[Book Review] Dear Martin by Nic Stone

Raw, captivating, and undeniably real, Nic Stone joins industry giants Jason Reynolds and Walter Dean Myers as she boldly tackles American race relations in this stunning debut.

Justyce McAllister is top of his class and set for the Ivy League—but none of that matters to the police officer who just put him in handcuffs. And 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.

[Book Review] The Hate U Give by Angie Thomas

5 STARS 

Sometimes you read a book and you know that it's one that will be considered as classic literature years down the road. The Hate U Give is one of those books. I know for a fact when I re-read this book or even just discuss it with other people I am going to notice new things and learn more. I hope this book is placed in every high school library.

The Hate U Give follows Starr Carter, a sixteen year old woman of color who lives in a poor neighborhood but goes to a rich suburban prep school. She juggles these two separate worlds and finding herself conflicted on how she feels like she has to present herself depending on where she is and who she is with. Her world is shattered when she witnesses her childhood friend Khalil get shot by a police officer. She struggles dealing with hearing her prep school friends saying Khalil had it coming and hearing the news call him a thug while accusing him of being a drug dealer and gangbanger. Protests and riots start to form and with an investigation going on, Starr has to make the decision between staying silent and speaking up for what is right.