Dear Martin by Nic Stone is a powerful novel that follows the story of a high school student named Martin Luther King, Jr. as he navigates the complexities of his world. Nic Stone has crafted an incredible story about identity, race, and family that will leave readers breathless.
Dear Martin is best classified as an issue-driven contemporary fiction novel. The story explores themes such as racial injustice and police brutality in an honest and thoughtful manner. While there are some elements of fantasy in the novel—such as when characters appear to have supernatural powers—the focus remains on the issues at hand rather than on any magical elements.
Dear Martin also touches on themes such as self-discovery, courage and resilience, family dynamics, privilege, power struggles, and justice. Nic Stone’s writing style is engaging and thought-provoking; her descriptions are vivid and captivating while still providing plenty of room for readers to draw their own conclusions from the events in the book.
The novel has garnered critical acclaim from reviewers across all genres due to its compelling narrative and its timely exploration of important social issues. It has won numerous awards including the 2018 William C Morris Award for debut YA authors and the 2018 Coretta Scott King Author Honor Book award for outstanding literary works by African American authors.
