The Hate U Give

The Hate U Give by Angie Thomas, shares the story of 16-year-old Starr Carter after she becomes the only witness to the fatal shooting of her unarmed childhood friend, Khalil, by a police officer. Khalil’s death upends both Starr and her community as they struggle to grapple with the events and move forward. Although the story in The Hate U Give is fictional, the events that take place feel all too real. Police shootings of unarmed black individuals have become increasingly common to see in the news and has become a national discussion as activist groups, such as Black Lives Matter, work to draw attention to the issue. As Starr tries to navigate the series of events that follow Khalil’s death, Thomas allows readers to see a very real, human aspect that is often left out of the news.

Starr’s story is also one about growing up and being a teenager. Boy trouble, friendship drama, and familial tensions all add to the central themes of the novel. However, while these are all issues that the vast majority of teenagers can easily relate to, Thomas works to highlight how race, racial tensions, and racial discrimination can further complicate the matter for people of color.

Perhaps most importantly, The Hate U Give, an incredibly nuanced narrative, truly captures the voices of so many teenagers of color living in America today. Starr’s voice is not one that is always given a chance to be heard. Thomas’s writing in The Hate U Give amplifies this voice and provides readers with an intimate look at the life of a young African American girl as she navigates culture, family, community, adolescence, racism, and prejudice.

Not only does The Hate U Give offer a riveting read, but it also presents itself as a valuable tool to develop and broaden understanding as well as begin important and topical conversations. Conversations can be hard. Conversations about difficult subjects with people who may have opposing views can be even harder. But those are the conversations that matter most. You may feel as though your voice is not always heard in those conversations. However, if there is one thing that you can take away from Starr and her story, it is how important it is to find your voice and to never stop using it.

"What's the point of having a voice if you're gonna be silent in those moments you shouldn't be?" – Angie Thomas, The Hate U Give