Dear Justyce

Quan Banks, an incarcerated teen in the American juvenile justice system, writes letters to his childhood friend Justyce McAllister, now a Yale student, reflecting on his experiences behind bars. The epistolary narrative exposes systemic flaws, racial bias, and the everyday hardships faced by young people in detention, while also touching on themes of drugs, domestic abuse, and poverty. As Quan shares his struggles and hopes, the story explores the impact of systemic inequality on friendships and the possibility of redemption.