#14: The Hate U Give
What's the point of having a voice if you're gonna be silent in those moments you shouldn't be?
The Hate U Give
Angie Thomas
Year Published: 2017
Pages: 444
Genres: YA fiction, contemporary realistic fiction
Topics: Police brutality, race, social justice, code switching, high school
Recognition
Summary
Sixteen-year-old Starr Carter has known Khalil since she was three years old. They grew up together. He was her first crush, her first kiss. But despite living in the same neighborhood, they ended up at different high schools: Khalil at the predominantly Black local public school, Starr at a tony prep school in a wealthy white neighborhood. After they reconnect at a party, the unthinkable happens: Khalil is shot and killed by a police officer during a traffic stop as Starr watches from the car in horror.
Badly traumatized, Starr tries to keep her involvement in the incident quiet at first. But as Khalil's death starts to gain national attention, that becomes increasingly hard to do. White kids at her school use protests as just an excuse to skip class. A feared gang leader in her neighborhood tried to claim Khalil was one of his own. And the father of the officer who shot Khalil gives a televised interview, distorting the facts and making the victim out to be a thug.
Enraged at the narrative emerging around her friend and his murder, Starr begins speaking out more and more—to the police, to an activist group, on social media, even giving a TV interview of her own. But as the case's profile grows, the consequences for Starr, her family, and her community become more serious as everyone awaits the grand jury's decision on the police officer's fate.
The Hate U Give and Me
I feel like the only person left who hadn't read this book. In less than a decade, it's already become a cultural touchstone in conversations on police brutality and a classic of YA literature, inspiring a movie and being frequently challenged in schools and libraries. I wanted to take this opportunity to finally read it and see what all the fuss was about.
I'm often skeptical of books that are marketed as "important" (a word that is prominently displayed on the paperback cover of The Hate U Give). I'd rather make that judgment for myself, and I dislike having publishers try to make a moral argument to me for why I should buy their book. But I really did love The Hate U Give. Not only is it very powerful, but Thomas is thoughtful and nuanced in her approach to the topic of police violence in the Black community. Although some passages felt a little didactic, the strength of the characterization and voice easily overshadowed it. Starr is one of the most engaging narrators I've ever encountered in YA literature, and despite its very serious subject matter, the book is often very funny.
My favorite character in the novel is Starr's father Maverick, a former gang member who goes straight after his kids are born and works to become a pillar of his community. I was thrilled to learn that Thomas wrote a prequel to The Hate U Give, Concrete Rose, that tells Maverick's story, and I plan on reading that very soon.
Teaching Considerations
Young Adult: Although the themes of The Hate U Give are important for people of all ages to examine, the age of the characters and the maturity of the text definitely make it a mid- to older young adult novel, probably ideal for 10th-12th grades (15-18 years old).
Sensitive Content: The Hate U Give explores some very difficult topics, particularly police brutality, systemic racism, and gang and domestic violence. Khalil's death is graphically described, and there are numerous other examples of gun violence. Domestic abuse is also frequently discussed, and Starr experiences both subtle and overt racism from some of her white peers. The novel contains a good deal of teen profanity, and there are a couple discussions of sex, including one somewhat explicit make-out scene.
Whole Class, Small Group or Independent Read: Because of its mature themes and history of formal challenges, it might be a little difficult to assign The Hate U Give as a whole class read, depending on your school's situation. But whole classes absolutely deserve to read and discuss this book, its themes, and its implications for their understanding of the world around them. Of course, it would also be an excellent choice for book clubs or independent reading.
To Kill a Mockingbird Pairing: I kept thinking of To Kill a Mockingbird as I was reading The Hate U Give. Both concern a Black man suffering an injustice at the hands of white society, both are narrated by girls, both feature strong patriarch figures trying to raise and protect daughters. But The Hate U Give is much more contemporary and, most importantly, centers the Black experience and is told by a Black narrator written by a Black author. Because To Kill a Mockingbird is still such a canonical text in high schools, I think pairing it with The Hate U Give would offer students a much fuller and more nuanced picture of race relations in America.
Read-Aloud Passages
- When I was twelve, my parents had two talks with me. … I put my hands up. (pp. 20-24)
- Khalil is shot during a traffic stop as Starr watches. The central passage of the book, an episode that Starr replays over and over in her mind. It's incredibly powerful and tightly written and should instantly hook anyone interested in this topic.
- My brothers come home with a message ... My neighborhood is a war zone. (pp. 136-139)
- The first riots break out as the news about Khalil's death spreads, and Starr and her family hunker down to avoid the violence. This is a strong passage showing the growing repercussions of Khalil's murder. It's tense, and it illustrates some of the potential complicated effects of righteous anger.
- A familiar whoop-whoop sound alarms us. ... I go in the store. (pp. 191-195)
- Starr's father Maverick is forced face-down in the street by police, which Starr suspects is in retaliation for her speaking out about Khalil's murder. I found this one of the most unsettling passages in the novel, as Maverick tries to reassure his frightened children while a police officer kneels on his back. Definitely a powerful read.
Liked The Hate U Give? Try These:
- Concrete Rose by Angie Thomas (2021)
- Dear Martin by Nic Stone (2017)
- I Rise by Marie Arnold (2022)
- We Deserve Monuments by Jas Hammonds (2022)
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