Dear Martin

Dear Martin by Nic Stone, 210 pages

“Justyce McAllister is a good kid, an honor student, and always there to help a friend--but none of that matters to the police officer who just put him in handcuffs. Despite leaving his rough neighborhood behind, he can't escape the scorn of his former peers or the ridicule of his new classmates. Justyce looks to the teachings of Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. for answers. But do they hold up anymore? He starts a journal to Dr. King to find out. Then comes the day Justyce goes driving with his best friend, Manny, windows rolled down, music turned up-- way up, sparking the fury of a white off-duty cop beside them. Words fly. Shots are fired. Justyce and Manny are caught in the crosshairs. In the media fallout, it's Justyce who is under attack.” All I really want to say is, read this book.  I can’t believe how well it’s put together and how well the Justyce is developed so that you are really inside his head the whole time.  Even the pieces that are not his thoughts feel like you’re experiencing them from his perspective.  This may be the most powerful book I’ve read all year.  I will be giving it to any teens who want realistic fiction.

The Hate U Give

The Hate U Give, Angie Thomas, 444 pages

Sixteen-year-old Starr Carter moves between two worlds: the poor neighborhood where she lives and the fancy suburban prep school she attends. The uneasy balance between these worlds is shattered when Starr witnesses the fatal shooting of her childhood best friend Khalil at the hands of a police officer. Khalil was unarmed.

Soon afterward, his death is a national headline. Some are calling him a thug, maybe even a drug dealer and a gangbanger. Protesters are taking to the streets in Khalil's name. Some cops and the local drug lord try to intimidate Starr and her family. What everyone wants to know is: what really went down that night? And the only person alive who can answer that is Starr.

But what Starr does--or does not--say could upend her community. It could also endanger her life.

Oof. This was a hard read – I spent a lot of the book on the edge of an anxiety attack. But it’s a critically important book, and stunningly written. Thomas puts the reader squarely into the head of a teenager and a community devastated by police brutality and racism. The Hate U Give grapples with all sorts of deep, complicated social issues with honesty, care, and grace, and Starr is a wonderful heroine, full of life and rich with emotion. The Hate U Give is written with detail that makes her, her family, and her neighborhood feel heartbreakingly real. It is a must-read. Content warnings for the obvious. If you’re prone to anxiety or might have a strong emotional reaction to the subject matter I would recommend reading this in small doses.