Powerful and gripping. - John Green, #1 New York Times bestselling author of Turtles All the Way Down

Raw and compelling. - Jason Reynolds, New York Times bestselling co-author of All American Boys

A must-read! - Angie Thomas, #1 New York Times bestselling author of The Hate U Give

Raw, gripping, and undeniably real, Nic Stone joins the ranks of industry giants Jason Reynolds and Walter Dean Myers as she boldly tackles American racial dynamics in this impressive #1 New York Times bestseller debut, a finalist for the William C. Morris Awards.

Justyce McAllister is a good kid, an honor student, and always ready to help a friend – but that doesn’t matter to the police officer who just put him in handcuffs. Even though he has left his rough neighborhood behind, he cannot escape the taunts of his former friends or the scorn of his new classmates.

Justyce seeks answers in the teachings of Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. But are they still relevant? He begins a journal to Dr. King to find out.

Then comes the day when Justyce is driving with his best friend Manny, windows rolled down, music turned up – loud enough to ignite the anger of a white off-duty police officer beside them. Words fly. Shots are fired. Justyce and Manny are caught in the crossfire. In the media aftermath, it is Justyce who is attacked.

Vivid and powerful. - Booklist, starred review

A haunting portrait of a young man grappling with the ugly, persistent violence of social injustice. - Publishers Weekly.