The novel was a finalist for the William C. Morris Debut YA Award and the Amelia Elizabeth Walden Award .

The original story of Justyce McAllister.

Are you interested in a or a deeper look into the sequels ? Exploring Racism and Identity in "Dear Martin" by Nic Stone

Justyce McAllister is an honor student at a predominantly white preparatory school, headed for the Ivy League. His life changes abruptly when he is racially profiled and violently arrested by a police officer while trying to help his ex-girlfriend. To process his trauma and the injustices he sees, Justyce begins writing a series of letters to Dr. Martin Luther King Jr., questioning if King’s non-violent teachings are still applicable in the modern world. The novel serves as a commentary on several social issues: