the hate u give book review goodreads

Review: The Hate U Give by Angie Thomas

A poignant story that has provoked important discussions about race, stereotype and prejudice among the YA community and beyond.

The Hate U Give Summary

Sixteen-year-old Starr Carter moves between two worlds: the poor neighborhood where she lives and the fancy suburban prep school she attends. The uneasy balance between these worlds is shattered when Starr witnesses the fatal shooting of her childhood best friend Khalil at the hands of a police officer. Khalil was unarmed.

Soon afterward, his death is a national headline. Some are calling him a thug, maybe even a drug dealer and a gangbanger. Protesters are taking to the streets in Khalil’s name. Some cops and the local drug lord try to intimidate Starr and her family. What everyone wants to know is: what really went down that night? And the only person alive who can answer that is Starr.

But what Starr does or does not say could upend her community. It could also endanger her life.

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The Hate U Give Review

I’m not sure that this book needs much of an introduction. With an incredible rating of 4.58 on Goodreads (the highest I’ve ever seen) and a Goodreads Choice 2017 Award among other amazing accolades, Angie Thomas’s The Hate U Give is already taking the world by storm and it’s easy to see why. That’s even before its upcoming movie adaptation has been released.

Exploring some of the most important issues of our time, The Hate U Give has been written in support of the Black Lives Matter campaign. It highlights the problems we’re facing when it comes to racism, stereotyping and prejudice, starting discussions, provoking thoughts and sparking change.

It’s not just the importance of the themes in this story that makes the book great, though. It’s also a brilliant read with characters that will capture your heart and twists and turns that will have you on the edge of your seat. You will be moved, entertained and educated. It was among my favourite reads of 2017 .

A highly recommended YA from a new author that I can’t wait to read more of.

***** 5/5 stars

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Social issues YA novels can be terrible. The Hate U Give is a stunning exception.

It’s a smart, warm-hearted book that takes on police shootings and systemic racism.

by Constance Grady

The Hate U Give is a didactic issues novel for teenagers. It is also a good book. Those two categories intersect only rarely, but The Hate U Give — a debut novel by Angie Thomas — manages the balancing act with aplomb.

Sixteen-year-old Starr grew up in a poor black neighborhood, but after she saw her best friend gunned down in a drive-by gang shooting when she was 10, her parents sent her off to a wealthy white private school.

Starr rapidly becomes an expert in code switching, saying “ew” at school and “ill” at home; dancing at school, where she knows everyone will assume she’s cool because she’s black, and observing at home, where she would have to work harder to earn her coolness. At school, she hangs out in a white girls’ clique and laughs about her middle school obsession with the Jonas Brothers. At home, she hangs out at her father’s grocery store and talks about how Drake is her future husband.

But all of Starr’s careful work to keep her two worlds separate falls apart when a police officer shoots her childhood friend, Khalil, in front of her. It’s the latest police shooting of an unarmed black man, and the case becomes a national scandal. Starr is the only witness.

At school, her friends talk about how Khalil was a drug dealer who probably deserved it. At home, gangs use Khalil’s death as an excuse to expand their turf wars. Whenever Starr talks to the police, she has to remember that one of them shot her friend and then held her at gunpoint. It’s a vivid, intimate portrait of how systemic racism works to forbid Starr any truly safe space of her own — and of how she builds one anyway, with the help of her deeply supportive family.

It was probably inevitable that someone would write a YA novel about police shootings, but it was not inevitable that it would be a good book. Whenever a societal problem becomes a national obsession, some adult will write a book about it for teenagers; usually the result is a Go Ask Alice – style stew of fearmongering and breathless sensationalism.

But The Hate U Give is charming and funny and carefully crafted, and Starr’s witty, observant, pop culture–inflected voice is a delight. There’s a scene early on where she’s trying to decide how to play things with her boyfriend after a minor transgression on his part: Does she want to go full-on ’90s R&B breakup song, or should she be gentler, like a Taylor Swift song? (“No shade,” she adds, “I fucks with Tay-Tay, but she doesn’t serve like nineties R&B on the angry-girlfriend scale.”) Then it comes to her, the perfect solution: She’ll Beyoncé him.

The specificity and whimsy of ideas like the anger scale of breakup songs is what keeps The Hate U Give moving so deftly through its heavy subject matter; it stays warm and focused and grounded in character even when it’s dealing with big, amorphous ideas like systemic racism. The result is a book so thoughtful and so fun to read that you’ll want to Bruno Mars it.

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The hate u give.

Common Sense Says
Parents Say 53 Reviews
Kids Say 184 Reviews

Common Sense Media Review

Powerful story of police shooting of unarmed Black teen.

Parents Need to Know

Why Age 13+?

Conversational swearing by both adults and teens throughout the novel, including

We see several instances of violence and hear about others. A unarmed teen boy i

There's talk of an affair between two adults. Teens engage in heavy petting, tal

Name brands including Jordans, luxury automobiles, junk food brands, and restaur

Teens drink alcohol and smoke marijuana at a party. Two adult characters are alc

Any Positive Content?

Strong messages throughout The Hate U Give about community activism and together

Unlike many books aimed at young adults, this novel is full of positive kid and

Explains police brutality from the victims' perspective and shows a broad view o

Conversational swearing by both adults and teens throughout the novel, including "s--t," "f--k," "ass," "bitch," "damn" (and variants), and "nigga."

Did you know you can flag iffy content? Adjust limits for Language in your kid's entertainment guide.

Violence & Scariness

We see several instances of violence and hear about others. A unarmed teen boy is shot and killed; we see the blood, and we see him die. There are other reports of shootings and deaths as a result. Another boy is badly beaten. A woman is described as being beaten. An older gentleman is attacked by a group of young men; we don't see the attack but we see the injuries. Many threats are made on the lives of various people. A young girl dies in a drive-by shooting and her blood is described as mingling with the fire hydrant water. There are school fights between girls and boys. Buildings are set on fire during riots.

Did you know you can flag iffy content? Adjust limits for Violence & Scariness in your kid's entertainment guide.

Sex, Romance & Nudity

There's talk of an affair between two adults. Teens engage in heavy petting, talk about having sex and condoms. A teen girl is described as being on birth control, and there's discussion of teen pregnancy and the assumption that a married couple is having sex when they go to their bedroom and turn the television up loud. A woman is revealed to be a sex worker.

Did you know you can flag iffy content? Adjust limits for Sex, Romance & Nudity in your kid's entertainment guide.

Products & Purchases

Name brands including Jordans, luxury automobiles, junk food brands, and restaurants such as Taco Bell are mentioned for scene setting or to show the disparity between lifestyles.

Drinking, Drugs & Smoking

Teens drink alcohol and smoke marijuana at a party. Two adult characters are alcoholics. Adults are described as being addicted to drugs, addiction to crack cocaine is discussed, and both teens and adults are described as selling drugs. We don't actually see drugs being sold, but drug dealing is discussed throughout the novel.

Did you know you can flag iffy content? Adjust limits for Drinking, Drugs & Smoking in your kid's entertainment guide.

Positive Messages

Strong messages throughout The Hate U Give about community activism and togetherness, family strength, courage, bravery, and redemption.

Positive Role Models

Unlike many books aimed at young adults, this novel is full of positive kid and adult role models. The adults who reach out to mentor and advise the students not only provide guidance but also show vulnerability, which allows the teens in the story to feel comfortable with their own vulnerability. The teens navigate tough situations but show a willingness to learn from mistakes and make amends.

Educational Value

Explains police brutality from the victims' perspective and shows a broad view of protest strategies, justice, inequality, and the systemic failures that often accompany police shootings.

Parents need to know that Angie Thomas' New York Times best-selling book The Hate U Give won a 2018 Coretta Scott King Author Honor, a Michael L. Printz Honor, and the Odyssey Award for best audiobook for kids and teens. Inspired by the Black Lives Matter movement, it involves the police shooting of an unarmed black teen. The book covers topics of race, interracial dating, political activism, grief, friendship, wealth disparity, police brutality, addiction, and the media's depiction of African Americans. Parents should be prepared to discuss recent and past instances of police shootings, how they were covered in the media, dealing with grief, and possible reactions to the trauma revealed in the book. There is some conversational swearing by both adults and teens throughout the novel, including "s--t," "f--k," "ass," "bitch," "damn" (and variants), and "nigga." Violence includes an unarmed teen boy shot and killed -- we see the blood and see him die. There are other reports of shootings and deaths as a result. A boy is badly beaten. A woman is described as being beaten. An older gentleman is attacked by a group of young men; we don't see the attack but we see the injuries. A young girl dies in a drive-by shooting and her blood is described as mingling with the fire hydrant water. There are school fights between girls and boys. Buildings are set on fire during riots. Sexual situations include teens engaging in heavy petting, talk about having sex and condoms. There's discussion of teen pregnancy and the assumption that a married couple is having sex when they go to their bedroom and turn the television up loud. A woman is revealed to be a sex worker. Teens drink alcohol and smoke marijuana at a party. Two adult characters are alcoholics. Adults are described as being addicted to drugs, addiction to crack cocaine is discussed, and both teens and adults are described as selling drugs.

Where to Read

Parent and kid reviews.

Parents say (53)
Kids say (184)

Based on 53 parent reviews

R Rated Book

What's the story.

In THE HATE U GIVE, Starr Carter is a teen between two worlds: her school, which is rich, fancy, and white; and her neighborhood, which is poor and black. She navigates this differing terrain every day of her life until her worlds collide when she witnesses the fatal police shooting of her best friend, Khalil, an unarmed black teen. Khalil's death goes viral, and Starr is caught in the middle between the protesters in the street and her friends at school. With the eyes of the world on her, Starr has to decide: Will she say what happened that night? Will it matter?

Is It Any Good?

Wrenching, soul stirring, funny, endearing, painful, and frustratingly familiar, this novel offers a powerful look at a few weeks in a fairly typical teen girl's life -- with one horrific exception. Sure she worries about school, issues with friends, and her secret boyfriend, but she's also the sole witness to the fatal shooting of her best friend by a police officer. In The Hate U Give , author Angie Thomas manages to bring humanity -- deep, emotionally binding, full-bodied humanity -- to the victims of police brutality and the families and friends they leave behind. The scenarios that revolve around the shooting are achingly routine -- unarmed African American, the media's push to blame the victim, a lax investigation, and a lack of charges or convictions. However, set against the backdrop of typical teen life, of community and family life, the consequences of the officer's actions and the actions others take after the tragedy take on a life and power beyond what any think piece or talking points on the subject could achieve.

The characters in the book are rich, complex, and fully developed. They feel like family, friends, and neighbors, and they give those unfamiliar with life in urban centers an understanding that the setting may be specific but the human condition is the universal. The tragedy and triumph of Thomas' stellar work is that it's very real and heartbreakingly familiar. Teens will enjoy the book for its unfiltered look at life, death, grief, and social and political commentary, while parents and teachers will enjoy the book's well-written and thorough approach to a complex social issue.

Talk to Your Kids About ...

Families can talk about how The Hate U Give discusses the media's reaction to police shootings of unarmed African Americans vs. how it reports violence against or perpetrated by white Americans. What's the difference in the language used? Whom and what does the media focus on when it reports the story? Is it fair?

How do you talk about race and other social issues with friends and family? How do you deal with friends who tell racist, homophobic, and otherwise offensive jokes? What about family members who say inappropriate things? Is it better to ignore or confront the person? What are the repercussions of each approach? What strategies could you use to make the discussion less awkward?

Discuss "the talk" -- the conversation that parents of African American and other minority kids have with their children, particularly their sons, about what to do when confronted by the police. Did your parents give you the talk? How does the conversation differ between what minority children are told and white children are told? (Do white children even have this conversation?) Do you think it's fair that there's a difference in the conversation?

Book Details

Author : Angie Thomas
Genre : Contemporary Fiction
Topics : Activism , Brothers and Sisters , Friendship , Great Girl Role Models
Book type : Fiction
Publisher : HarperCollins Publishers
Publication date : February 28, 2017
Publisher's recommended age(s) : 14 - 18
Number of pages : 464
Available on : Audiobook (unabridged), Hardback, iBooks, Kindle
Awards : ALA Best and Notable Books , Coretta Scott King Medal and Honors
Last updated : January 15, 2019

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The Hate U Give

By angie thomas.

Angie Thomas's first novel, 'The Hate U Give,' is a riveting, interesting, and very entertaining piece of work. You will be glued to every page as you read.

Article written by Ugo Juliet

Former Lecturer. Author of multiple books. Degree from University Of Nigeria, Nsukka.

‘ The Hate U Give ’ is one book that offers a lot of education, information, and enjoyment to the reader. From the youthful infatuation of characters Starr and Khalil to the budding romance between Starr and her white boyfriend to the unexpected turn of events when Khalil was shot and killed in the presence of Starr, the book has a lot of action to keep a reader glued to the pages.

This is one book that never gets old as the pages and stories therein are always fresh and exciting. It is a beautiful story of Starr Carter, who is a 16-year-old girl from the poor, black community of Garden Heights. In their mostly black community, her protective dad Maverick owns the local grocery store. Starr and her siblings go to private Williamson Prep school about 40 minutes away in a rich white neighborhood because mom Lisa wants her kids to have a good education.

Dual personalities

Starr never felt totally okay with her existence in code-switching. She feels the disapproving glance mean girls give her at Williamson when she spends time with her white boyfriend, Chris. Yet she doesn’t feel like she belongs at the parties with her neighborhood friends. Starr and Khalil are old friends who reconnect at a party in ‘ The Hate U Give ’.

One day while riding home with her friend Khalil, they’re pulled over, and in a series of unfortunate events, Starr watches in horror as her friend is killed. Khalil reaches inside the car for his hairbrush but is gunned down by a white cop who thinks it was a gun. Seeing cable news reports or reading articles about young African-Americans being shot and killed is one thing, but for Starr, it hurts even more since it’s her second close friend to die via a bullet.

Finally, Starr decides to be the voice of Khalil but also, more importantly, to find her own. As she tells Chris in one of the great scenes that reflect the real-life fights of many that if he doesn’t see her blackness, then he doesn’t see her. This book is a coming-of-age story that fits in nicely with a great slate of other significant films with similar themes this year. In its own way, ‘ The Hate U Give’ carry more weight because it deals with kids in their formative years.

Right from when Starr was a child, Maverick taught her what to do when pulled over by police but reminded his kids that “just because we have to deal with this mess, don’t you ever forget that being black is an honor, because we come from greatness.” that was a good foundation that Starr used to work out how best to live her own life and fight systemic prejudice.

Angie Thomas’s first novel, ‘ The Hate U Give’, debuted at No. 1 after its release and, after 18 weeks on the list, is back in the top position. Thomas’s book made news (including a front-page New York Times profile) partly for its topical storyline and partly because Thomas herself, a 29-year-old from Jackson, Mississippi, is so cheerfully a symbol of change in the publishing industry.

As a kid, she wondered if anything could happen to her, ‘the little black girl from the hood?’ This book is a beautiful read about a strong female protagonist who finds the courage to speak out against injustice. A page-turner that I devoured and would be suitable for any reader who is interested in the world and the events that shape it (which should be every reader). This incredible book offers a total understanding of inequality and also highlights the importance of taking a decision and meaningful action within our communities.

It’s amazing to see the ways Angie Thomas so accurately depicts the microaggressions directed toward black people and the accuracy of how the community treats one another. Taking into account the events of the last year, this sought book is essential as a tool to educate and convey marginalized voices. One of the main things to learn from this book is that ‘sometimes you can do everything right and things will still go wrong.

A Great Book with a Fantastic plot

This is an excellent book to read with a strong plot and storyline, especially in the light of the Black Lives Matter movement. It is a book filled with good characters who portray a credible representation of the many challenges felt within a typical community of black American New York. Yet, you see the humanity, unity, and compassion they exhibited in their community. This togetherness brought a bit of hope to the tragedy.

‘ The Hate U Give ‘ is an important book to read touching on so many themes , although the main themes in the story are police brutality, racism, and Black Lives Matter. Starr, the main character, makes you empathize with what happens in the story and feel her day-to-day struggles while she also tries to fight for justice on behalf of her friend. This is a great book for group discussion. The publisher’s age recommendation is 14 plus, but I think given the content, I would suggest ages ten years and above.

This is an interesting book that was challenged for its portrayal of the police and its profanities – so a good book to introduce to students in any school. This novel was timely and important, which took a challenging topic and tackled the BLM movement head-on.

I love this book. It is interesting to see how many girls of African and Caribbean descent are drawn to this novel. ‘ The Hate U Give ‘ is an incredibly controversial book. Although I can’t fully relate to the issues the main characters dealt with, the author has written the novel in such a great way that anyone who reads it can understand and have an insight into the pain the black communities go through when one of their own is killed by police. It’s a topic that has been spoken about for years worldwide and is still as relevant today. It is important to keep these conversations going, and this book enables the younger generation to join the discussions and form their own compassionate opinions.

It was an amazing and meaningful book. I was overwhelmed yet pleased by the variety of emotions captured in the novel. Once in a while, someone tells a story that makes so much sense and is more vivid than the news, biographies, journal articles, and history books that try to explain it. Every young person should read this book and see why we shouldn’t be complacent about divisions, injustices, and inequalities related to race.

The Hate U Give Review: An Engaging and Strong Plotline

The Hate U Give by Angie Thomas Digital Art

Book Title: The Hate U Give

Book Description: 'The Hate U Give' captivates with Starr Carter's journey, tackling police brutality, racism, and racial profiling in contemporary America.

Book Author: Angie Thomas

Book Edition: First Edition

Book Format: Hardcover

Publisher - Organization: Balzer + Bray (HarperCollins)

Date published: February 28, 2017

ISBN: 978-0-06-242018-4

Number Of Pages: 472

Writing Style
Lasting Effect on Reader

The Hate U Give Review

‘ The Hate U Give ‘ is a book that you’re going to love. From its opening lines to the struggles Starr Carter had in the book, a reader is met with constant twists and turns. The issue of police brutality and racism is widely addressed. Other contemporary issues like racial profiles were widely discussed in the book. It’s a great book that touches on most of the relevant issues African Americans face in the US.

A plot that is incredibly engaging to the reader
It has original, yet relatable characters
Very relevant
Some current trends in the novel may not be relevant in a few years
Use of bad language and violence

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Juliet Ugo is an experienced content writer and a literature expert with a passion for the written word with over a decade of experience. She is particularly interested in analyzing books, and her insightful interpretations of various genres have made her a well-known authority in the field.

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Book Review: The Hate U Give by Angie Thomas

Ah, “The Hate U Give” by Angie Thomas. I first stumbled across this powerhouse of a novel in a quaint little bookstore downtown. The bold title caught my eye, and as I flipped through the pages, I knew this was more than just a book – it was a statement, a shout, a beacon.

It’s not every day you come across a book that’s not just a bestseller, but a cultural phenomenon. But here it is, folks, and boy, is it a ride.

Book Summary of The Hate U Give

“The Hate U Give” kicks off with Starr Carter, a sixteen-year-old black girl who finds herself in an unusual spot – she’s at a party in her neighborhood, but she’s been attending a predominantly white school, so she feels a bit out of place. Enter Khalil Harris, her childhood friend, who offers to take her home when gunshots break up the party. Their reunion, however, is cut short when a white police officer pulls them over and ends up fatally shooting Khalil.

But Starr is no wallflower. Encouraged by her family, she decides to testify against the officer. This act of bravery puts Starr and her family in danger, but she stays committed to getting justice for Khalil.

Book Review of The Hate U Give

“The Hate U Give” is a gut-punch of a novel, pulling no punches in its depiction of police violence and the fight for justice. Its relevance to the current socio-political climate is undeniable, with many reviews praising its raw and authentic portrayal of the Black Lives Matter movement.

But more than just a commentary, “The Hate U Give” is a moving story about a young girl’s struggle to stand up for what she believes in, even when the world seems to be against her. It’s a tale of courage, resilience, and the importance of speaking out, no matter how hard it may be.

The Hate U Give Rating

Amazon Rating : 4.7/5. Readers praise it for its compelling characters and unflinching look at hard-hitting issues.

Goodreads Rating : 4.49/5. Lauded for its emotional depth and stunning realism.

About the Author: Angie Thomas

Angie Thomas , born in 1988, is an acclaimed author best known for her debut novel “The Hate U Give”. Born and raised in Jackson, Mississippi, her upbringing played a significant role in shaping her narratives and giving voice to the black communities in her novels.

“The Hate U Give” was not just a commercial success but also a critical one. The novel spent a considerable amount of time on the New York Times bestseller list and was later made into a film. Angie Thomas did not stop there. Her second book, “On the Come Up”, was published in 2019 and continued her legacy of presenting authentic and engaging stories.

Where to Read “The Hate U Give”

About The Author

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The Hate U Give

This is Angie Thomas’ debut novel and was published in 2017. The book was inspired by the Black Lives Matter movement.

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But what Starr does—or does not—say could upend her community. It could also endanger her life.

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Edgar Allan Poe Award (Mystery Writers of America)

Best young adult nominee, new york times, #1 bestseller, coretta scott king, honor (author), william c. morris, michael l. printz, national book award, boston globe, horn book award.

Ultimately the book emphasizes the need to speak up about injustice. That’s a message that will resonate with all young people concerned with fairness, and Starr’s experience will speak to readers who know Starr’s life like their own and provide perspective for others.

BULLETIN OF THE CENTER FOR CHILDREN’S BOOKS (starred review)

A marvel of verisimilitude.

Booklist (starred review)

John Green, #1 NYT Bestselling Author of THE FAULT IN OUR STARS

Absolutely riveting!

Jason Reynolds, bestselling co-author of ALL AMERICAN BOYS

Fearlessly honest and heartbreakingly human. Everyone should read this book.

Becky Albertalli, William C. Morris Award-winning author of SIMON VS. THE HOMO SAPIENS AGENDA

This is tragically timely, hard-hitting, and an ultimate prayer for change. Don’t look away from this searing battle for justice. Rally with Starr.

Adam Silvera, New York Times bestselling author of MORE HAPPY THAN NOT

This story is necessary. This story is important.

Kirkus Reviews (starred review)

Heartbreakingly topical.

Publishers Weekly (starred review)

Pair this powerful debut with Jason Reynolds and Brendan Kiely’s All American Boys to start a conversation on racism, police brutality, and the Black Lives Matter movement.

School Library Journal (starred review)

…An important and timely novel that reflects the world today’s teens inhabit… Thomas delivers an authentic plot with realistic, relatable characters.

VOYA, (starred review)

Thomas has penned a powerful, in-your-face novel.

HORN BOOK, (starred review)

Ordering Facts

Order a signed copy from Lemuria Books . For more information, call (601) 366-7619.

ISBN-10: 0062498533 ISBN-13: 978-0062498533 February 28th, 2017 by Balzer + Bray

United Kingdom : Walker Books
Australia & New Zealand : Walker Books
Germany : CBT
France : Nathan
Spanish Language : Oceano
Sweden : Natur & Kultur
Finland : Otava
Norway : Gyldendal Norsk
Denmark : Gyldendal
Brazil : Galera/Record
Italy : Giunti
Catalan Language : Grup Editorial 62
Hungary : GABO
Israel : Kinneret-Zmora Dvir
Dutch : Moon
Serbia : Urban Reads
Bosnia : BTC Sahinpasic

Collector’s Edition

This special edition includes:

a letter from Angie
the meanings behind the names
a map of Garden Heights
the full, original story that inspired the book
an excerpt from On the Come Up

Movie Tie-In Edition

movie poster art
full-color photos
Angie Thomas in conversation with Amandla Stenberg and director George Tillman Jr.

The acclaimed, award-winning novel is now a major motion picture starring Amandla Stenberg, Russell Hornsby, Regina Hall, Anthony Mackie, Issa Rae, and Common. Read More

bound2books

A blog about book reviews, knitting, and crafts., review: “the hate u give” by angie thomas.

“What’s the point of having a voice if you’re gonna be silent in those moments you shouldn’t be?”

This is the most important book for American literature in 2017. In fact, I would go further in saying that this novel deserves the same respect, appreciation, and academic and general popularity as those by Toni Morrison, Chinua Achebe, Chimamanda Ngozi Adichie, and Zadie Smith just to name a few. Angie Thomas’ powerful story about police brutality, the Black Lives Matter movement, and the too many young Black men and women who have lost their lives and innocence to police brutality in the U.S. is impossible to put down.

The novel titled “The Hate U Give”, which Thomas explains in the novel as a Tupac Shakur’s acrostic definition of ‘Thug’ on the one hand highlights the cyclical nature of gang violence, crime, and poverty in Black communities, and on the other hints at a much more powerful philosophic message of self-love, care, and change within Black communities across America.

I listened to the novel as audio-book through Audible. Performed by the amazing Bahni Turpin, this novel felt like I was sitting down with an old friend. It is hard to stop listening. It should be hard to stop listening to these types of stories. We should never stop listening to these stories. Although “The Hate U Give” is supposed to be a fictional account of events, it rings too true for the world.

When I finished this book I tried to think about when I first heard about such police brutality in the U.S. or even in my home country, Australia. The problem was, I couldn’t remember a definitive moment where a name or even stuck out. Sadly, it was something that had always been with me. It was something I had always heard of, something that was always there. For the U.S., databases run by The Guardian like The Counted show the number of people killed by police along with extra information about age, gender, race, etc. Australia has similar watches put in place by news services. The numbers that tick over on these sorts of counters make my heart sore and my head heavy.

When I compare my own experiences of poverty, dysfunctional families, violence, drugs, and struggle with other stories, fictional or otherwise, a continuous trend appears from those people who are looking in from the outside. They think that all the aforementioned problems can be solved in some sort of binary: get a job = no more poverty; move away from poor suburbs = safety and prospects; stop drinking = sobriety; leave your abuser = violence ends… In case you’re wondering. It isn’t that simple. Intertwined in Thomas’ narrative is the struggle to stay true to your roots — black, poor, and/or everything inbetween — and still find a way to make a positive change without losing yourself, your voice, or those you love. Thomas’ narrative shows that race, love, death, violence, and ‘Thug’ life is not all it seems to be. I would argue further, that it is high time we stopped thinking we knew how to fix things before we truly understand what the problems are.

How can we do that, you might ask?

Start with this book. Read it again and again. Give it to friends, give it to family. Give it to your neighbours, give this book to your dog! Let names like Mrs Dhu, Trayvon Martin, and Eric Garner become stones that are turned over and over and over in your mind until they form a sharp, unforgiving edge of resistance.

“I can’t change where I come from or what I’ve been through, so why should I be ashamed of what makes me, me?”

It is hard to talk about all the beautiful moments of this book in just one article. The book is razor-sharp, hilarious, and beautiful. Have you read “The Hate U Give”? What did you love about the book? As always, remember to share the reading love.

A review of The Hate U Give by Angie Thomas

The Hate U Give by Angie Thomas Balzer + Bray Hardcover, 464 pls, February 2017, ISBN-13: 978-0062498533

Encaptivated is the best word to describe my experience reading Angie Thomas’ The Hate U Give. T he plot was rich with brilliant character moments, heart-breaking scenes and incredible narration.

Justice, inequality and hope are all conveyed flawlessly in The Hate You Give . With issues such as racism being presented in a manner that teens can identify and resonate with, despite the fact that The Hate You Give is a YA novel, I feel everyone should read this book. The text is not only an eye opener but is also outstanding in the way modern issues in society are introduced and progress in this story.

Characterisation, themes and messages conveyed are executed beautifully in this novel. With Starr, being the voice of this book, sharing her insight on the life-altering events which occur throughout this journey. Our main character’s relationships with others are demonstrated beautifully, with rapid-fire dialogue and pop-culture references, all of which I adored. Yet again, the characters are easy to love and their development and arcs throughout is done so brilliantly.

The Hate You Give begins with Khalil, Starr’s childhood best friend, shot by a white police officer after the events of a party. Starr is the only witness. Only she knows the truth, Khalil hadn’t done anything. Only she can speak her story. Starr immediately finds herself caught in a whirlwind of sudden attention from the media, people at her predominantly white prep school – Williamson, her neighbourhood and local gangs. Whilst trying to mourn and discover her inner voice, the dangerous occurrences in Garden Heights increase, she feels distanced from her white boyfriend, Chris and her friendships at school are strained after Khalil’s death.

As we read on, we discover Starr two lives, Williamson Starr – who doesn’t use slang, ‘if a rapper would say it, she doesn’t’, nothing to make her seem ‘ghetto’. And Starr, herself. We see the harsh difference in these two lives, I loved the way Thomas expressed this, it was written in a unique, relatable manner and flowed beautifully.

This has not only been the best contemporary novel I read this year, but also one of the most memorable books I’ve read.

The Hate You Give is a story of both justice and injustice, love and family. This book will have you laughing one minute and crying the next. An exquisite novel, I would recommend to not only YA but adults as well. This novel has a powerful message which needs to be spread. However, certain themes/topics in this book could be sensitive to certain audiences, I would recommend 15+, if anyone is seeking an ‘ideal’ age bracket.

About the reviewer: Emily McDonell was first prize winner in the Hunter Writers’ Centre/Compulsive Reader book review competition. She is a high school student, an avid reader and has a passion for books. It was clear from a very early age that books would play a large part in her life. Emily has participated in the Premier’s Reading Challenge since starting her schooling and her favourite subject is English. Emily has also been a Girl Guide for the past nine years and is currently working to complete her Queen’s Guide Award. Emily also loves animals especially her dog Jersey.

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Book Review: “The Hate U Give” by Angie Thomas

The Hate U Give is a timely, character-driven story packed with moments of fear and love, heartbreak and humor set in Garden Heights, its title born from a Tupac quote. Starr Carter has seen more death than her young years should allow, with lives discarded in the crossfire of a messed up social hierarchy. Witnessing another moment of brutality, Starr finds herself forced to confront the systematic racism within law enforcement and the wider culture it serves.

Sixteen-year-old 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. Inspired by the Black Lives Matter movement, this is a powerful and gripping YA novel about one girl’s struggle for justice.

What Charlie thought:

With a sharply honest, heartbreaking, humorous, and engaging writing style, you can’t help but keep turning the page to find out what happens next. It will crack you up and break you down with its razor-sharp insight and clever tongue.

Starr is drawn in a startlingly clear first-person narrative, with code-switching dialogue woven throughout Thomas’s powerful prose to show Starr both at home amidst family and in the halls of the predominantly white school she attends. Starr herself is a multifaceted protagonist who shows a real teenage spirit, at once tender-hearted, sweetly loyal, funny, flawed, justifiedly tired, hurting, smart, fiercely brave, and demanding of justice. Angie Thomas’s fearless narrative offers a steady gaze at white complacency while centering its black protagonist with familiarity and understanding. It interlaces its serious moments with music, excellent kicks, and a tongue click at and a shrewd eye for mainstream pop culture. Looking at Starr’s dad’s take on Potter Houses and gang mentality will change your life. Starr’s final battle will steal the breath from your lungs.

You will be incredibly moved, horrified, enraged, and energized by this much-needed story. It is full of tears and laughter, unfettered fears and furious joy, family and friendship. For fans of All American Boys , Noughts & Crosses , Allegedly , Orangeboy , and Terror Kid. Movie rights have been sold to Fox, with Amandla Stenberg to star. Put it at the top of your 2017 reading list and share it with all.

I asked fellow blogger Sahina to share her thoughts with us as well, for a more in-depth review. Stay alert for spoilers ahead.

What Sahina thought:

Holy mother of feels. This book. This book. THIS BOOK. Can you tell my nose is flaring, I’m breathing hard like my fat-cat-Garfield-like-self? That rarely happens, except for when I finish a book and feel like I’m about to spontaneously combust. But less about my internal emotions and more about this book.

While this may be one book, there are so many stories told within it. So, so many. A story about racism. About stereotyping. About our current social climate. About interracial couples. About friendship and loyalty. Family. (Has the word “about” started to lose all meaning to you too? About time, eh?)

Angie Thomas has written one of the most relevant, moving, and fiercely powerful stories of this year, of many years even. She’s given a solid, authentic, and undeniably moving voice to a movement, to a group of marginalized and hurt people who are being killed in broad daylight at the hands of the system meant to protect and serve – simply because of the color of their skin. As a Muslim woman myself, who wears a hijab, I have had my fair share of verbal abuse, endless streams of stereotyping, and rude comments, but the plight of black people, the plight born and raised in the #BlackLivesMatter movement, is far more dangerous and, horrifically, far too common. There are many, MANY groups of people, races, and faiths, that are marginalized and abused – but in this current day and age, none more so than Muslims and black people. Yet if you put one of each in a car in current-day America, who do you think is more likely to be stopped, stereotyped on the spot as a thug, and shot at for no reason?

There’s so much in this book that makes you sit up and take notice, really hone in on what’s going on, both on the surface and under the radar. Angie takes on a lot of really hot topics, and despite being a debut author, with her flawlessly on-point narrative and honest commentary through her character of Starr, shines (pun intended) light on issues such as the drug industry and the vicious cycle of damage it causes in black neighborhoods. These “thugs” in her story are mostly borne of unfortunate circumstances and poor prospects for their future, which pushes them into this cycle and never lets them leave. The media, its representation of minorities, and the tragic way in which it can distort reality, makes people see and believe what it wants them to, sometimes without even saying a word. Racism, the many faces of it, whether intentional or not – like even a simple comment about fried chicken being thrown out there – is racism. You may not be a racist person, but that sure as hell doesn’t stop you from making racist remarks. Intentional or unintentional, it’s racism, white privilege, and prejudice at its best.

At the heart of it all is the issue of police brutality, how all it takes is one single misinterpreted moment for your life to literally come crashing down around you. For your life to be taken . And all you will hear about it is the race of the person killed, the color of their skin, their age, and their stereotyped persona – in that order. Black teenager, aged 18, killed in connection with suspected drug cartel and in possession of a gun. Often not even a name, no mention at all that they might have been a straight-A student, a kind boy who helped around the neighborhood, unless of course it’s a white person. In which case their name, followed by their many accomplishments and possibilities of a scholarship or promising athletic career, are the first things you’ll hear about. Layers and layers of positives to hide the dirty deeds of rape, or assault, or the fact that they stabbed an unarmed, innocent black person in the back simply because he was black. Can you tell I’m angry? I am. You should be too . We all should be . This story, about unarmed Khalil, is more than just a story, though brilliantly told – it’s the reality of black people in this day and age.

The characters in this story are outstanding . Every single one. Starr, her courage and fear – both go hand in hand in making her an extremely relatable, honest, and raw character to perfectly move this story forward. Her parents and family – whom I simply adored, especially her uncle – were heartwarmingly real, putting the needs and wants and safety of their children first and foremost. Her dad, whom I especially loved, was such an important character – he didn’t coddle Starr but nudged her to be her own person, to be brave, whether or not that meant putting a target on her back, because as her dad, he would always have her back and wouldn’t let anything happen to her. He wanted her safe, but he also wanted her to be honest, unafraid, unashamed, and fierce – for her voice to be heard. Starr’s uncle – a police officer himself, who bruised his knuckles on the man who dared point a gun at her. Her half-brother Seven, who jumps in the middle of a fight to protect his sister in school. These black men aren’t meant to be heroic and glorified, but rather these are what real, normal, black men are. Family men, men who love and protect – not molded to fit the stereotype of thug, gangster, druggie. Starr’s white boyfriend, Chris – though this book wasn’t about the romance, throwing that in there was another great move from the author to highlight not only the differences in Starr’s world versus Chris’s but also how, through understanding and communication, these differences and why they matter to each can strengthen a relationship.

There’s so much to say about this book – the characters, the story, the love and the loss, the feelings it gave me when reading it, and the many, MANY moments I was brought close to tears. This is such an important book that dissects facets of our society – the flaws, the pitfalls, and also the hopes for the future about human resilience and courage. But also, it’s a fantastic book in itself, written with such authenticity, from a black author, weaving together not just some of the most important parts of our history, but also bringing together a book worthy of reading and, weirdly, enjoying, as there was laughter, sadness, and so much more hidden under the many layers of this story. Characters that stand out, events and dialogues that really pack a punch – this was one hell of a debut from Angie Thomas, and I would trade my left arm to read more of her writing in the future. Believe every word of hype about this book and then some – because you will not be disappointed. You will laugh, you will learn, and you will hopefully come out the other side just a little bit more aware, a little bit more attuned, and a little bit more courageous.

You can also find Sahina’s review on her blog, Reading In Between The Lines .

Copies of this book were provided by the publisher for review.

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Review: The Hate U Give by Angie Thomas

The hate u give angie thomas balzer + bray published on february 28, 2017, amazon | barnes & noble | goodreads, about the hate u give.

But what Starr does or does not say could upend her community. It could also endanger her life.

My Review If you’re part of the YA community at all, chances are you’ve heard about or already read this book. It’s been on my list to read since before it came out, and I’ve finally managed to get a copy. Once I had THE HATE U GIVE in hand, it didn’t take me long to read it.

One powerful part of the story is the way it puts faces and names on an issue too often in the headlines. We see not only Starr, a young high school student with her whole life ahead of her, but also her loving family, and the community around her. And we see these elements not only for her but for Khalil, the boy killed by police, as well. We learn about his mistakes, but we also learn that those things aren’t the whole of who he is. We learn about why he made some of those choices, and it doesn’t make them less wrong, but it does make the truth more complicated.

One of the issues that comes up with regard to this book is how much profanity is included in the story. In a Twitter post, Angie Thomas talked about this issue, and said she hoped people would see the story and be moved by the importance of it rather than getting hung up on the language.

And while I absolutely appreciate what she’s saying—because the book does talk about a critical issue in an incredibly powerful way—I also understand that including so much strong language will prevent some people from reading the book and will give ground for some schools to opt not to carry it in their libraries. It may keep the story out of some of the hands of people who most need to read it. And I find that frustrating and sad.

I loved this story. It moved me. It made me connect with characters deeply. It made me realize that while I’ve been outraged and upset about police brutality, it’s been on an issue level—I’ve objected to ideas like racism and profiling and injustice. THE HATE U GIVE made me think about aspects I hadn’t faced or had only vaguely considered, made me think about the communities affected by police brutality and the friends and family members left behind. It made me see the victims as not simply blurbs in headlines, but as complex people. It showed the ripple effects of police brutality through a whole community.

Reading THE HATE U GIVE made me think about another story I’ve read called PIECING ME TOGETHER by Renee Watson . It also made me wonder what the novel would have looked like if it had been from Starr’s friend Kenya’s perspective. Her father is a local gang leader who abuses her mother. I don’t mean this as a criticism of the story at all. Telling it from Starr’s point-of-view really showed the tug-of-war in her life between the black community where she lived and the white community where she went to school, which was a powerful element. But I hope that someone tells Kenya’s story, too.

Content Notes

Recommended for Ages 14 up.

Cultural Elements Starr and her family are black. Starr dates a white boy, but hasn’t told her dad yet. Her best friends at school are white and Asian.

Profanity/Crude Language Content Extreme profanity used frequently.

Romance/Sexual Content References to making out, kissing between a boy and girl. Starr’s boyfriend asked her to have sex with him, but she refused, and was angry at him for even bringing it up. Later, she initiates some sexual contact (hand under clothes) but stops.

Spiritual Content Starr’s family prays together on multiple occasions.

Violent Content Starr hears gunshots at a party she’s attending and later learns someone was killed there. She witnesses police shoot her unarmed friend after pulling him over. Gang members threaten and attack a local business man and a young gang member. Starr doesn’t see the attacks, but does see the resulting injuries. Starr’s half-brother, Seven, worries about his mom, who continually lets a man live with her even though he beats her.

Protests turn violent. Protesters damage police cars, businesses, etc. Starr and her friends are upset and believe that only makes the conflict worse.

Drug Content Teen drinking at the party Starr attends at the beginning of the book. She smells pot smoke there, too.

About Kasey

2 responses to review: the hate u give by angie thomas.

Nice review I must say. You summarized the book pretty well, the story of Starr evokes so many feelings on it… and at the same time it is a book about standing against social prejudices. I actually included this book in my post about Racism in literature which if you want to check is this one https://wottaread.com/racism-in-literature/

Keep working like this!

Yes – Starr really evokes a lot of feelings. I totally agree. I will check out your post. Thanks!

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Awards & Accolades

Our Verdict

Kirkus Reviews' Best Books Of 2017

Kirkus Prize finalist

New York Times Bestseller

IndieBound Bestseller

THE HATE U GIVE

by Angie Thomas ‧ RELEASE DATE: Feb. 28, 2017

This story is necessary. This story is important.

Sixteen-year-old Starr Carter is a black girl and an expert at navigating the two worlds she exists in: one at Garden Heights, her black neighborhood, and the other at Williamson Prep, her suburban, mostly white high school.

Walking the line between the two becomes immensely harder when Starr is present at the fatal shooting of her childhood best friend, Khalil, by a white police officer. Khalil was unarmed. Khalil’s death becomes national news, where he’s called a thug and possible drug dealer and gangbanger. His death becomes justified in the eyes of many, including one of Starr’s best friends at school. The police’s lackadaisical attitude sparks anger and then protests in the community, turning it into a war zone. Questions remain about what happened in the moments leading to Khalil’s death, and the only witness is Starr, who must now decide what to say or do, if anything. Thomas cuts to the heart of the matter for Starr and for so many like her, laying bare the systemic racism that undergirds her world, and she does so honestly and inescapably, balancing heartbreak and humor. With smooth but powerful prose delivered in Starr’s natural, emphatic voice, finely nuanced characters, and intricate and realistic relationship dynamics, this novel will have readers rooting for Starr and opening their hearts to her friends and family.

Pub Date: Feb. 28, 2017

ISBN: 978-0-06-249853-3

Page Count: 464

Publisher: Balzer + Bray/HarperCollins

Review Posted Online: Dec. 5, 2016

Kirkus Reviews Issue: Dec. 15, 2016

TEENS & YOUNG ADULT SOCIAL THEMES | TEENS & YOUNG ADULT FICTION

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More by Angie Thomas

BOOK REVIEW

by Angie Thomas ; illustrated by Setor Fiadzigbey

by Dhonielle Clayton , Tiffany D. Jackson , Nic Stone , Angie Thomas , Ashley Woodfolk & Nicola Yoon

by Dhonielle Clayton & Tiffany D. Jackson & Nic Stone & Angie Thomas & Ashley Woodfolk & Nicola Yoon

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Angie Thomas Sponsors New Writing Scholarship

SEEN & HEARD

Angie Thomas Writing Hate U Give Prequel

IF HE HAD BEEN WITH ME

by Laura Nowlin ‧ RELEASE DATE: April 1, 2013

There’s not much plot here, but readers will relish the opportunity to climb inside Autumn’s head.

The finely drawn characters capture readers’ attention in this debut.

Autumn and Phineas, nicknamed Finny, were born a week apart; their mothers are still best friends. Growing up, Autumn and Finny were like peas in a pod despite their differences: Autumn is “quirky and odd,” while Finny is “sweet and shy and everyone like[s] him.” But in eighth grade, Autumn and Finny stop being friends due to an unexpected kiss. They drift apart and find new friends, but their friendship keeps asserting itself at parties, shared holiday gatherings and random encounters. In the summer after graduation, Autumn and Finny reconnect and are finally ready to be more than friends. But on August 8, everything changes, and Autumn has to rely on all her strength to move on. Autumn’s coming-of-age is sensitively chronicled, with a wide range of experiences and events shaping her character. Even secondary characters are well-rounded, with their own histories and motivations.

Pub Date: April 1, 2013

ISBN: 978-1-4022-7782-5

Page Count: 336

Publisher: Sourcebooks Fire

Review Posted Online: Feb. 12, 2013

Kirkus Reviews Issue: March 1, 2013

TEENS & YOUNG ADULT ROMANCE | TEENS & YOUNG ADULT SOCIAL THEMES

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by Laura Nowlin

Sales of Print Books Fall in First Three Quarters

IF ONLY I HAD TOLD HER

by Laura Nowlin ‧ RELEASE DATE: Feb. 6, 2024

A heavy read about the harsh realities of tragedy and their effects on those left behind.

In this companion novel to 2013’s If He Had Been With Me , three characters tell their sides of the story.

Finn’s narrative starts three days before his death. He explores the progress of his unrequited love for best friend Autumn up until the day he finally expresses his feelings. Finn’s story ends with his tragic death, which leaves his close friends devastated, unmoored, and uncertain how to go on. Jack’s section follows, offering a heartbreaking look at what it’s like to live with grief. Jack works to overcome the anger he feels toward Sylvie, the girlfriend Finn was breaking up with when he died, and Autumn, the girl he was preparing to build his life around (but whom Jack believed wasn’t good enough for Finn). But when Jack sees how Autumn’s grief matches his own, it changes their understanding of one another. Autumn’s chapters trace her life without Finn as readers follow her struggles with mental health and balancing love and loss. Those who have read the earlier book will better connect with and feel for these characters, particularly since they’ll have a more well-rounded impression of Finn. The pain and anger is well written, and the novel highlights the most troublesome aspects of young adulthood: overconfidence sprinkled with heavy insecurities, fear-fueled decisions, bad communication, and brash judgments. Characters are cued white.

Pub Date: Feb. 6, 2024

ISBN: 9781728276229

Page Count: 416

Review Posted Online: Jan. 5, 2024

Kirkus Reviews Issue: Feb. 1, 2024

TEENS & YOUNG ADULT SOCIAL THEMES | TEENS & YOUNG ADULT FICTION | TEENS & YOUNG ADULT ROMANCE

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Book review: the hate u give by angie thomas.

But what Starr does or does not say could upend her community. It could also endanger her life.

Genre: Young Adult (but this is a book that everyone should read), Contemporary Fiction Setting: Modern day Garden Heights and Riverton Hills (I could never figure out if these were real places, or a fictional setting within the novel. The setting feels very real.) My copy came from: I borrowed a copy from my local library.

Review: Stunning, powerful, and shines a light on an issue that needs to be discussed. The Hate U Give is a book that everyone is raving about. I don’t think I’ve seen a bad review of this book. The Hate U Give is a fairly new release, it came out in February, and it has massively high ratings on both Amazon and Goodreads. The book is told in first-person, narrated by sixteen-year-old Starr Carter, who witnesses her friend get killed by a cop. This is a timely issue, one that seems to be happening far too often.

An earsplitting scream emerges from my gut, explodes in my throat, and uses every inch of me to be heard.

I went into this book thinking that it would be a powerful read, and it most certainly was, but the book is also a wonderful story of family and love. In YA books, many times the family dynamic is either missing entirely, or the parents are portrayed as ridiculous and out-of-touch, and the children show zero respect or love for their parents and/or siblings. I can happily say that The Hate U Give has an extremely strong family core. Starr lives with her parents, Maverick and Lisa, as well as her older half-brother, Seven, and her younger brother, Sekani. Her parents are obviously in love with each other, and obviously care about their children. They want to know what is happening in their kids’ lives, they talk to their kids; they discipline and teach their kids. The kids love and respect their parents, looking up to them for guidance. The siblings love each other, but also get exasperated with each other, and I thought young Sekani’s antics were hilarious and typical of a younger brother. It was so refreshing to read what felt like a real family dynamic. In other YA books, the only other family dynamics that I’ve read that come close to what this felt like are the Weasley family from Harry Potter, and perhaps Lydia’s family from The Serpent King .

In terms of characters, I loved Starr, the main character who narrates the novel. Her voice felt real as she struggles with life in Garden Heights and her private schooling in the rich community of Riverton Hills, and dealing with the aftermath of being a witness to her friend’s killing. Other characters I loved were Big Mav, Starr’s father, who is an ex-con and runs the local grocery store, and Lisa, Starr’s mother, a nurse who drives her kids to school 45 minutes away so they can get a good education. I also loved Seven, Starr’s older brother, and Uncle Carlos, Starr’s uncle who happens to be a detective, and knows the cop who killed Starr’s friend, and so that brings another dynamic into the whole situation.

I can’t believe I let Hailey say that. Or has she always joked like that? Did I always laugh because I thought I had to? That’s the problem. We let people say stuff, and they say it so much that it becomes okay to them and normal for us. What’s the point of having a voice if you’re gonna be silent in those moments you shouldn’t be?

The only negative thing I can say about the book, and this is just personal preference, but there was a lot of swearing in the book. Like a LOT! Starr and the people around her swear quite a bit (it was super cute to have Starr’s younger brother be on the lookout for people swearing so he could get a dollar in the swear jar), but the swearing was a bit much for me.

All in all, this is a very strong and powerful book with an important message and I think everyone should read this. I learned a lot in this book, and the powerful message is one that everyone should read.

Bottom Line: Stunning and powerful with a good message and great characters. A must read.

Links to The Hate U Give on Amazon | Goodreads

Have you read the hate u give are you in love with starr’s family which character was your favorite, share this:, 21 thoughts on “ book review: the hate u give by angie thomas ”.

Great review 🙂 I agree. This is a must read for everyone!

Like Liked by 1 person

Thanks! Yeah, definitely a must read! I don’t think I’ve seen a bad review of this book.

Great review! I loved the family dynamics in this too. Close families are rare in YA and it was so refreshing to see in THUG.

Thanks! Yeah, I just loved Starr and her interactions with her family. I really enjoyed them.

It is a brilliant book and I do agree that the swearing is a bit much but seems to be more accepted in YA books these days. The story is such an important one to read, I love the fact it doesn’t shy away from a very real topic in today’s society. Great review!!! 🙂

I remember high school. All kids DO is swear. 😐

Like Liked by 2 people

The school I went to only half of them swore the other half didn’t, is that considered strange now? I’m not that old 😮

I would argue it has more to do with economic situations. My elementary and middle schools had a lot of poorer students coming in, so they swore like sailors then. In high school, it was about 50/50, but it was a nicer school that received a lot of money each year to make improvements thanks to a nearby casino.

Interesting!

Thanks! Yeah this one was a great read. Swearing I think is more accepted in YA because like Grab the Lapels says, that’s how teens talk, and teens are the primary audience for YA. Too much swearing just bugs me all around, as I get frustrated by the same words being used over and over, but I know that’s how a lot of teens talk.

It’s interesting though as some YA books, still have very little swearing in them. I wonder if it depends on what age it’s targeted at, older versus younger teen or maybe depends on the publisher?

Yeah, it might depend on the target audience and the publisher. Or maybe what the subject matter of the book is about. ? I’m really not sure how these things are decided!

I like that you point out the family dynamic. I get really tired of stories–and for me, it’s mostly ones I see in movies because I don’t tend to read YA–in which the kid is so alone and the parents are absent. But, when things get really bad, the parents magically appear and tell the kid how much he/she is loved and how the parents felt watching from afar would help the kid grow up, but the parents were always right there all along. What, like a guardian angel?? Parents aren’t magical shoulder deities!

Yep! I think the family dynamic was a big part of why I loved this book so much. I was not expecting that aspect of the book at all (and my word, that’s a harsh statement to make about YA books in general – but when I can count on one hand the YA books with close families it’s unfortunately accurate, but I don’t read as much YA as a lot of bloggers do.), and it’s funny that so many bloggers & readers mention the strong/close family in THUG, and how much we loved it, and yet I don’t see YA moving in a direction where more family dynamics are a part of the story. Which is odd, because family plays such a large role in all of our lives (in different ways). I’m tired of just seeing family being portrayed as a negative in YA. I don’t know why that is!

I think a family presence would stop a lot of the drama happening that occurs in YA. Teens can’t run around wild or live a hardened life or save the world when Mom and Dad are telling them what to do. I think Lectito actually wrote a post about all the YA books that don’t have parents. She pretty much reads all YA and Thriller books, so I trust her opinion.

Great point about the parents stopping the drama. I can see that, and see why it would be easier to have the parents be distant/nonexistent for the story. OOh I’ll have to check out her site & see if I can find that post. I can’t remember if I read it or not, and it sounds interesting.

I’ve been thinking about picking this one up but I just haven’t. And hearing there is a lot of swearing in it puts me off a bit (I don’t like it either). Definitely think it would be worth a read though. Might try to get it from the library 🙂

Yeah, it really is worth a read. The swearing felt like SO much, especially right at the beginning, but it is worth reading. The themes and characters are very memorable.

I hope the accessible style will draw in more readers to this weighty issue.

Yes. It’s such an important issue that needs to be discussed and addressed! The book has such a powerful message.

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The Hate U Give

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8 starred reviews - Goodreads Choice Awards Best of the Best - William C. Morris Award Winner - National Book Award Longlist - Printz Honor Book - Coretta Scott King Honor Book - #1 New York Times Bestseller!Absolutely riveting! –Jason ReynoldsStunning. –John GreenThis story is necessary. This story is important. –Kirkus (starred review)Heartbreakingly topical. –Publishers Weekly (starred review)A marvel of verisimilitude. –Booklist (starred review)A powerful, in-your-face novel. –Horn Book (starred review)Sixteen-year-old Starr Carter moves between two worlds: the poor neighborhood where she lives and the fancy suburban prep school she attends. The uneasy balance between these worlds is shattered when Starr witnesses the fatal shooting of her childhood best friend Khalil at the hands of a police officer. Khalil was unarmed.Soon afterward, his death is a national headline. Some are calling him a thug, maybe even a drug dealer and a gangbanger. Protesters are taking to the streets in Khalil’s name. Some cops and the local drug lord try to intimidate Starr and her family. What everyone wants to know is: what really went down that night? And the only person alive who can answer that is Starr. But what Starr does–or does not–say could upend her community. It could also endanger her life.Want more of Garden Heights? Catch Maverick and Seven’s story in Concrete Rose, Angie Thomas’s powerful prequel to The Hate U Give.

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The Hate U Give by Angie Thomas | Book Review

I received this book for free from Publisher in exchange for an honest review. This does not affect my opinion of the book or the content of my review.

Inspired by the Black Lives Matter movement, Angie Thomasâ€™s searing debut about an ordinary girl in extraordinary circumstances addresses issues of racism and police violence with intelligence, heart, and unflinching honesty. Soon to be a major motion picture from Fox 2000/Temple Hill Productions. Sixteen-year-old Starr Carter moves between two worlds: the poor neighborhood where she lives and the fancy suburban prep school she attends. The uneasy balance between these worlds is shattered when Starr witnesses the fatal shooting of her childhood best friend Khalil at the hands of a police officer. Khalil was unarmed. Soon afterward, his death is a national headline. Some are calling him a thug, maybe even a drug dealer and a gangbanger. Protesters are taking to the streets in Khalilâ€™s name. Some cops and the local drug lord try to intimidate Starr and her family. What everyone wants to know is: what really went down that night? And the only person alive who can answer that is Starr. But what Starr doesâ€”or does notâ€”say could upend her community. It could also endanger her life.

The Hate U Give by Angie Thomas seems like it is set to become one of the most talked about young adult books of the year. Certainly, it deserves shelf space alongsideÂ All American Boys . Thomas’s debut also takes on the hotly debated topic of police brutality and Black Lives Matter, although, the outcome is quite different fromÂ All American Boys . I personally found The Hate U Give Â to be captivating, even as it challenged some of my notions.

The Hate U Give is about a 16 year old Black girl named Starr who lives in Garden City but goes to a much more affluent private school. In fact, Starr is one of the only Black teenagers at her private school. The book opens up with Starr attending a party with one of her friends, at home, and then catching a ride home with her friend Khalil. Unfortunately, Khalil is pulled over by the police on the way home. Khalil is asked to get out of the car and is searched, while also mouthing off to the police officer. When the officer goes to the police vehicle to run Khalil’s information, instead of staying in place, Khalil goes to check to see that Starr is okay. The officer then kills Khalil.

Starr is the only witness to what has happened. She must decide whether to go public with this information, but also is experiencing the trauma of witnessing her friend dying. Â So, when I say thatÂ The Hate U Give challenged my ideas and notions, I am being very serious. So, many of you know that my husband is a police officer. I spend a lot of time with law enforcement and military. My facebook feed has many thin blue line and blue lives matter supporters on it. Personally, I fall more strongly under the Black Lives Matter support.

However, as liberal as I think I am, I had to check my notions and privilege quite a few times while reading this book. I mean, as I first read about Khalil getting shot, I was all he should have been respectful toward the officer. He shouldn’t have moved. But even then, is that a reason to be murdered? Absolutely not. I mean, again, I have seen that video they show in LEO training where I get why officers get nervous about people moving and not complying . Yet still, Khalil was not even given a chance like the guy in the video was – over and over again.

I thought thatÂ The Hate U Give did an excellent job portraying Starr’s trauma and her reactions to it. She has not only witnessed the death of her friend Khalil, but the drive by shootings of one of her friends when she was a kid. Now, Starr’s family is facing threats to their safety from a local gang member who doesn’t care for Starr’s dad, who used to be in the gang but is now out. There’s a whole lot of stress that Starr is under. This is to notÂ even mention how Starr navigatesÂ between two worlds – that of her White school where she does not want to come off as a sort of stereotypical Black person and that of her Black neighborhood, where she does not want to be seen as acting too white. There does not seem to be a place where Starr really fits.

Speaking of where Starr fits, what I enjoyed aboutÂ The Hate U Give was the growing pains of the different friendships Starr has. She’s best friends with two girls at her school – Hailey and this other girl whose name I am blanking out on. She’s also good friends with this girl at home in Garden City, Kenya, who shares a brother with Starr. Starr’s brother Seven has the same father as Starr but the same mother as Kenya. Anyways, I liked seeing Starr stand up to her privileged white friend Hailey, who says some pretty casually racist things to Starr. Also, I liked that Starr resolves some issues with Kenya, as you’ll see when reading this book.

The Hate U Give also has romance. YAY! So, Starr is dating this white guy named Chris who goes to her school. The two have bonded over a mutual love of The Fresh Prince Of Bel Air and sneakers. Starr’s parents, however, do not know about Chris, because of his race. Neither do her friends at Garden City. We see that there’s definitely cultural differences between the two – Chris is very privileged and very well off. However, despite the mistakes he makes, he is genuinely contrite and wants to treat Starr very well. I thought this aspect of the story added some levity and was quite sweet.

The Hate U Give by Angie Thomas is absolutely not a book to be missed. It’s a brilliant story about one of the most prevalent and often misunderstood social movements to date. Starr is such a well rounded, realistic character. She’s complex and goes through some pretty deep emotions and experiences. So much about this book is excellent. Including the setting, the discussions of race, the characterization, and even the moments that may feel uncomfortable. Believe you me, this book will challenge you. You will come out the other side better for having read it. I highly, highly recommend this book.

Other reviews of The Hate U Give by Angie Thomas:

The Book Smugglers – “ There are multitudes within the pages “
Reads To Live – “ the best contemporary novel I have ever read “
Bookshelves And Paperbacks – “ an extremely important novel “

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8 starred reviews · Goodreads Choice Awards Best of the Best · William C. Morris Award Winner · National Book Award Longlist · Printz Honor Book · Coretta Scott King Honor Book · #1 New York Times Bestseller!

"Absolutely riveting!" —Jason Reynolds

"Stunning." —John Green

"This story is necessary. This story is important." — Kirkus (starred review)

"Heartbreakingly topical." — Publishers Weekly (starred review)

"A marvel of verisimilitude." — Booklist (starred review)

"A powerful, in-your-face novel." — Horn Book (starred review)

But what Starr does—or does not—say could upend her community. It could also endanger her life.

Want more of Garden Heights? Catch Maverick and Seven’s story in Concrete Rose , Angie Thomas's powerful prequel to The Hate U Give.

Kindle $9.90
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The YA love letter to hip-hop—streaming on Paramount+ September 23, 2022! Starring Sanaa Lathan (in her directorial debut), Jamila C. Gray, Da’Vine Joy Randolph, Lil Yachty, Method Man, Mike Epps, GaTa (Davionte Ganter), Miles Gutierrez-Riley, Titus Makin Jr., and Michael Anthony Cooper Jr.

#1 New York Times bestseller · Seven starred reviews · Boston Globe-Horn Book Award Honor Book

This digital edition contains a letter from the author, deleted scenes, a picture of the author as a teen rapper, an annotated playlist, Angie’s top 5 MCs, an annotated rap, illustrated quotes from the book, and an excerpt from Concrete Rose, Angie's return to Garden Heights.

Sixteen-year-old Bri wants to be one of the greatest rappers of all time. Or at least win her first battle. As the daughter of an underground hip hop legend who died right before he hit big, Bri’s got massive shoes to fill. But it’s hard to get your come up when you’re labeled a hoodlum at school, and your fridge at home is empty after your mom loses her job. So Bri pours her anger and frustration into her first song, which goes viral . . . for all the wrong reasons.

Bri soon finds herself at the center of a controversy, portrayed by the media as more menace than MC. But with an eviction notice staring her family down, Bri doesn’t just want to make it—she has to. Even if it means becoming the very thing the public has made her out to be.

Insightful, unflinching, and full of heart, On the Come Up is an ode to hip hop from one of the most influential literary voices of a generation. It is the story of fighting for your dreams, even as the odds are stacked against you; and about how, especially for young black people, freedom of speech isn’t always free.

“For all the struggle in this book, Thomas rarely misses a step as a writer. Thomas continues to hold up that mirror with grace and confidence. We are lucky to have her, and lucky to know a girl like Bri.”— The New York Times Book Review

Plus don't miss Concrete Rose , Angie Thomas's powerful prequel to her phenomenal bestseller, The Hate U Give !

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Angie Thomas was born, raised, and still resides in Jackson, Mississippi as indicated by her accent. She is a former teen rapper whose greatest accomplishment was an article about her in Right-On Magazine with a picture included. She holds a BFA in Creative Writing from Belhaven University and an unofficial degree in Hip Hop. She can also still rap if needed. She is an inaugural winner of the Walter Dean Myers Grant 2015, awarded by We Need Diverse Books. Her debut novel, The Hate U Give, was acquired by Balzer + Bray/HarperCollins in a 13-house auction. Film rights have been optioned by Fox 2000 with George Tillman attached to direct and Hunger Games actress Amandla Stenberg set to star.

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The Hate U Give by Angie Thomas

8 starred reviews ? Goodreads Choice Awards Best of the Best ? William C. Morris Award Winner ? National Book Award Longlist ? Printz Honor Book ? Coretta Scott King Honor Book ? #1 New York Times Bestseller!

"Absolutely riveting!" —Jason Reynolds

"Stunning." —John Green

"This story ...

Introduction

"This story is necessary. This story is important." — Kirkus (starred review)

"Heartbreakingly topical." — Publishers Weekly (starred review)

"A marvel of verisimilitude." — Booklist (starred review)

"A powerful, in-your-face novel." — Horn Book (starred review)

But what Starr does—or does not—say could upend her community. It could also endanger her life.

And don't miss On the Come Up , Angie Thomas's powerful follow-up to The Hate U Give.

Editorial Review

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Recommended to book clubs by 9 of 10 members.

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Absolutely riveting! --Jason Reynolds

Stunning. --John Green

This story is necessary. This story is important. -- Kirkus (starred review)

Heartbreakingly topical. -- Publishers Weekly (starred review)

A marvel of verisimilitude. -- Booklist (starred review)

A powerful, in-your-face novel. -- Horn Book (starred review)

Soon afterward, his death is a national headline. Some are calling him a thug, maybe even a drug dealer and a gangbanger. Protesters are taking to the streets in Khalil's name. Some cops and the local drug lord try to intimidate Starr and her family. What everyone wants to know is: what really went down that night? And the only person alive who can answer that is Starr.

But what Starr does--or does not--say could upend her community. It could also endanger her life.

Want more of Garden Heights? Catch Maverick and Seven's story in Concrete Rose , Angie Thomas's powerful prequel to The Hate U Give.

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The Hate U Give (The Hate U Give, #1) by Angie Thomas
The uneasy balance between these worlds is shattered when Starr witnesses the fatal shooting of her childhood best friend Khalil at the hands of a police officer. Khalil was unarmed.Soon afterward, his death is a national headline. Some are calling him a thug, maybe even a drug dealer and a gangbanger.
The Hate U Give Series by Angie Thomas
Book 1. The Hate U Give. by Angie Thomas. 4.47 · 929,833 Ratings · 76,776 Reviews · published 2017 · 176 editions. An alternate cover edition of ISBN 9780062498533 c…. Want to Read. Rate it:
Review: The Hate U Give by Angie Thomas
The Hate U Give Review I'm not sure that this book needs much of an introduction. With an incredible rating of 4.58 on Goodreads (the highest I've ever seen) and a Goodreads Choice 2017 Award among other amazing accolades, Angie Thomas's The Hate U Give is already taking the world by storm and it's easy to see why.
The Hate U Give book review: Angie Thomas's debut stuns
The Hate U Give is a didactic issues novel for teenagers. It is also a good book. Those two categories intersect only rarely, but The Hate U Give — a debut novel by Angie Thomas — manages the ...
The Hate U Give Book Review
May 5, 2022. age 16+. The Hate You Give by Angie Thomas is a look into what a lot of black communities go through in the United States. The speaker is a girl named Starr Carter who is sixteen and lives in a neighborhood called Garden Heights. Her friend, Khalil, has an altercation with the cops and ends up being shot.
The Hate U Give Review: An Engaging and Strong Plotline
The Hate U Give Review 'The Hate U Give' is a book that you're going to love. From its opening lines to the struggles Starr Carter had in the book, a reader is met with constant twists and turns. The issue of police brutality and racism is widely addressed. Other contemporary issues like racial profiles were widely discussed in the book.
Book Review: The Hate U Give by Angie Thomas
Book Review of The Hate U Give "The Hate U Give" is a gut-punch of a novel, pulling no punches in its depiction of police violence and the fight for justice. ... Goodreads Rating: 4.49/5. Lauded for its emotional depth and stunning realism. About the Author: Angie Thomas.
The Hate U Give
Summary. Sixteen-year-old Starr Carter moves between two worlds: the poor neighborhood where she lives and the fancy suburban prep school she attends. The uneasy balance between these worlds is shattered when Starr witnesses the fatal shooting of her childhood best friend Khalil at the hands of a police officer. Khalil was unarmed.
Review: "The Hate U Give" by Angie Thomas
Although "The Hate U Give" is supposed to be a fictional account of events, it rings too true for the world. When I finished this book I tried to think about when I first heard about such police brutality in the U.S. or even in my home country, Australia. The problem was, I couldn't remember a definitive moment where a name or even stuck out.
A review of The Hate U Give by Angie Thomas
Reviewed by Emily McDonnell. The Hate U Give by Angie Thomas Balzer + Bray Hardcover, 464 pls, February 2017, ISBN-13: 978-0062498533. Encaptivated is the best word to describe my experience reading Angie Thomas' The Hate U Give.The plot was rich with brilliant character moments, heart-breaking scenes and incredible narration.. Justice, inequality and hope are all conveyed flawlessly in The ...
Book Review: "The Hate U Give" by Angie Thomas
The Hate U Give is set to become a modern classic, a stunning contemporary read that captures with unflinching insight the current climate for growing up young and black in America, from the creative voice of an author who has lived and breathed what she writes.The most highly anticipated book of 2017, the debut YA novel from author Angie Thomas, The Hate U Give is a heartbreakingly gripping ...
The Hate U Give
The Hate U Give is a 2017 young adult novel by Angie Thomas.It is Thomas's debut novel, expanded from a short story she wrote in college in reaction to the police shooting of Oscar Grant.The book is narrated by Starr Carter, a 16-year-old African-American girl from a poor neighborhood who attends an elite private school in a predominantly white, affluent part of the city.
The Hate U Give by Angie Thomas
THOMAS, Angie. The Hate U Give. 464p. HarperCollins/Balzer + Bray. Feb. 2017. Tr $17.99. ISBN 9780062498533. Gr 8 Up -After Starr and her childhood friend Khalil, both black, leave a party together, they are pulled over by a white police officer, who kills Khalil. The sole witness to the homicide, Starr must testify before a grand jury that will decide whether to indict the cop, and she's ...
Review: The Hate U Give by Angie Thomas
The Hate U GiveAngie ThomasBalzer + BrayPublished on February 28, 2017 Amazon | Barnes & Noble | Goodreads About The Hate U Give Sixteen-year-old Starr Carter moves between two worlds: the poor neighborhood where she lives and the fancy suburban prep school she attends. The uneasy balance between these worlds is shattered when Starr witnesses the fatal shooting of her childhood best friend ...
Book Review: "The Hate U Give" by Angie Thomas
The Hate U Give follows the flawed character Starr, a 16-year-old black girl dealing with real black girl problems. Not only does she live in an inner-city American neighbourhood that is both poor ...
THE HATE U GIVE
Kirkus Prize. finalist. New York Times Bestseller. IndieBound Bestseller. Sixteen-year-old Starr Carter is a black girl and an expert at navigating the two worlds she exists in: one at Garden Heights, her black neighborhood, and the other at Williamson Prep, her suburban, mostly white high school. Walking the line between the two becomes ...
The Hate U Give : A Printz Honor Winner
8 starred reviews · Goodreads Choice Awards Best of the Best · William C. Morris Award Winner · National Book Award Longlist · Printz Honor Book · Coretta Scott King Honor Book · #1 New York Times Bestseller!"Absolutely riveting!" —Jason Reynolds"Stunning." —John Green"This story is necessary. This story is important." —Kirkus (starred review)"Heartbreakingly topical."
Book Review: The Hate U Give by Angie Thomas
Review: Stunning, powerful, and shines a light on an issue that needs to be discussed.The Hate U Give is a book that everyone is raving about. I don't think I've seen a bad review of this book. The Hate U Give is a fairly new release, it came out in February, and it has massively high ratings on both Amazon and Goodreads. The book is told in first-person, narrated by sixteen-year-old Starr ...
The Hate U Give by Angie Thomas (The Hate U Give, #1)
8 starred reviews - Goodreads Choice Awards Best of the Best - William C. Morris Award Winner - National Book Award Longlist - Printz Honor Book - Coretta Scott King Honor Book - #1 New York Times Bestseller!Absolutely riveting! ... Catch Maverick and Seven's story in Concrete Rose, Angie Thomas's powerful prequel to The Hate U Give. More ...
The Hate U Give by Angie Thomas
This does not affect my opinion of the book or the content of my review. The Hate U Give by Angie Thomas Published by HarperCollins on February 28th 2017 Genres: Young Adult Fiction, People & Places, United States, African American, Social Themes, Prejudice & Racism, Emotions & Feelings Pages: 464 Format: eARC Source: Publisher Buy on Amazon ...
The Hate U Give (2 book series) Kindle Edition
8 starred reviews · Goodreads Choice Awards Best of the Best ... She is an inaugural winner of the Walter Dean Myers Grant 2015, awarded by We Need Diverse Books. Her debut novel, The Hate U Give, was acquired by Balzer + Bray/HarperCollins in a 13-house auction. Film rights have been optioned by Fox 2000 with George Tillman attached to direct ...
The Hate U Give by Angie Thomas Reading Guide-Book Club Discussion
—Horn Book (starred review) Sixteen-year-old Starr Carter moves between two worlds: the poor neighborhood where she lives and the fancy suburban prep school she attends. The uneasy balance between these worlds is shattered when Starr witnesses the fatal shooting of her childhood best friend Khalil at the hands of a police officer.
The Hate U Give
8 starred reviews - Goodreads Choice Awards Best of the Best - William C. Morris Award Winner - National Book Award Longlist - Printz Honor Book - Coretta Scott King Honor Book - #1 New York Times Bestseller! Absolutely riveting! ... Angie Thomas's powerful prequel to The Hate U Give. FREE SHIPPING ON ORDERS OF $80 OR MORE | JOIN OUR NEWSLETTER ...

Review: The Hate U Give by Angie Thomas

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