Dear Martin

Dear Martin

• Genre: Realistic Fiction; Young Adult
• Originally Published: 2017
• Reading Level/Interest: Lexile 720L; grades 9-12
• Structure/Length: 2 parts; 23 chapters; approx. 240 pages; approx. 4 hours, 32 minutes on audio
• Protagonist and Central Conflict: Justyce McAllister is a 17-year-old Black honor student who is racially profiled and wrongfully arrested for a crime. As a coping strategy, Justyce turns to the writings of Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr., responding to Dr. King’s old letters. When Justyce’s best friend is killed by an off-duty police officer, Justyce must defend his own character while also navigating grief and trauma.
• Potential Sensitivity Issues: Police brutality; systemic racism; violence; explicit language; sexual innuendos

Nic Stone, Author

• Bio: Born and raised in Atlanta, GA; graduated from Spelman College; worked in teen mentoring before becoming a full-time writer
• Other Works: Dear Justyce (2020); Hazel and Gray (2020); Clean Getaway (2020)
• Awards: Bank Street College Best Children’s Book of the Year (2018); Oklahoma Sequoyah Children’s Book Master List (2018); Oklahoma Sequoyah Young Adult Book Master List (2018); William C. Morris YA Debut Award Finalist (2018)

CENTRAL THEMES connected and noted throughout this Teaching Unit:

• The Effect of Opposing Forces on Self-Motivation and Self-Worth
• Identity in Teenagers Who Straddle Different Social and Cultural Worlds
• The Impact of Appearances on People’s Assumptions and Perceptions
• Inspiration and Challenges in Dr. King’s Teachings

STUDY OBJECTIVES: In accomplishing the components of this Unit, students will:

• Gain an understanding of the social, cultural, and historical contexts regarding Identity in Teenagers Who Straddle Different Social and Cultural Worlds that impact Justyce’s and his peers’ struggles.
• Study short paired texts and other resources to make connections via the text’s themes of The Impact of Appearances on People’s Assumptions and Perceptions and Inspiration and Challenges in Dr. King’s Teachings.
• Reimagine and revise real-life biased news reporting on Black youth that connects to the larger discussion around The Impact of Appearances on People’s Assumptions and Perceptions, particularly as young Black men are portrayed in the media.
• Analyze and evaluate the author’s writing style and character development in Dear Martin in structured essay responses to draw conclusions around the book’s theme of The Effect of Opposing Forces on Self-Motivation and Self-Worth, among other topics.