With not only racism, but life at 17 years old in a 21st century. dear martin humanizes those tragically frequent headlines. i am sure just is far more similar to the side of the north carolina mother one of the book band and even the she would like to admit. both just and that woman s sons are likely grappling with identity and the precipice of adulthood. the difference is that just s struggles are literally about life and death. don t take my word. for ask some of our banned book club members. a former professor, wrote to us about his experience with your martin. he said quote, it enlighten my understanding of the lived experience of young black men. isn t that a bucs are supposed to do? or sharon harris, who wrote in saying, quote, this novel depicts a young black man in a very real and relevant get nuanced characterization.