside was the unrealisticness of one small part of the plot. I'll get more into that later (it's a spoiler, so I'll mark that paragraph!)

Dear Martin follows an African-American senior in high school. He attends Braselton Prep on a scholarship after growing up in an impoverished neighborhood. Throughout the book, he encounters different examples of racism, from overt racism to examples of everyday microaggression. In the beginning, he is arrested for helping his drunk girlfriend into her car. He grapples with this experience for the rest of the book, and because of this incident, he decides to write to Martin Luther King. In trying to emulate Dr. King, he struggles with questions and how to handle what he is now becoming more and more aware of.

Overall, Justyce is a great main character. He is well-meaning, mature, and self-reflective. He is more adult that many so-called adults I know. He works hard, maintains good grades to maintain his scholarship, and eventually goes to Yale. Although this may seem unrealistic, Justyce's maturity is borne from hard circumstances and difficult experiences. This shows in people such as Jared, one of the antagonists. He is white, privileged, and exceedingly immature. I'm not saying that white privilege breeds immaturity, but it's an interesting contrast.

This is the reason I didn't give this book a 10/10. (Spoiler Warning) In the beginning, Justyce is wrongfully arrested. In the middle of the book, he finds out this cop who arrested him was killed by black gang members that Justyce knew as a child. Later, Manny, Justyce's best friend (MAJOR SPOILER) is shot and killed by this cop's partner. This type of coincidence is absolutely unrealistic. Although it brings some interesting questions to Justyce's mind, it would not happen in real life. Although innocent black men and women are gunned down by racists way too much, this type of connection seemed forced to me.

Overall, this book was incredible. Although a slim read, it packed a huge punch. I would rate it 9.5/10. Everyone who has white privilege has no idea what it's like to be African-American in today's society. I will never understand, but I stand. This book is a must-read.

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