e-ARC, 288 pages
Release Date: September 29, 2020
Published by: Crown
Read from: September 27-October 12, 2020
Dear Martin, #2
Source: Netgalley (I received a copy of this book from Netgalley and the Publisher in exchange for a just and honest review. This did nothing to influence my review.)
TW: Gun violence, Incarceration, Racial profiling, Police Brutality, Domestic abuse, Anxiety/Depression
For fans of: Ethnic Diversity, Family Diversity, Socioeconomic Status Diversity, Just Mercy, Contemporary, Realistic Fiction, Epistolary Style, Own Voices, YAIn the stunning and hard-hitting sequel to the New York Times bestseller Dear Martin, incarcerated teen Quan writes letters to Justyce about his experiences in the American prison system.
Shortly after teenager Quan enters a not guilty plea for the shooting death of a police officer, he is placed in a holding cell to await trial. Through a series of flashbacks and letters to Justyce, the protagonist of Dear Martin, Quan’s story unravels.
From a troubled childhood and bad timing to a coerced confession and prejudiced police work, Nic Stone’s newest novel takes an unflinching look at the flawed practices and ideologies that discriminate against African American boys and minorities in the American justice system.
*MY THOUGHTS*
I started and stopped this review multiple times. There’s so much I want to say about this book and this author, but I’m not sure where to start. All I really want is to shout from the rooftops that “EVERYBODY NEEDS TO READ THIS BOOK.”
“These assholes can’t seem to care about being offensive, so why should I give a damn about being agreeable?”11%
Quan has just “admitted” to killing a cop, so he’s been sent back to jail to wait for his trial date. As he waits, he writes a series of letters, this time to Justyce, about his story. We see his troubled home life, how he got to be where he is now, and why he thinks things have turned out they way they did.
“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.”17%
As a Nic Stone fan, all I really wanted to say about this book was that “Nic Stone can do no wrong.” And I have to say, I would have been ok with that. I don’t think you all would have lol But still. Nic Stone is incredible and at this point I will read her grocery list if she let me.
“Why’d we turn out so different? Was it ‘pure choice’ like that counselor would say?”17%
As for the story, it was definitely one that was really close to home. I have been through or witnessed so many things that were in this book. Stone mentions that this was the most non-fiction, fiction book she’s written, and I can definitely say it had some non-fiction for me as well. I say this all the time, but this is why I love Own Voices novels. There’s no way anyone who hadn’t lived through this could have gotten some of these instances like she did.
“Mama had applied for assistance (she always said the word like she was trying not to gag on it as it left her throat) and they got a special debit card they could use at grocery stores. EBT it was called. Electronic Benefits Transfer.”19%
The plot moved fast, but the book was short, so it didn’t really have a choice. I kept wanting to read it all the time no matter where I was. This surprised me because it’s been a long time since I’ve finished a print book. (I’ve been mostly listening to audios constantly.) But with this one I’ve been so engrossed in the book that I didn’t want to do anything else.
“He walked up so certain things were going to go south, he basically forced them in that direction, you feel me?”56%
I’ve said it once and I’ll say it again. Anything this woman writes I will read. I can’t wait to see what else she will bring to her readers. This will definitely be a book that I will be reading again!
Overall, I give this
What about you? Have you read this series? What did you think of it? Let me know in the comments!