The cover’s blurbs describe my initial reaction exactly. This is a necessary read. It’s sad and moving, so simple and yet so sharp. Justyce, the main character, opens the first chapter by trying to lend a hand to his inebriated on and off again girlfriend only to be interrupted by cops who stereotyped him. They saw the expensive car with the white-passing girl and the Black kid in a hoodie and were quick to put Justyce in cuffs.

In debate class soon after the topic of race comes up. He isn’t in any way over the altercation with the officer who assumed the worst in him, and his friend SJ tries to talk down the class bigot with the big mouth, but she can’t shut him up without getting in trouble with the teacher. What really irks Justyce is that the guy, Jared, who can’t see his own privilege is good friends with Manny, Justyce’s best friend. And Manny either can’t see Jared’s ignorance or doesn’t want to say anything about it.

Manny’s parents are wealthy and Black and though that upbringing is far different from Justyce’s, Justyce expected more from Manny. He is at their expensive private high school on a scholarship, but he thought that Manny would at least get Jared to cut out the tone deaf remarks and “jokes” at their expense. As the semester continues tensions escalate between Jared and Justyce. Manny has to do something, pick a side. And he does.

Throughout Justyce is writing letters to Martin Luther King, thus the book’s title, trying to figure out everything that’s raging within him. He wants to keep a level head and not be prejudiced further by playing into physical violence in retaliation to Jared’s arrogant remarks. He might like his friend SJ even though things are never really over with his sometimes girlfriend Melo— but his mom does NOT want him dating a white girl. He’s also a senior and hoping to keep his eyes on the future that will include an Ivy League education and maybe a law degree. He’s on a lot of pressure, but he can always confide in Martin.