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1982-83

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Atlanta, Georgia

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The social environment of this story is very tense. The main character, Justyce attends a high school with a lot of racial tension, and he is trying to figure out where he fits in, being one of the few black kids at the school.

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The narrator only knows the thoughts and feelings of the main character, Justyce McAllister

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Justyce McAllister, 18 year old high school student

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Emmanuel Rivers, better known as Manny, Justyce's best friend.

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Sarah-Jane Freedman, better known as SJ, Justyce's close friend and love interest.

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Garrett Tison, racist cop who shot and killed Manny.

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Doc, societal evolution teacher for Justyce, Manny, SJ, and other supporting characters

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During Justyce's letters to doctor king you see his thoughts, and you understand that he's trying to the see the world from King's view and he wants to try and be civil when dealing with race related issues.

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When Justyce has a conversation with Doc and he explains that he's tired of people suggesting he's not worthy of getting into Yale, but he's worked really hard for it. It shows that Justyce has a certain amount of confidence because even though the things that people say are hurtful, he knows that he deserves his place at Yale, and he knows that he's a hard worker.

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When Justyce shows up to Blakes birthday and he punches him and Jared in the face, it shows that Justyce has come to point where he is actually fed up with their behavior, after he's been contemplating for a while if he wants to be friends with them or not.

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In Justyce's first letter to doctor Martin, he explains that he's a 17 year old, so we know he's young, and we know that he's black based of the way that he's treated, and his skin color is consistently brought up by others in his conversations.

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We know that SJ is white based on the fact that Justyce's mother doesn't approve of SJ and Justyce being together, because she doesn't want her son dating a white girl.

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Justyce is having a hard time with how society views and treats him because he's black. And he's having a hard time finding where he fits in.

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Justyce has feuds with characters like Jared, Blake, and Tison because they all say and do something racist toward Justyce at one point or another.

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The book starts out with our main character, Justyce, he is trying to figure out if he truly likes his friends, or if he doesn't want to continue putting up with their racist behavior.

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Justyce goes to a party and gets into a fight with Jared and Blake after they say some racist things. Justyce's best friend, Manny tries to get Justyce to stop the fight, and in doing so, Justyce believes that Manny has sided with them, causing them to also get in an argument.

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Manny takes Justyce on a drive to apologize for the fight, and during the drive, they are shot by Garrett Tison, a racist, off duty, cop. Which leaves Manny dead, and Justyce in critical condition.

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Justyce has to deal with the grief and social implications of Manny's death and try and figure out where he belongs without his best friend. He attends Manny's funeral and goes to meet with the Black Jihad.

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Justyce goes to court to get questioned by Garrett Tison's lawyer, and after things don't go his way, he goes to his girlfriends house, where he finds out that Tison was murdered in jail.

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After Manny's death, there is a news article about Manny's father, Julian Rivers, stating that he "stepped down" from his position at work and that him and the company "mutually agreed to part ways", after Julian was seen at the front lines of many protests defending his son after his murder.

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After the first trial for Garrett Tison, Justyce is unhappy with the results and while he's waiting for the next trail, he finds out that Tison was murdered in jail.

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Manny tells Justyce that Melo and SJ, Justyce's two love interests, are "diverging paths on the road of life" and that Justyce is headed for a dead end, because Manny believes that Justyce isn't making the right decision.

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When Justyce is having a conversation with Mr.Rivers he says that he "felt like a bomb was about to go off".

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When Justyce goes to meet with Martel he feels like "his heart is about to explode".

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All Throughout the book Justyce is called by his name in the narration, but after Manny dies, Justyce is referred to as "Jus" in the narration because that was Manny's nickname for him.

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Throughout the book, Justyce is unfairly treated by his classmates, cops, and others because of his skin color, and even though the ending if the book is hopeful, Justyce and his friends never get the justice that they deserve.