Dear MartinDear Martin
Score Modern
What it's about
Justyce McAllister is a good kid, an honor student headed for the Ivy League, but none of that matters to the police officer who handcuffs him without cause. Struggling with racism at his mostly white prep school and on the streets, he starts writing letters to Dr. Martin Luther King Jr., asking how to live by his teachings, until a confrontation changes everything.
Why it's worth reading
It has spent 66 weeks on the New York Times bestseller lists. It's a short, gripping and widely taught novel about race, justice and growing up.
You'll love it if you liked
The Hate U Give
On the Come Up
Long Way DownGood to know
It's a quick read for teens and adults. It includes police violence and a shooting.
By the numbers
- Readers85 out of 100 · counts 42%
- Critics0 out of 100 · counts 14%
- Bestseller53 out of 100 · counts 34% (its stronger lane)
- Buzz0 out of 100 · counts 10%
Critics and Bestseller are two ways to earn a place: a book's stronger one counts more. Buzz rewards recent bestseller weeks and prizes, so older books start at zero. The parts combine into the Must-Read Score, shown on a scale where the best book we found scores 99 and the last book to make the ranking scores 50.
Where it ranks
- #35 of the 219 young adult books we rank
- #68 of the 309 literary novels we rank
- #308 of the 1,573 modern books we rank
- #613 of the 2,816 books we rank
Why it made the list
Reads as
Thought-provoking, Moving
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Quick answers
Is Dear Martin worth reading?
Yes. It has spent 66 weeks on the New York Times bestseller lists. It ranks #613 of the 2,816 books in our ranking, with a Must-Read Score of 77.0 (the best book we found scores 99).
What is Dear Martin about?
Justyce McAllister is a good kid, an honor student headed for the Ivy League, but none of that matters to the police officer who handcuffs him without cause. Struggling with racism at his mostly white prep school and on the streets, he starts writing letters to Dr. Martin Luther King Jr., asking how to live by his teachings, until a confrontation changes everything.
How long does it take to read Dear Martin?
About 6 hours (224 pages), or about 2 weeks at 30 minutes a day.
What should I read after Dear Martin?
If you liked it, try The Hate U Give by Angie Thomas, On the Come Up by Angie Thomas or Long Way Down by Jason Reynolds.