The Hate U Give
Author: Angie Thomas
Published by: Walker Books
Pages: 446
Format: Paperback
My Rating ★★★★★
“What’s the point of having a voice if you’re gonna be silent?”
Starr lives in two worlds: the poor neighbourhood where she was born and raised and her posh high school in the suburbs. The uneasy balance between them is shattered when Starr is the only witness to the fatal shooting of her unarmed best friend, Khalil, by a police officer. Now what Starr says could destroy her community. It could also get her killed.
My thoughts:
The Hate U Give is a novel by Angie Thomas. It follows events in the life of a 16-year-old black girl, Starr Carter, who is drawn to activism after she witnesses the police shooting of a childhood friend. The book is honest, thoughtful, and emotional throughout and it’s definitely a diverse read that really stood out to me. I didn’t expect this to be such a powerful and moving read.
Perhaps what is so poignant about The Hate U Give is the fact that these issues are really happening in our world right now as I type. The story of Khalil’s murder is important, educational and timely. But even beyond the social and political messages at the heart of the novel, this book is worth reading for so many other reasons too.
I loved Angie Thomas’s writing, and every topic addressed was approach so wonderfully. There is no holding back.
The book is inspired by the #BlackLivesMatter movement. Starr witnesses her best friend, who is an unarmed black boy, being killed by a police officer. She is scared to speak up, constantly battling what to do and fearing there is never any justice for these heartless killings. The horror that is the justice system is so sickening. At points I was scared for everyone’s lives and knowing just how real this is made an impact.
Thomas’s writing does an amazing job of making a horrible situation into beautiful fiction that made me feel like I was right there. I was very surprised at just how many times this book had me in tears. But the story brought laughter along the way too, and i loved all the pop culture references and sweet relatable relationships between some of the key characters - particularly Chris and Starr’s mutual love of the Fresh Prince series.
Starr is a fantastic character who I warmed to straight away. She is so interesting, resilient, authentic, and beautifully written by Angie Thomas.
Although she is not completely fearless, Starr embraces the difficulties in her way and stands against them. She is able to deal with a huge amount of grief and stress in her everyday life, yet still remains a good person with strong values and a sense of clarity that ultimately helps her to find her voice and stand up for what is right. I was routing for Starr is every moment of this book, and her character is written with such depth and detail that it’s impossible not to care about her story.
I also really loved the family dynamic in this book. It honestly felt like reading about one of the most, realistic, healthy, close-knit families I’ve ever read, particularly in a young adult fiction. The siblings may tease each other, but they protect each other fiercely and share wonderful conversations that strengthen the bond between them in a believable way. The parents may not always get along, but ultimately they are head over heels in love with one another. They always attempt to do what is best for their children, even if it means making sacrifices and tough decisions.
It’s heartbreaking. This is such an important book. It tackles racism and police violence and the corrupt justice system head on.It perfectly combines a really important story about #BlackLivesMatter and speaking up for it with just fantastic writing and storytelling. As I began reading, this book instantly felt important and is by far one of the best contemporary books I’ve read in a while. I absolutely adored The Hate U Give and would describe the book as a literary gem that I hope will be a permanent reference for years to come. The story can really effectively help in educating peoples on the problems going on in today’s world.
This novel is tremendously moving and just so current – a fantastic, powerful and completely unforgettable book.
Overall reaction:
Published by: Walker Books
Pages: 446
Format: Paperback
My Rating ★★★★★
“What’s the point of having a voice if you’re gonna be silent?”
Starr lives in two worlds: the poor neighbourhood where she was born and raised and her posh high school in the suburbs. The uneasy balance between them is shattered when Starr is the only witness to the fatal shooting of her unarmed best friend, Khalil, by a police officer. Now what Starr says could destroy her community. It could also get her killed.
My thoughts:
The Hate U Give is a novel by Angie Thomas. It follows events in the life of a 16-year-old black girl, Starr Carter, who is drawn to activism after she witnesses the police shooting of a childhood friend. The book is honest, thoughtful, and emotional throughout and it’s definitely a diverse read that really stood out to me. I didn’t expect this to be such a powerful and moving read.
Perhaps what is so poignant about The Hate U Give is the fact that these issues are really happening in our world right now as I type. The story of Khalil’s murder is important, educational and timely. But even beyond the social and political messages at the heart of the novel, this book is worth reading for so many other reasons too.
I loved Angie Thomas’s writing, and every topic addressed was approach so wonderfully. There is no holding back.
The book is inspired by the #BlackLivesMatter movement. Starr witnesses her best friend, who is an unarmed black boy, being killed by a police officer. She is scared to speak up, constantly battling what to do and fearing there is never any justice for these heartless killings. The horror that is the justice system is so sickening. At points I was scared for everyone’s lives and knowing just how real this is made an impact.
Thomas’s writing does an amazing job of making a horrible situation into beautiful fiction that made me feel like I was right there. I was very surprised at just how many times this book had me in tears. But the story brought laughter along the way too, and i loved all the pop culture references and sweet relatable relationships between some of the key characters - particularly Chris and Starr’s mutual love of the Fresh Prince series.
Starr is a fantastic character who I warmed to straight away. She is so interesting, resilient, authentic, and beautifully written by Angie Thomas.
Although she is not completely fearless, Starr embraces the difficulties in her way and stands against them. She is able to deal with a huge amount of grief and stress in her everyday life, yet still remains a good person with strong values and a sense of clarity that ultimately helps her to find her voice and stand up for what is right. I was routing for Starr is every moment of this book, and her character is written with such depth and detail that it’s impossible not to care about her story.
I also really loved the family dynamic in this book. It honestly felt like reading about one of the most, realistic, healthy, close-knit families I’ve ever read, particularly in a young adult fiction. The siblings may tease each other, but they protect each other fiercely and share wonderful conversations that strengthen the bond between them in a believable way. The parents may not always get along, but ultimately they are head over heels in love with one another. They always attempt to do what is best for their children, even if it means making sacrifices and tough decisions.
It’s heartbreaking. This is such an important book. It tackles racism and police violence and the corrupt justice system head on.It perfectly combines a really important story about #BlackLivesMatter and speaking up for it with just fantastic writing and storytelling. As I began reading, this book instantly felt important and is by far one of the best contemporary books I’ve read in a while. I absolutely adored The Hate U Give and would describe the book as a literary gem that I hope will be a permanent reference for years to come. The story can really effectively help in educating peoples on the problems going on in today’s world.
This novel is tremendously moving and just so current – a fantastic, powerful and completely unforgettable book.
Overall reaction: