The Hate U Give

The Hate U Give - Angie Thomas

Synopsis (from Goodreads)
"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."

Review

I loved this book for two reasons: 1) I think this is a very important discussion that we need to be having right now, especially in America. 2) It was a genuinely really good, well-written story. I find it rare to get both in one book.

The Hate U Give refers to Tupac's definition of "Thug Life", which is: "The Hate U Give Little Infants F***s Everyone". This is a recurring and central theme throughout the book; the hate you give out and teach people will eventually mess everyone up.

This book was inspired by the Black Lives Matter movement. And I don't care what your thoughts are on that movement, I think you should read this book. I think seeing the world from a completely different viewpoint is what truly brings about understanding and compassion

While I was taught as a child that police were there to protect us, in Starr's world the opposite is true. She's taught to be very careful around cops so that they won't shoot her. And as she sees, on a few separate occasions, even when you're innocent and compliant, you'll still be harassed and even killed. It's such a wildly different reality to my own and it's real for millions of people. I wish that's something more people would understand. It's not about whose version is right, it's about validating difference experiences in life.

Khalil is portrayed by the media as a gangbanging, drug dealing thug,  even though the truth is he was so much more. Also, it calls out the flaw in that narrative. So what if he was a drug-dealer. How many rich white kids deal drugs? Does that mean he deserves to be murdered? And then for his murderer to be let off with no punishment? There is a bias and a stereotype at play here in American society and Angie Thomas' story shines a bright spotlight on it.

As I said, it's an important issue that needs to be addressed and I think this book does a wonderful job at showing this side of it, without being "preachy".

And the other reason: It's just a damn good story. Angie Thomas' writing is great. She moves the plot along well, there are genuine heart-warming and funny moments. Starr is a real, believable character with flaws and growth. I loved her relationship with her family and how she figures out her place with her friends. 

Racism exists on many levels, and here we see the struggles that exist for people fighting a system. Racism, at it's core, is discriminating against someone based on their skin color or ethnicity. We see that vividly when a white officer assumes a black kid is a thug and has a gun and shoots him based on that incorrect bias. I'm glad Starr also works through some of her bias in this book, and I'm especially glad that this book challenges and helps break down the bias going the other way. I'm glad this book points out that, even if you don't see life one way, someone else does, and it's about validation.

All in all, a thrilling, challenging, heart-warming book that I would highly, HIGHLY, recommend!

Rating

I give this book 4.5 stars.

Details

Genre: YA, Contemporary.

Language: Strong language occasionally.

Sex: References to sex and making out, but no sex scenes.

Violence: People getting shot and harassed and beaten.