Dear Justyce

Within the first few pages of Dear Justyce, Nic Stone establishes Quan’s “favorite spot in the world” (19). When Quan is upset, he runs to the playground and hides in the rocket ship. Over time, the rocket ship becomes a symbol not only of escapism, but also of safety and shelter from the storms of life. At the beginning of the book, the playground is described as “brand new,” and much like Quan, it is still fresh and young. The playground becomes a symbol of Quan’s childhood, and over the course of the novel, the playground (and the rocket ship) are invaded by harmful substances and unsavory behavior. Quan discovers a hypodermic needle, a used condom, and “cusswords” around the playground as the years go by. In the same way, Quan’s innocence is corroded by his troubled home life, his criminal record, and his involvement with the Black Jihad.

By the halfway point in the novel (immediately after Dwight’s death), the rocket ship is removed completely after someone dies from a drug overdose inside of it. Symbolically, Quan is “trapped” in the Black Jihad, just like he is “trapped” on Earth with no chance of blasting off to outer space in his imagination.