The Hate U Give (The Hate U Give, #1)

by Angie Thomas

A powerful and brave YA novel about what prejudice looks like in the 21st century.

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. Movie rights have been sold to Fox, with Amandla Stenberg (The Hunger Games) to star.

• ISBN10: 1406377287
• ISBN13: 9781406377286
• Publish Date: 2 March 2017 (first published 28 February 2017)
• Publish Status: Active
• Out of Print: 2 August 2021
• Publish Country: GB
• Imprint: Walker Books Ltd
• Format: Paperback
• Pages: 448
• Language: English

Reviews

[RoXXie]

The Hate U Give ♦ Angie Thomas | Review

Because [b:The Hate You Give|53522062|The Hate You Give|Angie Thomas|https://i.gr-assets.com/images/S/compressed.photo.goodreads.com/books/1613832668l/53522062._SY75_.jpg|49638190] is the most impactful book I’ve read in a very long time, it was kind of a challenge to get the right words for this review. As you read this review about this book, which is pertinent and instructive, sadly similar events pictured by this book are happening day in and out all over the world.



The Hate U Give ♦ Angie Thomas

Opinion

At the beginning of this review I have to say, as a German reader I had my difficulties with the dialogs (slang) at first and I always wanted to correct the characters with their grammar. But because I did want to have the original experience of the story, I had to adapt. After a couple of pages in, the flow of reading caught in. I can’t tell how the slang was translated in the German version, or if there was any at all.

This book was influenced by the #BlackLivesMatter movement, which gained traction after sixteen-year-old Starr saw her best friend, a black kid who was unarmed, slain by a police officer. Because there is hardly to never any justice for these senseless tragedies, Starr is afraid to speak out and struggles with what to do all the time.

Being uncomfortable is essential for change, and That Hate U Give will make many people feel that way because it is true and honest. And a lot of people’s lives are going to be changed by this book. I sincerely hope that everyone who reads this would begin to educate themselves about the issues facing the world today and stop ignoring them. The Hate U Give is a work of genius that will be a frequent source of inspiration for years to come. Books are the most effective and impactful tool we have.

The fact that the cops won’t automatically perceive me as a threat merely because of the color of my skin also makes me feel privileged. And as a white person, privileged I am. I know I won’t ever have to consider the potential that a routine traffic stop could become more hazardous just because a police officer becomes tense. I used to take that for granted without being aware of it. But after reading The Hate U Give, I won’t be able to keep doing so.

Bottom Line

⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐

One of the most significant movements taking place nowadays was examined in The Hate U Give, which then presented it to the world’s youth and also older generations as myself, as a story. That present ended up being one of the most popular books in recent memory. The movie adaption is as powerful as this book is. I recommend reading and watching both.


This review was first published at The Art of Reading

[maggiefan]

I consider this book very important. But I just don't like how it's written at all.

[Kelsey D]

Everyone should read this. I would recommend it with your teens as well, but have it as a discussion with them.

[Pigpen.Reads]

Wow, wow, wow! Why did it take me so long to read this powerful story?!
This took me places and had me feelings things on many levels.
Brilliant!

[thepunktheory]

Full book vs. movie review on my blog coming soon!

Let's see, where do we begin?
I started with the book, so you'll get my thoughts on that first.
Only two chapters in, I was already crying. This book may not be perfect but it certainly is touching. From the very get-go, you are sucked in and feel deeply for the characters. That's because we kick things off not with a fizzle but with a bang that hits you right in the feels. When Khalil is murdered I got not only sad but also so extremely angry at the whole world.
The exploration of the aftermath is done rather well and Starr is relatable. While I did enjoy her development, I felt like some parts of the story were over the top. For example, despite being written nicely, it felt too in your face how Angie Thomas dealt with the other kid Starr's parents help out (trying to dance around spoilers here). Thomas was trying a bit too hard to underline what good people they are and how amazing the community can be. The story would have worked just as well without that.
Generally speaking, some parts just were too set up. Starr's dad's past. Starr's uncle's job. I'm not sure how to better explain this, but if you read the book you'll probably know what I mean.
After the book really affected me, I was a little wary to see the film. Surely, the adaptation can't hold up to that? Well, the movie did make me cry as well. However, as a whole, I felt a bit less of an impact. Certain side plots were left out, some things were simplified and I think it really took away from the strength of the story. Even the story was set up a bit too neatly in the book, it hits you hard. The film is well done but doesn't reach the same intensity.
What I would like to praise is the cast. I was rather surprised to see Anthony Mackie in this, but he did a marvelous job. Just like everybody else and especially Amandla Stenberg. She gives a strong performance and steals the show. The only one I didn't love, however, was KJ Apa as her boyfriend. First of all, it was SO weird to see him with dark instead of red hair after watching Riverdale. Furthermore, I didn't love his character to begin with but they took out some of the depth he had in the novel and that certainly doesn't help.

[kiracanread]

The Hate U Give is so prevalent in today's society, and has been since the release a few years ago now. This book is heartwarming and heartbreaking in very different ways. The treatment of black lives is harrowing in this book, and in the world today - although the communities joining together to combat the treatment of people of colour and police brutality against black people to make a difference is incredibly moving and we should all be working together for progress. Silence is violence.

[Melanie]

My review and an extended sample of the audiobook are posted at Hotlistens.com.

#4 Thomas’ debut novel, written as a reaction to the police shooting of Oscar Grant, includes drug use, profanity and sexual references, which are reasons it was challenged. It was also deemed “anti-cop,” according to the ALA.

So, I decided that I wanted to read a book for Banned Books Week, so I started looking through the list of the Top 11 Challenged Books of 2018 and this was on the list (at number 4, to be exact). Books are banned for a great many reasons. The Hate U Give is challenged because “banned and challenged because it was deemed ‘anti-cop,’ and for profanity, drug use, and sexual references”. While I disagree that this story is anti-police, I think it does portray the issues facing black communities and the police charged with protecting in those areas. Yes, there is also profanity and drug references and some sexual references. You could also “fault” it for gang violence. But I think all of these things make the story very real and relatable to teens today. I don’t think this book encourages any of the “negative” things that make it challenged. I feel it would help teens deal with these types of issues.

The Hate U Give follows the story of Star Carter. A teenage black girl who lives with one foot in the black community of Garden Heights and the mostly white prep school she goes to. When she goes to a party in Garden Heights, there is gun fire and she flees with an old, but estranged friend, a young black boy named Khalil. They are later pulled over by the cops, you can imagine where things go from there.

I really enjoyed this story, along with Star, her family and most of her friends. The Carters are a typical American family in that the parents want their kids’ lives to be better than their own. They are willing to do what they have to do to help make that happen, though her mother and father have different ideas on how to accomplish that better life.

I enjoyed watching the town come together when tragedy hits in more ways than one. It showed that even a town known for violence, the town is more than just the violence in it. There are people who are really trying to bring the community up and make it a safe place for people to live and work.

I liked seeing how Star struggled with the decision to come forward and speak about what happened to her and Khalil. Not just to talk to the police, but the grand jury and later publicly. Think about the strength needed for a sixteen year old girl to do this. I’m not sure I could and I’m forty-two.

I think the biggest takeaway for me (which I kinda knew, but this shined new light on it) was how the media portrayed Khalil. They focused all of their energy on every mistake the boy had made in his life. Sure, there were things that weren’t good, but nothing that should’ve cost him his life. I loved how Star talks about Kalil, the boy that she grew up with and tried to change the message that he wasn’t a thug.

I’m sure that I’m reading this book from a different perspective than people who can more closely relate to this story in their own lives, but I also think that this book should be read by people of all ages, races and backgrounds. It really makes you think about things, from another person’s perspective.

I think that this is a book that everyone should read. It is 100% worth the hype that it’s gotten. I’m not a huge reader of YA, and especially not contemporary YA (most YA, when I do read it, is speculative fiction). This book doesn’t read like a YA. Yeah, there’s some teenage angst, but that isn’t the driver of the story like some other YAs that I’ve read. I think you can be of any age and really connect with this story.

Narration
It is no secret that I’m a huge Bahni Turpin fan. I’ve been listening to her narration for a long time now. She is a narrator that, any time I see her name, I stop to see if the book sounds like something I’m interested in, because I just love her narration so much. She’s no different here. She really brings out the passion in the people of this story. You can really feel their pain, hatred, love and more. If you’ve never listened to her before, I highly recommend her work.

[moraa]

It was okay. Didn't live up to the hype for me. Full review will be up soon.

[Empress of Sass]

This is such an important story and I’m very glad I read it. I’m happy to see it being taught in more and more schools - it’s a book everyone would benefit from reading and thinking about.

[ibeforem]

This book is everything it promises. It's touching and horrifying and hopeful and devastating and has important things to say, even to a middle-aged white woman like myself. Or maybe especially to a middle-aged white woman like myself. The characters feel real without being stereotypical. The situation is one that could unfold tomorrow, almost anywhere in the country. If you've been avoiding this book because you might think it's too political, or because it's for young adults, don't. Pick it up tomorrow.