Dear Martin, by Nic Stone

 

This YA novel tells the story of Justyce McAllister, a young black man in his senior year at a prep school, but bound for Yale. When he experiences racial profiling first hand, he begins a project to explore racial injustice by writing about his experiences and feelings in a journal addressed to Martin Luther King, Jr. Justyce experiences casual racism among his classmates, but also has good relationships with his debate team partner, S.J., his best friend, and a teacher in whom he confides. A scuffle at a party leads to a series of events that quickly turn tragic for Justyce's best friend, and Justyce struggles to deal with his emotions. With this book, Nic Stone addresses the very real issues facing so many of our young people today.