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Content snapshot
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Violence
A lot
Police violence; the death of a friend is central; racial violence depicted
Language
A lot
Contemporary language; strong words used authentically
Sexual Content
Some
Mild romantic content
Substance Use
Some
Teen social culture; some substance use
Emotional Intensity
Very heavy
The psychological weight of being a Black man in America; the failure of systems; the death of a friend and its aftermath
What this book is about
Justyce McAllister is a Black honor student who is handcuffed by a police officer in his own neighborhood. He starts writing letters to MLK to process what's happening to him. Dear Martin is one of the most important YA novels of the past decade, dealing with racism, identity, and justice with unflinching clarity.
Notes for sensitive readers
Reader-flagged moments and themes that may affect your experience.
Police violence against a Black teenager
Racial violence and its systemic context
Death of a significant character
Strong language—authentic teen speech
One of YA's most important recent books
Reader Verification
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