by Nic Stone
First published 2020
Quan sits in a holding cell after pleading not guilty to killing a police officer. While he waits for trial, he writes letters to Justyce, telling his story through memories that flood back. Quan reveals how his troubled childhood led him down a dangerous path. Bad timing put him in the wrong place. Police coerced a confession from him. The system worked against him at every turn. Through his letters, Quan exposes how the justice system fails African American teenagers like him. His friendship with Justyce becomes a lifeline as he faces an uncertain future. Stone shows how prejudice and flawed practices trap young Black men in cycles they cannot escape.
Genres: fiction, african-american, crime, contemporary, social-issues, african-american-historical-fiction
Vibes: intimate, suspenseful, thought-provoking
Tropes: enemies-to-lovers, found-family
Setting: Africa, United States
Period: 21st Century
260 pages · Hardcover · Crown
Content warnings: racism, violence