''Dear Martin'', published in 2017 by

Crown Publishing Group The Crown Publishing Group is a subsidiary of Penguin Random House that publishes across several fiction and non-fiction categories. Originally founded in 1933 as a remaindered books wholesaler called Outlet Book Company, the firm expanded into ...

, is a young adult novel by

Nic Stone Andrea Nicole Livingstone (born July 10, 1985), known as Nic Stone, is an American author of young adult fiction and middle grade fiction, best known for her debut novel '' Dear Martin'' and her middle grade debut, ''Clean Getaway''. Her novels ...

. It is Stone's

debut novel A debut novel is the first novel a novelist publishes. Debut novels are often the author's first opportunity to make an impact on the publishing industry, and thus the success or failure of a debut novel can affect the ability of the author to ...

, written as a reaction to the

murder of Jordan Davis On November 23, 2012, Jordan Davis, a black 17-year-old high school student, was murdered at a Gate Petroleum gas station in Jacksonville, Florida, by Michael David Dunn, a white 45-year-old software developer, following an argument over loud mu ...

. The book appeared as #4 on

The New York Times Best Seller list ''The New York Times'' Best Seller list is widely considered the preeminent list of best-selling books in the United States.John Bear, ''The #1 New York Times Best Seller: intriguing facts about the 484 books that have been #1 New York Times ...

Development and publication

Stone began writing the book after a series of racially-charge events, including the 2012

, a 17-year-old who was killed by a man who shot several rounds into a car of teenagers over a dispute about loud rap music, and the 2014

shooting of Michael Brown On August 9, 2014, 18-year-old Michael Brown was shot and killed by police officer Darren Wilson in Ferguson, Missouri, a suburb of St. Louis. Brown was accompanied by his 22-year-old male friend Dorian Johnson, who later stated that Brow ...

. Stone was also inspired to write the book for her sons. Stone sold her book as a proposal, resulting in her writing and researching simultaneously over an eight-week period to develop a draft. Stone described the experience as "excruciating" and stated that she was not interested in repeating it. ''Dear Martin'' has been translated and published in Germany, Brazil, Indonesia, the Netherlands, UK, Turkey, and Romania.

Plot

''Dear Martin'' follows Justyce McAllister, a high school student living in Atlanta and attending a predominantly white preparatory high school on a scholarship. Justyce is thrown to the ground and handcuffed by a white police officer. After the incident, Justyce attempts to make sense of life as a black teenager in the current political climate and begins writing letters to the spirit of Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr, asking himself, "What would Dr. King do if he were alive today?".

Reception

In February 2020, two years after it was first published, ''Dear Martin'' again hit the ''New York Times'' bestseller list, as the #1 Young Adult Paperback.

Accolades

* 2018 Finalist for the William C. Morris Debut YA Award * 2018

American Library Association The American Library Association (ALA) is a nonprofit organization based in the United States that promotes libraries and library education internationally. It is the oldest and largest library association in the world, with 49,727 members ...

's (ALA) Top Ten

Amazing Audiobooks for Young Adults The American Library Association The American Library Association (ALA) is a nonprofit organization based in the United States that promotes libraries and library education internationally. It is the oldest and largest library association ...

* 2018 ALA's Top Ten Quick Picks for Reluctant Young Adult Readers * 2018 - Starred review from ''

Booklist ''Booklist'' is a publication of the American Library Association that provides critical reviews of books and audiovisual materials for all ages. ''Booklist''s primary audience consists of libraries, educators, and booksellers. The magazine is av ...

''. * 2018 Amelia Elizabeth Walden Award Nominee * 2020 South Carolina Book Award Nominee for Young Adult * 2020 Lincoln Award Nominee

Controversy

''Dear Martin'' has been banned or challenged in several school districts in Georgia, as well as in the Monett school district in Missouri.

Sequel

Stone wrote a sequel, ''Dear Justyce,'' which was published in October 2020. The book is about an incarcerated teen, Quan, who is on trial for murder charges. Quan first appears in ''Dear Martin'' as the cousin of Justyce's best friend. Stone was not planning on writing a sequel, but was encouraged by her publisher and decided to write a book about a "black boy that everybody is afraid of."

References

{{DEFAULTSORT:Dear Martin 2017 American novels 2017 debut novels African-American novels African-American young adult novels Black Lives Matter art Novels set in the 21st century Novels set in the United States Novels about racism Crown Publishing Group books