Book Review: Dear Justyce by Nic Stone

 Title: Dear Justyce

Author: Nic Stone

Series/Standalone: Dear Martin (Book #2)

Genre: Contemporary, Young Adult, Realistic Fiction

Pages: 288

Publisher: Crown

Year Published: 2020

Format: Audiobook

"In the stunning and hard-hitting sequel to New York Times bestseller Dear Martin, incarcerated teen Quan writes letters to Justyce about his experiences in the American prison system.

Shortly after teenager Quan enters a not guilty plea fro the shooting death of a police officer, he is placed in a holding cell to await trial. Through a series of flashbacks and letters to Justyce, the protagonist of Dear Martin, Quan's story unravels.

From a troubled childhood and bad timing to a coerced confession and prejudice police work, Nic Stone's newest novel takes an unflinching look at the flawed practices and ideologies that discriminate against African American boys and minorities in the American justice system."

My Rating: 4.5/5

I'm starting this by saying that black authors do not write books to educate white people, nor should they. So if aspects of this book or other books from p.oc that deal with realistic fiction (ex. not fantasy or science fiction) or nonfiction books make you have questions, do your own research! This book follows a character from the first book, Quan. A teen who is charged with the murder of a police officer and his story. The things that he experiences throughout life and how he ends up where he is (both his own choices and those in place by society). The only reason this book didn't reach a five out of five stars for me is that I wanted just a bit more. I would also love a novel about Doc and his life, and Martel. I look forward to reading more from the author and would recommend this to anyone interested in the subject matter. 

Thanks for reading,

Sidny 

Book Review: How It Went Down by Kekla Magoon

Title: How It Went Down
Author: Kekla Magoon
Series/Standalone: Standalone
Genre: Young Adult, Realistic Fiction, Contemporary
Pages: 336
Publisher: Henry Holt and Co. 
Year Published: 2014
First line: "The known facts surrounding the shooting death of sixteen-year-old Tariq Johnson are few."

"The boy in the hoodie has been shot.
The known fact are few.
Everyone tells a different story.
But what is the truth?

When sixteen-year-old Tariq Johnson dies from two gunshot wounds, his community is thrown into an uproar. Tariq was black. The shooter, Jack Franklin, is white.
In the aftermath of Tariq's death, everyone has something to say but no two accounts of the events line up. Day by day, new twists further obscure the trust.
Tariq's friends, family, and community struggle to make sense of the tragedy and to cope with the hole left behind when a life is cut short. In their own words, they grapple for a way to say with certainty: This is how it went down."

My Rating: 4/5

While I did not give this book a 5/5 rating, I definitely think it's a book everyone should read. It's a story we might see on the news every day or month, but it's not something that is a reality for many of us. To see someone from our community shot down and with such controversy about what happened and why it happened is astonishing to me. I think that Kekla Magoon did a wonderful job of showing how it affects many people who were a part of Tariq's life and some who just lived around him. All and all this book is about so much more than who was right and who was wrong. It's about what we believe in and hopes that someday, with work, things will change. I don't know how realistic this book is and as a white middle-class woman living in a rural area. But it did paint a picture for me about how many people live their lives and how it's not always easy to say, "Get away from violence" or "Gang violence is horrible" "Why can't we all just get along?" when you're living through it. Kekla Magoon paints a vivid picture of grief, lonesomeness and wonders that surround life for many people in the 21st century and I feel blessed to have read this novel.

Thanks for reading,
Sidny

Spoiler: How It Went Down by Kekla Magoon

This book paints quite a picture for us who have been privileged to live in a different form of society than Tariq Johnson. I think that this book is important for everyone to read no matter age, sex, race or religion. It's important to think about community and change. The reasons behind actions and to see things different than wrong and right. But rather as everyone having their own reason for what they are doing. This story paints the picture of what happens in a community after a sixteen-year-old male is shot without stories that match up. I first suspected this book to be a lot more about racial issues. Which it is. But it's so much more. It's about how it affects the man at the corner to store to the leader of a gang to the mother of the victim. It changes perspectives so perfectly that it truly was heartbreaking to read through.

Characters:
Tina: For someone who thinks in such a unique way, she handles the death different than I suspected. I think that she understood so many things that other's didn't, but her battle between what is good and bad really drew me in. Her thoughts on what was happening around her might have been the most heartbreaking, but also reminders of what we loose when someone dies to violence. That being a feeling of innocence.

Tyrell: His character was so different from any other I'd read. His pact to stay out of a gang and go to college was incredible. Watching him struggle with what to do for his future was crazy and I understand a lot more about the pressures now. I hope that he is able to keep strong.

Brick: On the total opposite end I think about Brick and how his world was changed, but he kept a front to lead the mean he charges himself with. I don't believe that gangs will help society but I can see what he offers. Protection, relationships, someone to be there for you no matter what. But at what cost?

Noodle: He isn't a character I cheer for but I saw that in his messed up way he loved Jennica, he just didn't know how to show it or give her the hope she needed. 

Kimberly: To be there for someone's death even after they were less than kind to a person, show's true characters. I thought it was interesting to see her bring up the fact that after people die they are treated as though they are angels, but I think it's important to look at the big picture. It's not just about Tariq, no matter if he did or didn't have a gun, or if he was a "good" or "bad" guy.

Jennica: To dream for more is all we can really hope to do after a situation like this rocks our foundation, and makes us open our eyes.

Will: The strong feeling of, "It could have been me" or "I'm from there" really shows how others surrounding a death might feel no matter the reason, but especially with such a tragic ending.

Reverend Alabaster : Only in it for the vote? Or to help? I suppose it's up to you to decide.


Moments to Remember:
Final Line: "'You just be you.'"

Thanks for reading,
Sidny