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Quick answer: If you loved Dear Martin, try Dear Justyce, The Hate U Give, All American Boys, Long Way Down, Monster and On the Come Up. Each one is a powerful story about race, justice and young people finding their voices.
Nic Stone's novel follows Justyce McAllister, a top student at an elite Atlanta prep school, who is handcuffed by a police officer while trying to help his ex-girlfriend. To make sense of it, he begins writing letters to Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. When a tragic shooting changes his life, he must decide how to respond. Readers love its honesty and urgency. These books share its themes of race, justice and identity.
Table of Contents
Quick Picks at a Glance
| Book | Author | Ages | Best For |
|---|---|---|---|
| Dear Justyce | Nic Stone | 14+ | readers who want more of Justyce's world |
| The Hate U Give | Angie Thomas | 14+ | readers who like powerful YA |
| All American Boys | Jason Reynolds and Brendan Kiely | 14+ | readers who like dual narrators |
| Long Way Down | Jason Reynolds | 13+ | readers who like verse |
| Monster | Walter Dean Myers | 13+ | readers who like courtroom stories |
| On the Come Up | Angie Thomas | 14+ | readers who like music |
| Ghost Boys | Jewell Parker Rhodes | 10-14 | younger readers |
| Punching the Air | Ibi Zoboi and Yusef Salaam | 14+ | readers who like verse |
| The Sun Is Also a Star | Nicola Yoon | 14+ | readers who like romance and identity |
| Just Mercy (Adapted for Young Adults) | Bryan Stevenson | 13+ | readers who want true stories |
| Stamped: Racism, Antiracism, and You | Jason Reynolds and Ibram X. Kendi | 12+ | readers who want history |
| Clap When You Land | Elizabeth Acevedo | 14+ | readers who like verse and family |
| Slay | Brittney Morris | 14+ | readers who like gaming |
| The Crossover | Kwame Alexander | 10-13 | younger readers |
| To Kill a Mockingbird | Harper Lee | 13+ | readers who like classics |
1. Dear Justyce by Nic Stone
Quan, a friend of Justyce, writes letters from a juvenile detention center.
Best for: readers who want more of Justyce's world.
2. The Hate U Give by Angie Thomas
Starr witnesses the police shooting of her friend.
Best for: readers who like powerful YA.
3. All American Boys by Jason Reynolds and Brendan Kiely
A Black teen is beaten by a police officer, and a white classmate witnesses it.
Best for: readers who like dual narrators.
4. Long Way Down by Jason Reynolds
A teen considers revenge during an elevator ride.
Best for: readers who like verse.
5. Monster by Walter Dean Myers
A teen on trial for murder writes his story as a screenplay.
Best for: readers who like courtroom stories.
6. On the Come Up by Angie Thomas
A teen aspiring rapper fights to make her voice heard.
Best for: readers who like music.
7. Ghost Boys by Jewell Parker Rhodes
A boy shot by a police officer watches the aftermath as a ghost.
Best for: younger readers.
8. Punching the Air by Ibi Zoboi and Yusef Salaam
A teen wrongly convicted of assault writes poetry in prison.
Best for: readers who like verse.
9. The Sun Is Also a Star by Nicola Yoon
Two teens meet on the day one of them is to be deported.
Best for: readers who like romance and identity.
10. Just Mercy (Adapted for Young Adults) by Bryan Stevenson
A lawyer fights for people on death row.
Best for: readers who want true stories.
11. Stamped: Racism, Antiracism, and You by Jason Reynolds and Ibram X. Kendi
A history of racist ideas in America for young readers.
Best for: readers who want history.
12. Clap When You Land by Elizabeth Acevedo
Two sisters discover each other after their father's death.
Best for: readers who like verse and family.
13. Slay by Brittney Morris
A Black teen creates a secret online game celebrating Black culture.
Best for: readers who like gaming.
14. The Crossover by Kwame Alexander
Twin basketball players face family changes.
Best for: younger readers.
15. To Kill a Mockingbird by Harper Lee
Scout watches her father defend a Black man accused of a crime.
Best for: readers who like classics.
How We Chose These Books
Every pick is a real, widely available book that shares something specific with Dear Martin: its tone, its themes, its pace or the kind of characters it puts at the center. We mixed well-known favorites with a few less obvious titles, and we noted who each book suits best so you can match it to the reader. Where a book belongs to a series, we list the first volume so you can start at the beginning.
How to Choose
Continue with Dear Justyce. For powerful stories about police violence, choose The Hate U Give, All American Boys or Ghost Boys. If you like verse, try Long Way Down or Punching the Air. For true stories, read Just Mercy or Stamped. Younger readers can start with Ghost Boys or The Crossover. These books are often taught together and spark meaningful conversations about justice and identity, so they work well for book clubs and classrooms.
Related: Charles Martin Books In Order Printable List · 15 Best Books on Martin Luther King Jr.: Biographies, Writings and Kids’ Books
Frequently Asked Questions
What age is Dear Martin for?
It is usually recommended for ages 14 and up.
Is there a sequel?
Yes. Dear Justyce follows Justyce's friend Quan.
Is Dear Martin based on a true story?
It is fiction, but it was inspired by real cases of police violence.
Is Dear Martin violent?
It includes a shooting and police brutality.
Is Dear Martin good for classrooms?
Yes. It is often taught alongside The Hate U Give.
How long is Dear Martin?
It is short, around 200 pages.