chaoticnostalgia's review against another edition
reflective
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.5
Content Warnings
Graphic: Violence, Murder, Death, Gun violence, Grief, Medical content, Racism, Racial slurs, and Police brutality
Moderate: Alcohol
Minor: Genocide and Fire/Fire injury
lizardqueen510's review against another edition
challenging
dark
emotional
funny
inspiring
sad
tense
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
4.25
amyjowrites's review against another edition
3.5
I'm here because this was a book that really resonated with my students and one by one they told me how good it was. It is raw, hitting on every hot topic and often very difficult race issues in very quick succession, and the informality of the Ya voice (and the somewhat jarring oscillation between styles) only does so much to protect the reader from the gravity of the situation. It made me angry at the world at times, which made me put it down and not want to finish reading. There is only so much Sisyphean despair I can take. Stylistically its telling also feels very visual, like the author imagines her work in film first, and then writes it. It would make a good adaptation for that reason (but because of it, I found it's literary appeal somewhat diminished). All in all, it was good, and I'd recommend it. It made me think a lot about the situation in my country, and where we differ.
seph27's review against another edition
3.0
3.5 stars
After reading This Is My America, naturally I had to read Dear Martin, I personally do not rate this book five stars because I felt emotionally detached from the characters, maybe because I feel like the plot was showed not told. All in all it was a pretty good read although I wish some plotlines were explored more, the portrayal of race and race identity is lovely and accurately displays the stark disparity of living as a racialised poc in America.
After reading This Is My America, naturally I had to read Dear Martin, I personally do not rate this book five stars because I felt emotionally detached from the characters, maybe because I feel like the plot was showed not told. All in all it was a pretty good read although I wish some plotlines were explored more, the portrayal of race and race identity is lovely and accurately displays the stark disparity of living as a racialised poc in America.
jessie_s's review against another edition
emotional
funny
hopeful
inspiring
lighthearted
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
5.0
thefebruaryfriday's review against another edition
challenging
emotional
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
3.75
Content Warnings
Graphic: Gun violence, Racial slurs, and Racism
story_sanctuary's review against another edition
5.0
Okay, wow. I liked this book so much. Honestly, I worried a little bit at the beginning that it would be too much like The Hate U Give, which I also liked, but I was hoping this wasn’t a repeat, if that makes sense, since the story sounded similar in some ways. (Kid from a lower income neighborhood going to a private school who has experiences with police brutality, racism and gang violence, even an interracial relationship and how difficult that is for a family member.) And all those elements definitely play a role in this story, but it still felt like a completely different book in the way the story was told.
I loved that Jus writes letters to Dr. King. What a cool way to connect the Civil Rights movement to a present-day story and situation. I also felt like the story captured some of the complexity of a community facing issues like this. While this is Justyce’s story, we also see so many of the other characters respond to what’s happening in striking ways—sometimes because they’re so emotional and other times because they simply aren’t.
I think The Hate U Give is an incredibly powerful story, and I don’t want to take anything away from it or from the amazing author, Angie Thomas, by saying this, but actually, I liked Dear Martin better. Amazing story. If you’re looking for a novel about American race relations, I definitely recommend this one.
I loved that Jus writes letters to Dr. King. What a cool way to connect the Civil Rights movement to a present-day story and situation. I also felt like the story captured some of the complexity of a community facing issues like this. While this is Justyce’s story, we also see so many of the other characters respond to what’s happening in striking ways—sometimes because they’re so emotional and other times because they simply aren’t.
I think The Hate U Give is an incredibly powerful story, and I don’t want to take anything away from it or from the amazing author, Angie Thomas, by saying this, but actually, I liked Dear Martin better. Amazing story. If you’re looking for a novel about American race relations, I definitely recommend this one.
esquires1214's review against another edition
4.0
I read this on MLKJ Day, as it was quite appropriate. Justyce journals to Martin Luther King Jr. in the book as events very similar to what we have seen in the new in the last few years unfold. I thought it was important to ask the question, what would he think of our country today?, and doing it through the eyes and experience of an African American teenager was very powerful and important.
piikasmalls's review against another edition
challenging
emotional
sad
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.0