Teens vape marijuana once or twice, a character's dad sells marijuana for a living. Domestic violence is also a strong theme, with very little actually seen but scary noises and bruises and other injuries imply being beaten. The boy himself is painfully dragged and squeezed until he can't breathe. One involves a teen witnessing a hostile confrontation with police that ends in a shooting, and another involves an elementary-school-age boy who sees his father violently arrested and knocked unconscious.
The story revolves around a couple of incidents of police brutality and excessive force that echo several real-life tragic deaths, so it might trigger powerful emotions in readers who reacted strongly to those. Parents need to know that Nic Stone's Dear Justyce is a sequel to her popular Dear Martin. A criminal organization has a no-hard-drugs policy including "lean" (a drink mix that includes codeine), pills, and opioids.ĭid you know you can flag iffy content? Adjust limits for Drinking, Drugs & Smoking in your kid's entertainment guide. A hypodermic needle is picked up in a playground. Glass pipes and bowls are seen in a convenience store. A character is mentioned holding a vape pen. A neighbor says ganja is good for her glaucoma. Quan's father sells marijuana for a living. A teen has Jamaican ginger beer, not always alcoholic but mentions he starts to feel relaxed. Mention that an 11-year-old was arrested for possession of alcohol. Teens vape marijuana because they've sworn off blunts as carcinogenic.
A couple of characters are gay, and Quan has a positive experience staying with a same-sex couple of Black men.
In terems of representation, the main characters are strong role models and positive representations of African Americans in different circumstances. Eventually Quan is helped by a team of people who believe him, believe in him, and care about what happens to him, and help the judicial system start working in Quan's favor. There are plenty of negative role models, and it's very clear they're not examples to follow. Justyce is a good role model for high academic achievement, for being a loyal and supportive friend, and for finding a practical way to make a real difference in Quan's life. When he reconnects with an old friend they write letters to each other and Quan is able to open up about his feelings. From a young age he tries to cope with uncertainty and post-traumatic stress by staying focused on his siblings and schoolwork. Quan is a good role model for communication, integrity, perseverance, and self-control.
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