The Hate U Give by Angie Thomas
Book Review
I'm not one who typically reads YA, but I honestly cannot recommend this book enough. Despite the fact that it’s a fiction novel, the story line and the themes explored are incredibly relevant and important.
The plot follows 16-year-old Starr Carter, a black teenager who witnesses the murder of her friend, Khalil, at the hands of a white police officer. After Khalil’s tragic death, we see Starr grapple with the aftermath - which includes court proceedings, riots and national news coverage. As the only witness to the fatal shooting, Starr must find her voice in order to help bring about justice for Khalil and her community.
Not only is the storyline incredibly intriguing, but the author does a fantastic job of demonstrating what it’s like to be a young black woman torn between two worlds - that of the poor neighborhood where she grew up and the fancy mostly-white prep-school she attends. Despite the tragic nature of the plot, the author does a great job of weaving in humor and lighthearted anecdotes that not only help the reader understand her characters as complete human beings, but also clearly demonstrates the fact that people are multifaceted and cannot be defined by simply one action or character trait.
This is a must read! ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️ 5 stars
