October 6, 2026 by Crown Books for Young Readers
E ARC provided by Netgalley
In this spin off from Dear Justyce, Dasia's family has had their share of trouble; her father was abusive, but ended up being shot in their neighborhood. Her older brother, LaQuan, is in prison for what Dasia thinks is a false accusation of murder. Her mother has been depressed, so Dasia has been taking care of her younger brother, Gabe. When Dasia is diagnosed with cancer, and is given only six months to live, Gabe starts to hang out with some less than desirable influences. To cope with everything that is going on, Dasia has been writing letters in verse to LaQuan. One particularly trying night in the hospital where she is undergoing induction chemotherapy, Dasia is visited by another patient, Jimmy. Jimmy is very pale, and seems young for fourteen; she's carrying a stuffed unicorn. Dasia doesn't want to talk, and doesn't feel like Jimmy should be in her room, but she relentlessly asked questions and shares about her life. Jimmy's from a much wealthier background from Dasia, but has had her own share of troubles; her seventeen year old brother Coltrane "died by decision" and her family has had to deal with that as well as Jimmy's cancer. Her younger brother, Slane, is struggling. Jimmy is insistent that Dasia stay strong for her own younger brother, and the two seem to gain strength from each other. There is a twist at the end that I don't want to ruin, but there is an epilogue set a good two years afterwards that helps make the ending a bit happier.
In this spin off from Dear Justyce, Dasia's family has had their share of trouble; her father was abusive, but ended up being shot in their neighborhood. Her older brother, LaQuan, is in prison for what Dasia thinks is a false accusation of murder. Her mother has been depressed, so Dasia has been taking care of her younger brother, Gabe. When Dasia is diagnosed with cancer, and is given only six months to live, Gabe starts to hang out with some less than desirable influences. To cope with everything that is going on, Dasia has been writing letters in verse to LaQuan. One particularly trying night in the hospital where she is undergoing induction chemotherapy, Dasia is visited by another patient, Jimmy. Jimmy is very pale, and seems young for fourteen; she's carrying a stuffed unicorn. Dasia doesn't want to talk, and doesn't feel like Jimmy should be in her room, but she relentlessly asked questions and shares about her life. Jimmy's from a much wealthier background from Dasia, but has had her own share of troubles; her seventeen year old brother Coltrane "died by decision" and her family has had to deal with that as well as Jimmy's cancer. Her younger brother, Slane, is struggling. Jimmy is insistent that Dasia stay strong for her own younger brother, and the two seem to gain strength from each other. There is a twist at the end that I don't want to ruin, but there is an epilogue set a good two years afterwards that helps make the ending a bit happier.
Dear Justyce (book number two in the Dear Martin series) is more of a high school book, but this middle grade book could be read independently. There is a LOT going on, and many serious issues are addressed. While this author's Clean Getaway and Fast Pitch circulate well, they are a bit happier and less philosophical than Dasia Forever, which is a good choice for readers who want a slower paced, sadder title like Toalsen's My Brother Oliver or Conklin's Counting Time.
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