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Dear Martin #2
Dear Justyce
The stunning sequel to the #1
New York Times
bestseller
Dear Martin
. Incarcerated teen Quan writes letters to Justyce about his experiences in the American juvenile justice system
.
Perfect for fans of Jason Reynolds and Angie Thomas.
In the highly anticipated sequel to her New York Times bestseller, Nic Stone delivers an unflinching look into the 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
In the highly anticipated sequel to her New York Times bestseller, Nic Stone delivers an unflinching look into the 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
288 pages, Paperback
First published September 29, 2020
740 people are currently reading
29880 people want to read
About the author
Nic Stone
48 books4,637 followersNic 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.
Stone lives in Atlanta with her husband and two sons. You can find her on Twitter and Instagram at @getnicced or on her website nicstone.info.
Stone lives in Atlanta with her husband and two sons. You can find her on Twitter and Instagram at @getnicced or on her website nicstone.info.
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 2,624 reviews
February 8, 2025
Dear Justyce by Nic Stone is the Young Adult, Realistic Fiction companion to Dear Martin. But, please do not pass it by if you’ve not yet met these characters. Dear Justyce does just fine on its own.
Quan is, once again, in Juvenile Detention. The difference: this time…he actually may not have committed the crime for which he is accused. Yeah, he panicked when the very officer that killed Manny swung his weapon toward Quan and his crew. He even pulled his nasty little .22. And brilliantly, he left it behind. Along with the cop’s body.
Hell, he even confessed…sort of.
Quan knew his rights and stated that he chose to remain silent. Several times. But the police had kept talking. And moving Quan from his holding cell to the tiny room with two-way mirror. And back.
Meanwhile, his friend from play-ground-days, Justyce, is working through his first year at Yale. They’re too tight for Quan to feel (much) bitterness. Plus, Justyce had given Quan his notebook filled with the letters he wrote to the late Dr. King, in lieu of a diary. The letters revealed issues that Quan hadn’t known his friend struggled with. Quan takes to writing to Justyce.
Turns out, the writing is therapeutic for Quan and intriguing to Justyce. He senses issues and injustices in Quan’s arrest and processing. The more he listens, the more Justyce believes that Quan’s case is not being taken seriously. Justyce makes it his personal goal to right this wrong.
While the story is as hopeful as it is heart-breaking, the hard truths are going to haunt me. I am so appreciative that Ms. Stone told Quan’s story and I’m pleased that I pre-ordered several copies. Now I can keep one for myself and still add this gem to some of my favorite high-school classroom libraries.
Quan is, once again, in Juvenile Detention. The difference: this time…he actually may not have committed the crime for which he is accused. Yeah, he panicked when the very officer that killed Manny swung his weapon toward Quan and his crew. He even pulled his nasty little .22. And brilliantly, he left it behind. Along with the cop’s body.
Hell, he even confessed…sort of.
Quan knew his rights and stated that he chose to remain silent. Several times. But the police had kept talking. And moving Quan from his holding cell to the tiny room with two-way mirror. And back.
Meanwhile, his friend from play-ground-days, Justyce, is working through his first year at Yale. They’re too tight for Quan to feel (much) bitterness. Plus, Justyce had given Quan his notebook filled with the letters he wrote to the late Dr. King, in lieu of a diary. The letters revealed issues that Quan hadn’t known his friend struggled with. Quan takes to writing to Justyce.
Turns out, the writing is therapeutic for Quan and intriguing to Justyce. He senses issues and injustices in Quan’s arrest and processing. The more he listens, the more Justyce believes that Quan’s case is not being taken seriously. Justyce makes it his personal goal to right this wrong.
While the story is as hopeful as it is heart-breaking, the hard truths are going to haunt me. I am so appreciative that Ms. Stone told Quan’s story and I’m pleased that I pre-ordered several copies. Now I can keep one for myself and still add this gem to some of my favorite high-school classroom libraries.
March 16, 2021
What is life but for a cycle of suffering, the most intense moments coming when you least expect them?
I mean, sorry to be all doom and gloom on the TL today, but 1) it's accurate, you can't say it's not, 2) I'm being True To Myself and that's soooo important, and 3) I didn't like this book much even though I liked the one that came before it, and that's devastating even when I'm not in my shakiest mental state since my junior year of high school.
Oversharing is glamorous, right?
Anyway. Where Dear Martin had compelling characters and a good story and effortlessly woven-in social justice themes, this felt...flat. I think it'd be really important to have an impactful young adult book about the prison system, but prison somehow didn't figure into this much at all, even though our main character is IN PRISON. The day-to-day reality was pretty nonexistent, which was disappointing.
I also just...didn't care about the characters as much. And I read this pre-mental breakdown, so we can't blame that.
Bottom line: Sad! Not bad, but sad for sure.
-------------
well. lightning doesn't strike twice
(lightning, in this case, is me liking a book.)
review to come / 3 stars
-------------
can't even remember the last time i was so excited about a book that i immediately picked up the sequel
I mean, sorry to be all doom and gloom on the TL today, but 1) it's accurate, you can't say it's not, 2) I'm being True To Myself and that's soooo important, and 3) I didn't like this book much even though I liked the one that came before it, and that's devastating even when I'm not in my shakiest mental state since my junior year of high school.
Oversharing is glamorous, right?
Anyway. Where Dear Martin had compelling characters and a good story and effortlessly woven-in social justice themes, this felt...flat. I think it'd be really important to have an impactful young adult book about the prison system, but prison somehow didn't figure into this much at all, even though our main character is IN PRISON. The day-to-day reality was pretty nonexistent, which was disappointing.
I also just...didn't care about the characters as much. And I read this pre-mental breakdown, so we can't blame that.
Bottom line: Sad! Not bad, but sad for sure.
-------------
well. lightning doesn't strike twice
(lightning, in this case, is me liking a book.)
review to come / 3 stars
-------------
can't even remember the last time i was so excited about a book that i immediately picked up the sequel
November 10, 2020
Dear Justyce by Nic Stone is a great YA own voices novel about the American juvenile justice system.
Dear Justyce is an excellent sequel to Dear Martin. It can be read as a standalone, but this series is so good I highly recommend reading both.
I love Nic Stone’s novels. I have read Dear Martin and now Dear Justyce. Both gave me the perspective of black teenagers. Stone’s characters seem so real. None of her characters are all good or all bad. Her style of writing really gets you in the character’s head. You don’t only see what they did, but why they did it.
I highly recommend Dear Justyce to fans of Dear Martin, The Hate U Give and Punching the Air.
Full Review: https://justreadingjess.wordpress.com...
Dear Justyce is an excellent sequel to Dear Martin. It can be read as a standalone, but this series is so good I highly recommend reading both.
I love Nic Stone’s novels. I have read Dear Martin and now Dear Justyce. Both gave me the perspective of black teenagers. Stone’s characters seem so real. None of her characters are all good or all bad. Her style of writing really gets you in the character’s head. You don’t only see what they did, but why they did it.
I highly recommend Dear Justyce to fans of Dear Martin, The Hate U Give and Punching the Air.
Full Review: https://justreadingjess.wordpress.com...
January 2, 2021
Sequels can be a difficult thing to pull off. Even more so when the sequel was one not originally planned by the author while writing the first book. So upon starting Dear Justyce, Nic Stone’s follow-up to her staggering novel Dear Martin, I really appreciated that the dedication she included not only thanked the boys that inspired the continuation of Quan’s story, but doubled as an explainer to why she decided to write this book in the end. It primed the reader for what this story was about, who it was written for and set the tone for how Quan’s life and the words he writes will be different from Justyce’s.
Vernell LaQuan Banks Jr., known as Quan to almost everyone outside the US legal system, is currently incarcerated. He was arrested during the events of Dear Martin, presumably, but we have never gotten much information besides that he was Manny’s cousin and a former acquaintance of Justyce’s. He begins this novel writing letters to the boy from his childhood, Justyce McAllister, discussing his time in jail, his frustration with the system(s) that failed him and whatever small hopes he has for his future. Unlike Justyce’s letter writing project to Martin Luther King Jr. in the previous book, the subject of these correspondence is still alive and able to read Quan’s words—and he does.
I don’t take issue with Stone’s decision to write a sequel. And I think a lot of the issues Quan is dealing with are important especially for a teen audience to read and discuss. I do think some of the choices made in the book, though, may have resulted from the author’s attempt to walk the fine line between a realistic story and an aspirational one. Despite Quan having even more of the system stacked against him, he still felt like an outlier in how kids in similar situations would be treated. It seemed like Justyce and his friends just swooped in and saved the day, in a way that would be hard to replicate in real life. Though Quan may have faced challenges more relatable to a number of kids who’d be reading the book, the way it all played out felt pretty far removed from reality.
Some of the dialogue between characters, even characters that existed and interacted in the previous book, was a little cringey. I think I might have glossed over parts of it before because of how impactful other portions of Dear Martin had been, but the way that SJ and Jared speak sound like parodies of that type of character, rather than actual people. Justyce’s meeting with nearly every authority figure and adult played out like a fan-fiction reimagining of how that kind of conversation would go. It’s not that no people have ever spoken like that, just that it’s more reminiscent of how teenagers and young adults communicate online, rather than in person. These were largely isolated instances, but in such a short book they still stood out.
I did like the way Quan was portrayed. I think Nic Stone did an excellent job with both him and Justyce. The tone of Quan’s letters fluctuate between tenuous hope and muted despair, basically someone just trying to hold it together. The fact that both of these boys are teenagers who had to learn hard adult lessons early in life only makes the experience of reading their innermost thoughts and feelings all the more painful. I haven’t read any of Stone’s work outside of this duology, but if she nails her main characters like this across the board, then I may pick one of them up next.
Although it’s tempting to keep revisiting familiar characters and a setting your readers are accustomed to, I’m hoping the author leaves these two books on their own for now. Perhaps down the road she may want to round it off and make it a full trilogy, but I think giving Justyce and Quan space would be the best thing for now.
Vernell LaQuan Banks Jr., known as Quan to almost everyone outside the US legal system, is currently incarcerated. He was arrested during the events of Dear Martin, presumably, but we have never gotten much information besides that he was Manny’s cousin and a former acquaintance of Justyce’s. He begins this novel writing letters to the boy from his childhood, Justyce McAllister, discussing his time in jail, his frustration with the system(s) that failed him and whatever small hopes he has for his future. Unlike Justyce’s letter writing project to Martin Luther King Jr. in the previous book, the subject of these correspondence is still alive and able to read Quan’s words—and he does.
I don’t take issue with Stone’s decision to write a sequel. And I think a lot of the issues Quan is dealing with are important especially for a teen audience to read and discuss. I do think some of the choices made in the book, though, may have resulted from the author’s attempt to walk the fine line between a realistic story and an aspirational one. Despite Quan having even more of the system stacked against him, he still felt like an outlier in how kids in similar situations would be treated. It seemed like Justyce and his friends just swooped in and saved the day, in a way that would be hard to replicate in real life. Though Quan may have faced challenges more relatable to a number of kids who’d be reading the book, the way it all played out felt pretty far removed from reality.
Some of the dialogue between characters, even characters that existed and interacted in the previous book, was a little cringey. I think I might have glossed over parts of it before because of how impactful other portions of Dear Martin had been, but the way that SJ and Jared speak sound like parodies of that type of character, rather than actual people. Justyce’s meeting with nearly every authority figure and adult played out like a fan-fiction reimagining of how that kind of conversation would go. It’s not that no people have ever spoken like that, just that it’s more reminiscent of how teenagers and young adults communicate online, rather than in person. These were largely isolated instances, but in such a short book they still stood out.
I did like the way Quan was portrayed. I think Nic Stone did an excellent job with both him and Justyce. The tone of Quan’s letters fluctuate between tenuous hope and muted despair, basically someone just trying to hold it together. The fact that both of these boys are teenagers who had to learn hard adult lessons early in life only makes the experience of reading their innermost thoughts and feelings all the more painful. I haven’t read any of Stone’s work outside of this duology, but if she nails her main characters like this across the board, then I may pick one of them up next.
Although it’s tempting to keep revisiting familiar characters and a setting your readers are accustomed to, I’m hoping the author leaves these two books on their own for now. Perhaps down the road she may want to round it off and make it a full trilogy, but I think giving Justyce and Quan space would be the best thing for now.
March 17, 2024
Heartbreaking and realistic in every way and I simultaneously loved and hated this book.
Hated because of the reality of it all. The situation that young Black kids are put in, that the justice system isn’t on their side, neither will it protect them.
And loved because of the representation, that young Black kids can find themselves in this story and provide them with some hope.
It was so powerful!
4.5 ⭐️
Hated because of the reality of it all. The situation that young Black kids are put in, that the justice system isn’t on their side, neither will it protect them.
And loved because of the representation, that young Black kids can find themselves in this story and provide them with some hope.
It was so powerful!
4.5 ⭐️
April 16, 2021
4.5 Stars
Well it's a long time since I have read a book where I was as teary eyed as I was in this incredibly well written and moving story.
It just hit me right in the heart because it was about a young person who didn't feel worthy of the love, support and belief of those who were fighting for justice and for his future. Quan had been let down so many time throughout his life. It was painful to read about how Quan's options closed down around him forcing him towards the only type of 'family' that gave him a sense of belonging. Unfortunately this family was involved in criminal activity and all members were expected to participate. I loved the hopeful elements of the story but appreciated that Nic commented at the end that this level of support wouldn't realistically be available for most young black teens who end up in trouble with the law whether they are innocent or not. I loved Dear Martin and this was an excellent sequel.
Well it's a long time since I have read a book where I was as teary eyed as I was in this incredibly well written and moving story.
It just hit me right in the heart because it was about a young person who didn't feel worthy of the love, support and belief of those who were fighting for justice and for his future. Quan had been let down so many time throughout his life. It was painful to read about how Quan's options closed down around him forcing him towards the only type of 'family' that gave him a sense of belonging. Unfortunately this family was involved in criminal activity and all members were expected to participate. I loved the hopeful elements of the story but appreciated that Nic commented at the end that this level of support wouldn't realistically be available for most young black teens who end up in trouble with the law whether they are innocent or not. I loved Dear Martin and this was an excellent sequel.
Read
January 5, 2021After reading Dear Martin in November, I was so excited to see that Quan got a story. I think that reading Dear Martin before this one allows you to become even more connected to Quan and enjoy seeing Justyce, Doc, SJ, and other characters from that first book.
Dear Justyce was heartbreaking, infuriating, and emotional. Everything Quan goes through shows you how broken the justice system is and how much young people just need adults in their lives to believe in them. I was heartbroken reading Quan's story as a teenager trying to survive. It was one thing after another that led Quan on the path he ended up on and it made me so angry that this happens every day. From the way police treated Quan to his teachers in school. Everyone failed him. And everyone is continuing to fail young Black people every day in our real world.
This book, along with Dear Martin, is an important read that should be on everyone's shelves.
Dear Justyce was heartbreaking, infuriating, and emotional. Everything Quan goes through shows you how broken the justice system is and how much young people just need adults in their lives to believe in them. I was heartbroken reading Quan's story as a teenager trying to survive. It was one thing after another that led Quan on the path he ended up on and it made me so angry that this happens every day. From the way police treated Quan to his teachers in school. Everyone failed him. And everyone is continuing to fail young Black people every day in our real world.
This book, along with Dear Martin, is an important read that should be on everyone's shelves.
June 6, 2020
When people ask me, “Do you like standalone novels or series more?” I always say standalone. I am not one to read sequels very often. My experience in the past has always been that the sequel pretty much never lives up to the first book. Nic Stone may have just changed my opinion with Dear Justyce. I read this book in one sitting and gave it 5 stars – the 6th book (out of 47) I’ve awarded 5 stars to this year.
The book can stand on its own without reading Dear Martin first, but I do think you will get more out of the story if you read them sequentially.
I loved Dear Martin – it opened my eyes to so many things by telling the story of a Black, middle class teenager that just wanted to do things right in life, but still kept getting a raw deal because of the color of his skin. But in Dear Justyce, we get an inside look at what life is like for a Black teen that isn’t given the opportunities that the main character in Dear Martin was given.
This book takes place immediately after Dear Martin and brings back some of the same main characters, but it gives us the unique perspective of a kid thrown into the juvenile detention system. The main character, Quan, details his life in jail and describes how differently the outcome is for kids based off the color of their skin. This is a story that needs to be read by all.
Adjectives to describe this book (arranged alphabetically):
Absorbing
Action packed
Bold
Compelling
Emotionally charged
Fast-paced
Gripping
Layered
Moving
Relevant
Suspenseful
Thought-provoking
Content warnings:
Brief description of a panic attack
Cancer
Death of a stepparent
Descriptions of sleep paralysis
Gangs
Graphic language (R rated, the F word and N word are used)
Juvenile imprisonment
Parental abandonment
Parental arrest/imprisonment
Police brutality
PTSD
Racism
Spousal abuse
Usage of the N word
The book can stand on its own without reading Dear Martin first, but I do think you will get more out of the story if you read them sequentially.
I loved Dear Martin – it opened my eyes to so many things by telling the story of a Black, middle class teenager that just wanted to do things right in life, but still kept getting a raw deal because of the color of his skin. But in Dear Justyce, we get an inside look at what life is like for a Black teen that isn’t given the opportunities that the main character in Dear Martin was given.
This book takes place immediately after Dear Martin and brings back some of the same main characters, but it gives us the unique perspective of a kid thrown into the juvenile detention system. The main character, Quan, details his life in jail and describes how differently the outcome is for kids based off the color of their skin. This is a story that needs to be read by all.
Adjectives to describe this book (arranged alphabetically):
Absorbing
Action packed
Bold
Compelling
Emotionally charged
Fast-paced
Gripping
Layered
Moving
Relevant
Suspenseful
Thought-provoking
Content warnings:
Brief description of a panic attack
Cancer
Death of a stepparent
Descriptions of sleep paralysis
Gangs
Graphic language (R rated, the F word and N word are used)
Juvenile imprisonment
Parental abandonment
Parental arrest/imprisonment
Police brutality
PTSD
Racism
Spousal abuse
Usage of the N word
November 23, 2020
4 stars
Dear Justyce is the sequel to Dear Martin and it was even more hard hitting and equally as important to read. It was a quick listen and I recommend everyone check it out!
Dear Justyce is the sequel to Dear Martin and it was even more hard hitting and equally as important to read. It was a quick listen and I recommend everyone check it out!
Audio book source: Libby (library borrow)
Story Rating: 4 stars
Narrator: Dion Graham
Narration Rating: 4 stars
Genre: Contemporary
Length: 4 hours and 45 minutes
December 23, 2021
Resist when the world tries to convince you otherwise.
I really enjoyed Dear Martin and i'm glad this got a continuation with a new character who appeared in the previous one and I enjoyed how different the two were to each other.
Quan's story is so different to what Martin's story was but this story was so important and tells such an impactful story that anyone can read and understand. I enjoyed the flashbacks and the letters to Martin and seeing the story unfold that way and Nic has done such a good job at telling the story that way and that's why i love her writing because it's so good that you get a story that will stay with you long after you finish the book.
Justyce is now in his first year of university and doing so well so Quan is writing him letters to tell him how things are going for him like Justyce did the same thing in the first one. I did feel the bitterness that Quan had during the course of the letters however during the course of them you can see how therapeutic these letters are and how much they help Quan in the long run.
Nic has a way with words and i did enjoy how important this book was and this duology is so good i'm glad i picked both of them up and decided to read them and recommend them to you to read.
I really enjoyed Dear Martin and i'm glad this got a continuation with a new character who appeared in the previous one and I enjoyed how different the two were to each other.
Quan's story is so different to what Martin's story was but this story was so important and tells such an impactful story that anyone can read and understand. I enjoyed the flashbacks and the letters to Martin and seeing the story unfold that way and Nic has done such a good job at telling the story that way and that's why i love her writing because it's so good that you get a story that will stay with you long after you finish the book.
Justyce is now in his first year of university and doing so well so Quan is writing him letters to tell him how things are going for him like Justyce did the same thing in the first one. I did feel the bitterness that Quan had during the course of the letters however during the course of them you can see how therapeutic these letters are and how much they help Quan in the long run.
Nic has a way with words and i did enjoy how important this book was and this duology is so good i'm glad i picked both of them up and decided to read them and recommend them to you to read.
June 20, 2021
5 STARS ★★★★★
⤐ Overall.
I love that, with this book, Nic gave voice to so many Black young people out there who haven't had somebody to listen to their story in earnest. So that they may see, although us white people still have an incredible amount of work to do and despite all our best efforts, there is still an incredible future waiting for them to conquer.
Somehow audible played and Dear Justyce right after one another so I feel like they are just one bigger book.
Nonetheless, as I've already pointed out, Nic does away with a mirror image of her previous book but rather touchingly captures the struggles of the Black youth that is subject to a racist system built to hold them as close to the ground as possible for their entire lives. All the while, she doesn't leave behind the teenage and new adult struggles we all can relate to in some way or another.
⤐ What’s happening.
spoiler alert : if you have an avenger assemble kind of situation going on, there still might be hope yet.
_____________________
5 STARS. Absolutely loved it. Memorable read that I'm likely to return to. Takes up space in my mind long after I've finished it. Oftentimes a particularly insightful read. Will recommend it with my last breath.
This book is for you if… you loved the format and grip of Dear Martin.
⤐ Overall.
I love that, with this book, Nic gave voice to so many Black young people out there who haven't had somebody to listen to their story in earnest. So that they may see, although us white people still have an incredible amount of work to do and despite all our best efforts, there is still an incredible future waiting for them to conquer.
Somehow audible played and Dear Justyce right after one another so I feel like they are just one bigger book.
Nonetheless, as I've already pointed out, Nic does away with a mirror image of her previous book but rather touchingly captures the struggles of the Black youth that is subject to a racist system built to hold them as close to the ground as possible for their entire lives. All the while, she doesn't leave behind the teenage and new adult struggles we all can relate to in some way or another.
⤐ What’s happening.
‘Dude had all these obstacles he couldn’t seem to get past no matter how hard he tried, and it was almost as though falling into the life of crime everybody expected from him was (sorta) unavoidable? I know it probably sounds crazy to an upstanding young gentleman such as yourself, but for real: based on the systems in place—the “institutions of oppression,” as my former mentor, Martel, would say—homie’s situation and how he ended up kinda seemed like destiny’
spoiler alert : if you have an avenger assemble kind of situation going on, there still might be hope yet.
_____________________
5 STARS. Absolutely loved it. Memorable read that I'm likely to return to. Takes up space in my mind long after I've finished it. Oftentimes a particularly insightful read. Will recommend it with my last breath.
December 8, 2020
“He’s been charged with murder...they say he killed a police officer.”
We are first briefly introduced to Manny’s cousin Quan in “Dear Martin.” He’s not like Manny, whose parents drive fancy cars and flaunt their money. He hasn’t had life easy. His family doesn’t have much at all and he often goes without for his younger siblings’ sake. His stepfather; real father of his siblings, is both physically and verbally abusive to his mother. She won’t leave him. His real Dad is locked up.
Quan’s only way out is through a man named Trey, and going in this direction will do nothing but bring him further down. But what is a young man to do when his family is struggling and he needs an escape?
“He wasn’t no good influence but he did SEE me.”
Being in this gang will ultimately lead Quan to his demise. Which is where Quan’s story begins...serving 16 months in jail for a crime that he didn’t even commit.
“...The people you’re connected to really influence what you wind up doing.”
Quan’s story is a tough one, a boy who had no one to believe in him, not a soul to look up to; zero support system. Think about that every day when you go home to your loving family.
“...When I was like 14 or 15 I stopped caring because it didn’t really seem like anyone cared about me. But it took some years for me to get to that point—ya know? Years of caring, and trying, and failing and not knowing what to do about it or how to fix it...I was trying so damn hard.”
Through letters to Justyce, this is Quan’s journey. But it’s only one of MANY humans that sit in jail today with noone to help them.
“Everyone should have somebody who believes in them, like, no matter what they’ve done. Somebody who won’t give up on them.” 💔
This isn’t a sequel, but rather a companion novel. However, I recommend reading Dear Martin first.
Another winner & must read!
5 ⭐️
We are first briefly introduced to Manny’s cousin Quan in “Dear Martin.” He’s not like Manny, whose parents drive fancy cars and flaunt their money. He hasn’t had life easy. His family doesn’t have much at all and he often goes without for his younger siblings’ sake. His stepfather; real father of his siblings, is both physically and verbally abusive to his mother. She won’t leave him. His real Dad is locked up.
Quan’s only way out is through a man named Trey, and going in this direction will do nothing but bring him further down. But what is a young man to do when his family is struggling and he needs an escape?
“He wasn’t no good influence but he did SEE me.”
Being in this gang will ultimately lead Quan to his demise. Which is where Quan’s story begins...serving 16 months in jail for a crime that he didn’t even commit.
“...The people you’re connected to really influence what you wind up doing.”
Quan’s story is a tough one, a boy who had no one to believe in him, not a soul to look up to; zero support system. Think about that every day when you go home to your loving family.
“...When I was like 14 or 15 I stopped caring because it didn’t really seem like anyone cared about me. But it took some years for me to get to that point—ya know? Years of caring, and trying, and failing and not knowing what to do about it or how to fix it...I was trying so damn hard.”
Through letters to Justyce, this is Quan’s journey. But it’s only one of MANY humans that sit in jail today with noone to help them.
“Everyone should have somebody who believes in them, like, no matter what they’ve done. Somebody who won’t give up on them.” 💔
This isn’t a sequel, but rather a companion novel. However, I recommend reading Dear Martin first.
Another winner & must read!
5 ⭐️
May 9, 2021
***5 stars***
This story is powerful, realistic and heartbreaking. It talks about how broken and messed up the American justice system is, especially when it comes to black men. I almost read it in one sitting, it's that captivating.
Quan is a young black man who has been in a detention center for over 2 years, locked up for a murder he didn't commit. While serving time, he writes to his childhood friend, Justyce (MC from book 1), in hopes of getting some sort of help. And I'll stop here with the details, because I don't want to spoil anything.
But what I can say is that while I loved Dear Martin, I believe Dear Justyce is a more important read, one that might be able to open some eyes to what's going on in our world right now. No way you can read this gem and and not be moved.
This story is powerful, realistic and heartbreaking. It talks about how broken and messed up the American justice system is, especially when it comes to black men. I almost read it in one sitting, it's that captivating.
Quan is a young black man who has been in a detention center for over 2 years, locked up for a murder he didn't commit. While serving time, he writes to his childhood friend, Justyce (MC from book 1), in hopes of getting some sort of help. And I'll stop here with the details, because I don't want to spoil anything.
But what I can say is that while I loved Dear Martin, I believe Dear Justyce is a more important read, one that might be able to open some eyes to what's going on in our world right now. No way you can read this gem and and not be moved.
December 1, 2020
5 Sterne, WOW.
Quan kennt Justyce (aus „Dear Martin“) von früher. Jetzt sitzt Quan im Gefängnis, weil er den Polizisten erschossen haben soll, der damals Justyce angegangen war und schreibt Briefe an Justyce. Kommt dabei raus, was wirklich passiert ist?
- Quan ist (wie Justyce auch schon) eine HERAUSRAGENDE Figur. Er fühlt sich so echt an
- Nic Stone holt mich auf wenigen Seiten ins absolute Fühlen. Heulen, Freude, Frust, Mitgefühl, Wut, Genugtuung u.v.m. Ein echtes Herzensbuch!
- Auch thematisch ist es wie sein Vorgänger sehr dicht erzählt und schafft eine schwierige Gratwanderung: Es zeigt Menschen, die wegen ihrer Herkunft (ethnisch und sozioökonomisch) auf einem sehr fest vorgegebenen Lebensweg gehen müssen. Es zeigt sie trotzdem nicht als passive Figuren, die nur ihrer Umgebung die Schuld geben.
- Schließlich sieht man im Buch, wie wichtig es ist, wenn jemand Stärkeres Partei für dich ergreift. Wenn jemand sich vor dich stellt und dir demonstriert, dass du es wert bist. Uuuuund ich heule wieder.
Quan kennt Justyce (aus „Dear Martin“) von früher. Jetzt sitzt Quan im Gefängnis, weil er den Polizisten erschossen haben soll, der damals Justyce angegangen war und schreibt Briefe an Justyce. Kommt dabei raus, was wirklich passiert ist?
- Quan ist (wie Justyce auch schon) eine HERAUSRAGENDE Figur. Er fühlt sich so echt an
- Nic Stone holt mich auf wenigen Seiten ins absolute Fühlen. Heulen, Freude, Frust, Mitgefühl, Wut, Genugtuung u.v.m. Ein echtes Herzensbuch!
- Auch thematisch ist es wie sein Vorgänger sehr dicht erzählt und schafft eine schwierige Gratwanderung: Es zeigt Menschen, die wegen ihrer Herkunft (ethnisch und sozioökonomisch) auf einem sehr fest vorgegebenen Lebensweg gehen müssen. Es zeigt sie trotzdem nicht als passive Figuren, die nur ihrer Umgebung die Schuld geben.
- Schließlich sieht man im Buch, wie wichtig es ist, wenn jemand Stärkeres Partei für dich ergreift. Wenn jemand sich vor dich stellt und dir demonstriert, dass du es wert bist. Uuuuund ich heule wieder.
January 13, 2021
While most sequels fail to live up, this one breaks the mold!
Having read, 'Dear Martin', the story of Justyce, a young black male who writes to MLK as a means to cope with racial issues, 'Dear Justyce' picks up where it left off. Nic Stone has a lyrical writing style and knows the racial injustice territory well. We meet Quan, one of Justyce's neighborhood 'home boys' in the first book. Years later Justyce is at Yale law school and the recipient of Quan's letters. Ms. Stone mentions in the epilogue that she'd spent time with incarcerated kids like Quan so the character isn't 100% fictional. Regardless the redemption theme bears a slight resemblance to 'Just Mercy', a non-fiction story and movie. Great storytellers engage the reader by appealing to their humanity, passion and conscience. With today's climate of division, stories like these are important. Paced well, with appealing characters and plot elements, this is a highly recommended book!
Having read, 'Dear Martin', the story of Justyce, a young black male who writes to MLK as a means to cope with racial issues, 'Dear Justyce' picks up where it left off. Nic Stone has a lyrical writing style and knows the racial injustice territory well. We meet Quan, one of Justyce's neighborhood 'home boys' in the first book. Years later Justyce is at Yale law school and the recipient of Quan's letters. Ms. Stone mentions in the epilogue that she'd spent time with incarcerated kids like Quan so the character isn't 100% fictional. Regardless the redemption theme bears a slight resemblance to 'Just Mercy', a non-fiction story and movie. Great storytellers engage the reader by appealing to their humanity, passion and conscience. With today's climate of division, stories like these are important. Paced well, with appealing characters and plot elements, this is a highly recommended book!
August 17, 2020
Dear Justyce by Nic Stone is a powerful and necessary follow up to Dear Martin, and in this novel, Nic Stone gives voices to those who are too often unheard because of their skin color, poverty, education, lack of support and legal representation.
Like Justyce who wrote letters to Martin Luther King, Quan writes letters from jail to Justyce. Through flashbacks and these letters, readers learn about Quan's troubled past--incarcerated father, abusive stepfather, search for "family," unfair treatment at school--which all leads to the Incident where Quan is arrested for the shooting death of a police officer.
Nic Stone is a YA author who is making an impact and everyone should read her work.
Like Justyce who wrote letters to Martin Luther King, Quan writes letters from jail to Justyce. Through flashbacks and these letters, readers learn about Quan's troubled past--incarcerated father, abusive stepfather, search for "family," unfair treatment at school--which all leads to the Incident where Quan is arrested for the shooting death of a police officer.
Nic Stone is a YA author who is making an impact and everyone should read her work.
August 6, 2023
Dear Justyce is about Quan and what can happen in the life of a young black man who does not have a healthy home to grow up in, which rovided the soundboard and support that allowed Justyce to go to a better school and off to college. At the same time, Quan was behind bars and wrongfully accused of murder.
Quan's story is told mainly in his own words as he writes letters to Justyce about his thoughts and history of how he ended up where he is today. Quan did not have a healthy and safe place to call home and instead went looking for a different family, which he could find in the streets and by affiliating with a gang.
Quan didn't stop being a good person, but he did execute some poor judgment and even confessed to a crime he didn't commit to showing his loyalty until the end.
This social justice story touches on the justice system's unfairness and how some people are automatically guilty until proven innocent, especially when added to the gang background and skin color.
The most unrealistic part was that Justyce could exact a deal so easily, but hopefully, that could be a real possibility in the real world.
Nic Stone did a great job bringing Quan's struggles to life. While I enjoyed the rich characters brought to life in more detail with the first novel, Dear Martin, I can tell that Nic's passion went into this novel.
Solid 4 stars.
Quan's story is told mainly in his own words as he writes letters to Justyce about his thoughts and history of how he ended up where he is today. Quan did not have a healthy and safe place to call home and instead went looking for a different family, which he could find in the streets and by affiliating with a gang.
Quan didn't stop being a good person, but he did execute some poor judgment and even confessed to a crime he didn't commit to showing his loyalty until the end.
This social justice story touches on the justice system's unfairness and how some people are automatically guilty until proven innocent, especially when added to the gang background and skin color.
The most unrealistic part was that Justyce could exact a deal so easily, but hopefully, that could be a real possibility in the real world.
Nic Stone did a great job bringing Quan's struggles to life. While I enjoyed the rich characters brought to life in more detail with the first novel, Dear Martin, I can tell that Nic's passion went into this novel.
Solid 4 stars.
January 1, 2024
3.75 Stars
Powerful and thought-provoking.
Powerful and thought-provoking.
November 24, 2020
video review: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=uN3nN...
I love the direction Nic Stone took with this sequel. The writing style, the characterization, the structure...so creative and powerful. Having read Dear Martin over the summer, I can definitely say that you do not want to miss out on this second book. It is a whole other level.
I love the direction Nic Stone took with this sequel. The writing style, the characterization, the structure...so creative and powerful. Having read Dear Martin over the summer, I can definitely say that you do not want to miss out on this second book. It is a whole other level.
January 17, 2022
In Dear Justyce, the sequel to Dear Martin, Quan finds himself in jail, serving time for a shooting of a cop. To pass the time between being tutored and awaiting his trial, he writes letters to Justyce. Quan and Justyce are childhood friends and though they grew up in the same neighborhood, their lives are quite different. Quan didn’t have the same support as Justyce at home and he didn’t attend prep school.
Dear Justyce is a story of unfortunate realities including flawed and prejudice practices in the US (in)justice system. It’s infuriating — Do not miss Nic Stone’s dedication or author’s note in this one.
It has been a few years since I read Dear Martin and I was a little worried I would have forgotten some of the key details to the story’s continuation in Dear Justyce but fortunately that wasn’t the case. While these can be read as standalones, they’re better read together and that’s coming from a reader who actively steers away from most series, greatly preferring standalones.
These are YA books and definitely read like it, mostly due to the language. YA is not my favorite, but when I read books like these two, I am reminded of how many great stories there are in the genre, and in this case, for young adults and adults alike — Highly recommend.
Dear Justyce is a story of unfortunate realities including flawed and prejudice practices in the US (in)justice system. It’s infuriating — Do not miss Nic Stone’s dedication or author’s note in this one.
It has been a few years since I read Dear Martin and I was a little worried I would have forgotten some of the key details to the story’s continuation in Dear Justyce but fortunately that wasn’t the case. While these can be read as standalones, they’re better read together and that’s coming from a reader who actively steers away from most series, greatly preferring standalones.
These are YA books and definitely read like it, mostly due to the language. YA is not my favorite, but when I read books like these two, I am reminded of how many great stories there are in the genre, and in this case, for young adults and adults alike — Highly recommend.
November 19, 2020
Nic Stone is SO underrated!!
June 7, 2022
this is the sequel to dear martin. this book can act as a standalone, but i highly recommend reading the first one as well!
quan, an incarcerated teen, starts writing letters to justyce about his experiences in the prison system. his letters also detail his childhood and everything leading up to his arrest, including a coerced confession.
this is a well-written book detailing the harshness of our country’s school-to-prison pipeline and corrupt judicial system, but i like how it left readers with a sense of hope. as long as you’re comfortable with the content, i’d recommend this book!
quan, an incarcerated teen, starts writing letters to justyce about his experiences in the prison system. his letters also detail his childhood and everything leading up to his arrest, including a coerced confession.
this is a well-written book detailing the harshness of our country’s school-to-prison pipeline and corrupt judicial system, but i like how it left readers with a sense of hope. as long as you’re comfortable with the content, i’d recommend this book!
March 15, 2021
What happens when your dad get's arrested and you feel like you have no one on your side? Your mom's boyfriend doesn't want you around because your not his son. And the only friend that you have goes off to private school? You make another family with people you think care about you. But then a cop get's shot and you take the blame for something you didn't do. Who cares about you now?
May 19, 2020
Y'all already know. Nic does it again. Just wow.
November 14, 2020
I wouldn’t have believed it, but this read even surpassed Dear Martin for me and I think that was somewhat to do with the continuation and connection to these characters spinning on from book one. Jus was his epic self but he was a side character in Quan’s story.
Nic Stone wrote realistically, painfully so, transmitting all the feelings and hurt. Quan who I didn’t like all that much in Dear Martin, carved a special place in my heart. Being able to see the world through his perspective, his narrative and reflections, truly was something; something profound.
The journey, the bad decisions that often seemed like the only decisions, the injustices, were all falling off the page. If you like a read with impact, this is it. There were so many lines that touched me, kicked me in the gut and spat me out.
But he was telling me how growing up, he was this real good kid until some stuff happened in his family. So he went looking for a new family. Like a lot of us do.
Nic Stone has that ability to touch me and teach me without preaching to me. This duo of books is on my required reading list now and I have a feeling I will revisit myself and definitely continue to rec the socks off these books.
Thank you to Simon and Schuster UK for the review copy.
This review can be found on A Take From Two Cities Blog.
Nic Stone wrote realistically, painfully so, transmitting all the feelings and hurt. Quan who I didn’t like all that much in Dear Martin, carved a special place in my heart. Being able to see the world through his perspective, his narrative and reflections, truly was something; something profound.
The journey, the bad decisions that often seemed like the only decisions, the injustices, were all falling off the page. If you like a read with impact, this is it. There were so many lines that touched me, kicked me in the gut and spat me out.
But he was telling me how growing up, he was this real good kid until some stuff happened in his family. So he went looking for a new family. Like a lot of us do.
Nic Stone has that ability to touch me and teach me without preaching to me. This duo of books is on my required reading list now and I have a feeling I will revisit myself and definitely continue to rec the socks off these books.
Thank you to Simon and Schuster UK for the review copy.
This review can be found on A Take From Two Cities Blog.
October 6, 2020
Dear Justyce is the sequel to Dear Martin and is a damning indictment of the huge impact race and inequality can have on young black lives. It isn't strictly necessary to have read its predecessor beforehand as they both work perfectly as standalone novels but it is also a worthwhile read. At a time when race relations are being discussed much more, not just in America, where this book is set, but across the wider world, stories such as these are so very important. It is an emotional, unflinching and captivating read which explores topical societal and political themes such as race, equality, abject poverty and discrimination, to name a few, and introduces them in a compelling manner where it doesn't feel forced, preachy and doesn't overwhelm the overarching plot. It's gripping, accessible and raw and the writing flows from page to page and much like reality, there is sickening institutional racism experienced by the characters on a regular basis.
The characters Stone has carefully and beautifully crafted capture your heart and are so vivid that they jump right off the page; you feel as though you actually know them intimately in real life. I can't give a book higher praise than that. The two main characters, Vernell LaQuan Banks and Justyce McAllister, have both taken vastly different ”routes” in life and end up in totally opposite situations despite having grown up in the exact same area of Atlanta. Sadly the whole story is reflective of real life. Through a rich and moving narrative, we hear how Quan ended up incarcerated on a murder charge having been driven to participate in gangland life through issues from adversity to poor circumstances, stereotyping to racial profiling taking place in his everyday life. It is every bit as amazing as the first book and just as immersive and meaningful. Recommended. Many thanks to Simon & Schuster Children's UK for an ARC.
The characters Stone has carefully and beautifully crafted capture your heart and are so vivid that they jump right off the page; you feel as though you actually know them intimately in real life. I can't give a book higher praise than that. The two main characters, Vernell LaQuan Banks and Justyce McAllister, have both taken vastly different ”routes” in life and end up in totally opposite situations despite having grown up in the exact same area of Atlanta. Sadly the whole story is reflective of real life. Through a rich and moving narrative, we hear how Quan ended up incarcerated on a murder charge having been driven to participate in gangland life through issues from adversity to poor circumstances, stereotyping to racial profiling taking place in his everyday life. It is every bit as amazing as the first book and just as immersive and meaningful. Recommended. Many thanks to Simon & Schuster Children's UK for an ARC.
October 28, 2020
I need to own every edition of this beautifully gutting book. Nic Stone is a legend.
If you've read Dear Martin, then you know who Quan is. Or you think you do. Jusytce and Quan have had very different lives. Justyce has always been on the track for success, but every since a bad experience with a substitute teacher, Quan has been wrongly deemed a delinquent. When he finds people who finally believe in him, he's willing to do whatever to takes to keep them, even when it lands him in prison.
This book y'all. This is a book I think everyone needs to read. Along with Punching the Air. It shows how corrupt and determined the justice system is to keep Black youth (especially Black boys) in prison. This book is only around 300 pages, but damn does it pack a punch. I definitely will be thinking about this book for a long time to come.
While we mainly focus on Quan and how he got to where he is, we also see several characters from Dear Martin including Justyce, Sarah Jane, Jared and Doc. Doc plays a major role while Quan is in prison. Doc is the best, he's incredibly supportive and he gives Quan a sense of hope and purpose while incarcerated. We need more Doc's in the world.
There's a lot of Black pain in this book, but ultimately there's a lot of hope. While I would never call this a "happy" book, it does give me hope for the future that the systems in place can be dismantled and that innocent Black people will be able to live their lives how they'd like.
If you've read Dear Martin, then you know who Quan is. Or you think you do. Jusytce and Quan have had very different lives. Justyce has always been on the track for success, but every since a bad experience with a substitute teacher, Quan has been wrongly deemed a delinquent. When he finds people who finally believe in him, he's willing to do whatever to takes to keep them, even when it lands him in prison.
This book y'all. This is a book I think everyone needs to read. Along with Punching the Air. It shows how corrupt and determined the justice system is to keep Black youth (especially Black boys) in prison. This book is only around 300 pages, but damn does it pack a punch. I definitely will be thinking about this book for a long time to come.
While we mainly focus on Quan and how he got to where he is, we also see several characters from Dear Martin including Justyce, Sarah Jane, Jared and Doc. Doc plays a major role while Quan is in prison. Doc is the best, he's incredibly supportive and he gives Quan a sense of hope and purpose while incarcerated. We need more Doc's in the world.
There's a lot of Black pain in this book, but ultimately there's a lot of hope. While I would never call this a "happy" book, it does give me hope for the future that the systems in place can be dismantled and that innocent Black people will be able to live their lives how they'd like.
March 25, 2025
In this sequel to Dear Martin, incarcerated Quan writes letters to Justyce and through these and a series of flashbacks to his childhood, his story unravels. He talks about his dad being dragged away by the police when he was young, the domestic abuse his mother experiences from his new stepfather, struggling financially growing up and his experiences in the American Prison system.
Even though Quan was determined not to end up in prison like his father certain life events and struggles forced him to steal and get mixed up with the wrong people. He joined the Black Jihad because they were a new ‘family’ who supported him and offered him protection. 5 months into working for them he was detained for a crime that he didn’t commit. Quan is persuaded to enter a not guilty plea for the death of a police officer by Justyce. From a troubled childhood and bad timing to a coerced confession and prejudiced police work, Stones new novel takes a look at the flawed practices and ideologies that discriminate against African American boys and minorities in the American Prison System.
I absolutely loved this book. It gives the perspective of a black teen that isn’t given the opportunities in life that enables them to succeed (such as in Justyce’s case). It was incredibly emotionally charged and gripping and I couldn’t put it down! A very powerful and fast-paced read that really makes you think about the consequences of systemic racism especially in educational institutions and how support is needed in cases like this. Despite Quan doing everything in his power to succeed in life he was set to fail because that’s the way the system is set up.
If you read this, I recommend that you read the Authors Notes. Although this particular story is fictional, the school to prison is very much a real thing. “Many children have stories like Quan’s: an incarcerated parent, deeply traumatic home lives, and limited resources for survival, let along situational improvement.” The only things that are fictional in this book is the support that Quan is able to receive.
Even though Quan was determined not to end up in prison like his father certain life events and struggles forced him to steal and get mixed up with the wrong people. He joined the Black Jihad because they were a new ‘family’ who supported him and offered him protection. 5 months into working for them he was detained for a crime that he didn’t commit. Quan is persuaded to enter a not guilty plea for the death of a police officer by Justyce. From a troubled childhood and bad timing to a coerced confession and prejudiced police work, Stones new novel takes a look at the flawed practices and ideologies that discriminate against African American boys and minorities in the American Prison System.
I absolutely loved this book. It gives the perspective of a black teen that isn’t given the opportunities in life that enables them to succeed (such as in Justyce’s case). It was incredibly emotionally charged and gripping and I couldn’t put it down! A very powerful and fast-paced read that really makes you think about the consequences of systemic racism especially in educational institutions and how support is needed in cases like this. Despite Quan doing everything in his power to succeed in life he was set to fail because that’s the way the system is set up.
If you read this, I recommend that you read the Authors Notes. Although this particular story is fictional, the school to prison is very much a real thing. “Many children have stories like Quan’s: an incarcerated parent, deeply traumatic home lives, and limited resources for survival, let along situational improvement.” The only things that are fictional in this book is the support that Quan is able to receive.
February 14, 2025
3.5 stars. It’s a very good book!
“I guess deep down I’ve been convinced that everybody I really gave a damn about—in what feels like a whole other life—has forgotten about me. Can’t none of them visit me obviously, but my moms never did either. And the only person who’s ever written to me in here is you" (Nic Stone 75).
A heartfelt sequel to "Dear Martin", this time this is about Quan- a supporting character in "Dear Martin", a friend of Justyce's the protagonist of that novel. Quan has the opposite experiences that Justyce has. Not only is he serving time in prison for allegedly killing a policeman, we learn through his point of view the bleakness and injustices that young black men often face in society.
Quan tries to do the right thing: studying hard, trying to stay out of trouble, "how when you’re in that middle to high school range, the people you’re connected to REALLY influence what you wind up doing" (Stone 28). But he becomes embroiled in a life of small time crime leading up to the shooting of Officer Castillo.
He is also fatherless, and there hasn't been a lot of people out there who really believed in Quan, "after my dad got locked up, I ain’t really have no positive connections—nobody who was a good influence or who called out some good they saw inside me. Honestly, except for ONE teacher" (Stone 28).
As Quan is incarcerated, he corresponds with Justyce who is now a student at Yale University. Justyce lives up to his name by helping clear his name with exposing the injustices that happened to Quan that led up to his arrest, including coercion, "Quan’s in his cell, flipping through one of the poetry collections Doc dropped off, when he hears his name barked out like he stole something" (Stone 64).
The two young men exchange letters that share what it means to be marginalized, what it feels to feel pain, and the need to belong and to feel cared for.
It's a touching YA novel that speaks to young readers, and in many ways, grittier and more heartfelt than "Dear Martin".
“I guess deep down I’ve been convinced that everybody I really gave a damn about—in what feels like a whole other life—has forgotten about me. Can’t none of them visit me obviously, but my moms never did either. And the only person who’s ever written to me in here is you" (Nic Stone 75).
A heartfelt sequel to "Dear Martin", this time this is about Quan- a supporting character in "Dear Martin", a friend of Justyce's the protagonist of that novel. Quan has the opposite experiences that Justyce has. Not only is he serving time in prison for allegedly killing a policeman, we learn through his point of view the bleakness and injustices that young black men often face in society.
Quan tries to do the right thing: studying hard, trying to stay out of trouble, "how when you’re in that middle to high school range, the people you’re connected to REALLY influence what you wind up doing" (Stone 28). But he becomes embroiled in a life of small time crime leading up to the shooting of Officer Castillo.
He is also fatherless, and there hasn't been a lot of people out there who really believed in Quan, "after my dad got locked up, I ain’t really have no positive connections—nobody who was a good influence or who called out some good they saw inside me. Honestly, except for ONE teacher" (Stone 28).
As Quan is incarcerated, he corresponds with Justyce who is now a student at Yale University. Justyce lives up to his name by helping clear his name with exposing the injustices that happened to Quan that led up to his arrest, including coercion, "Quan’s in his cell, flipping through one of the poetry collections Doc dropped off, when he hears his name barked out like he stole something" (Stone 64).
The two young men exchange letters that share what it means to be marginalized, what it feels to feel pain, and the need to belong and to feel cared for.
It's a touching YA novel that speaks to young readers, and in many ways, grittier and more heartfelt than "Dear Martin".
March 6, 2021
#1) Dear Martin ★★★★☆
➸ Trigger warnings for .
▷ Representation: Quan (mc) Black, PTSD & anxiety; Justyce (mc) Black; Doc (sc) Black & gay; Sarah-Jane (sc/li) Jewish; Black & BIPOC scs.
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