Sam Strives For 55 - Week 23

Here is week 23 of Sam's reading journey, the metrics and first week can be found here

Dear Martin by Nic Stone
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1. Intrigue
   1. A boy named Justyce, who is top of his class, and bound for the highest colleges is put in handcuffs and jailed when out having a fairly regular teenage evening. Being black certainly had something to do with it. Justyce looks to Dr. King’s words and life for answers as why and how this came to be. 
   2. I had the privilege to teach this class to my freshmen in high school this year. It’s the only time multiple kids have come up to me in the halls, telling me the finished the book weeks early because it was so good. 
2. Writing Style:
   1. Debut author Nic Stone certainly stamped her way into the literary scene. She’s talented and her writing showed it. It’s simple. It’s perfect for your teen or a teen you may know. It’s clear, concise, and all-in-all a 10/10. 
   2. Juicy quote: 
      1. “You can’t change how other people think and act, but you’re in full control of you. When it comes down to it, the only question that matters is this: If nothing in the world ever changes, what type of man are you gonna be?”
3. Flow of Storytelling
   1. I don’t want to get too spoiler-y but this book is really a tale of two halves. Part 1 includes diving into Dr. King’s words, Part 2 includes Justyce diving into himself and the current day world around him. Both are good, but I found myself fonder of one part over the other. This isn’t to say that one part is better. Both parts are immensely important to the story, and really the overall commentary.  
4. Re-readability 
   1. Yes, very re-readable. Especially for middle school or high school kids. Justyce goes through a lot that all teenagers do, in addition to the struggles of a young black man. 
5. T.E.S.S
   1. This story has the power to get people talking about race in this country in a nuanced way. It helps to show those people unwilling to listen to different perspectives. It has power behind it and uses it to help those in need. 

 
​★★★★★ = You must read this. It’s excellent, and even if you don’t love it, you’ll definitely learn something, and you’ll probably like it.

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​J. Sam Williams is an illustrious black-tailed hawk, longing to eat as many vegan mice as possible. In his human form, he is a High School English Teacher in the San Francisco Bay Area, where he lives with his wife, one dog and two cats. A somewhat retired breakdancing teacher, he is now a co-host on the Alohomora Podcast! He has been published on Lunch Ticket, immix: a journal for justice, Mugglenet, and a slew of small sports journalism publications. You can find him on twitter @Jabbernator.