An NPR Best Book of the Year * The stunning sequel to the critically acclaimed, #1 New York Times bestseller Dear Martin. An incarcerated teen writes letters to his best friend about his experiences in the American juvenile justice system.An unflinching look into the tragically flawed practices and silenced voices in the American juvenile justice system.
Vernell LaQuan Banks and Justyce McAllister grew up a block apart in the Southwest Atlanta neighborhood of Wynwood Heights. Years later, though, Justyce walks the illustrious halls of Yale University . . . and Quan sits behind bars at the Fulton Regional Youth Detention Center.
Through a series of flashbacks, vignettes, and letters to Justyce--the protagonist of
Dear Martin--Quan's story takes form. Troubles at home and misunderstandings at school give rise to police encounters and tough decisions. But then there's a dead cop and a weapon with Quan's prints on it. What leads a bright kid down a road to a murder charge? Not even Quan is sure.
"A powerful, raw, must-read told through the lens of a Black boy ensnared by our broken criminal justice system." -Kirkus, Starred Review
On sale: January 4, 2022
Age: 14 and up
Grade: Grade 9 & Up
Page count: 288 Pages
ISBN: 9781984829696
Reading level: Lexile: HL780L
Nic Stone is the author of many novels, including the #1
New York Times bestseller
Dear Martin and its
New York Times bestselling sequel,
Dear Justyce. She also penned the young adult titles
Odd One Out, an NPR Best Book and an ALA Rainbow Book Top Ten,
Jackpot, a love-
ish story that takes a searing look at economic inequality, and
Chaos Theory, a Southern Book Prize finalist and a YALSA Quick Pick Selection. Her middle-grade novels include
Clean Getaway, a
New York Times bestseller, and
Fast Pitch, which received two starred reviews including from
Publishers Weekly, which said, “Black girl magic hits a home run in Stone’s latest.” Nic lives in Atlanta with her adorable little family.
Praise for DEAR JUSTYCE:An NPR Best Book of the Year!A Bank Street Best Children's Book of the Year!"
An unforgettable tour de force of social-justice and activist literature." —
Booklist, starred review
"
A powerful, raw must-read told through the lens of a Black boy ensnared by our broken criminal justice system.” —
Kirkus Reviews, starred review
“Stone tackles the American juvenile justice system and its unjust persecution of Black boys in this
gritty, powerful sequel to
Dear Martin.” —
Publishers Weekly, starred review
"
This book expands the conversation about systemic racism to include young men of color who don’t fit the demands of respectability politics.... A nuanced perspective on the juvenile justice system." —
SLJ
“[An]
emotionally intense follow-up to the William C. Morris Debut Award finalist
Dear Martin.” —
Shelf Awareness“Teens can relate to the feelings of alienation, loneliness, and confusion that lead Quan to make many of the choices that he does, even as the book
explores the various ways our current justice system disenfranchises young people of color.” —
The Horn Book“
[This] layered, painfully timely sequel about racism, police brutality, and incarceration will hit you hard.” —
Hello GigglesPraise for DEAR MARTIN:"Powerful, wrenching." —John Green, #1
New York Times bestselling author of
Turtles All the Way Down"
Absolutely incredible, honest, gut-wrenching. A must read!" —Angie Thomas, #1
New York Times bestselling author of
The Hate U Give"Raw and gripping." —Jason Reynolds,
New York Times bestselling author of
Long Way Down
