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From Library Staff
From Library Staff
2018 Coretta Scott King Author Honor Book; 2018 Printz Honor Book; 2018 William C. Morris Award winner
After witnessing her friend's death at the hands of a police officer, Starr Carter's life is complicated when the police and a local drug lord try to intimidate her in an effort to learn what happened the night Kahlil died.
Middle-High School
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blue_dog_25051 thinks this title is suitable for between the ages of 10 and 18
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Add a SummaryStarr Carter is a girl with a foot in two worlds. By day, she attends Williamson, a suburban prep school where she is one of only two black students in her year. In the evening, she goes home to Garden Heights, the city’s poor, black neighbourhood, where she has lived all her life. She is one person at home and another person at school, because she can’t be too “bougie” in the neighbourhood, or too “ghetto” at school. But the wall she has carefully built between her two selves begins to crumble when she is the only witness to a police officer shooting and killing her childhood friend, Khalil. The killing gains national headlines as protestors take to the streets to protest the murder of yet another unarmed black boy. In the day’s following Khalil’s death, Starr faces a choice between remaining silent, and speaking up. But even if she can find her voice, will it be enough to get justice for Khalil?
SPL_Brittany
Apr 09, 2017
"Sometimes you can do everything right and things will still go wrong. The key is to never stop doing right."
Sixteen year old Starr moves between two worlds: the poor neighbourhood where she lives and the affluent high school she attends. The uneasy balance is shattered when she becomes a witness to the fatal shooting of her childhood best friend Khalil, at the hands of a police officer. Khalil was black, unarmed, and doing nothing wrong.
Soon afterwards, the media gains interest, and Khalil’s death becomes a national headline. Some are calling him a thug, a gangbanger even a drug dealer. While the police don’t seem interested in finding out what really happened, rioting begins and protesters take to the streets in Khalil’s name, as his death ignites long held tensions between the black community and their treatment by the police.
Throughout, Starr struggles with her identity as her two worlds collide. Her fear is palpable as she confronts system that she knows is working against her. She’s afraid to speak out yet worries that if she does not Khalil’s murderer could escape justice. Will she find her voice for Khalil?
Angie Thomas writes a beautiful, timely and emotionally charged novel about a teenage girl dealing with very real and complex relationships. Thomas confronts issues of race and class sending an incredibly powerful message to readers as well as those wanting to understand the blacklivesmatter movement. Her writing style and characters will engage you from page one, and will have readers falling in love with the entire Carter family. An engrossing and refreshing read, it is hard to believe that this is Thomas’s first novel, already the rights have been given for this to be made into a feature film.
Quotes
Add a QuoteIt seems like they always talk about what he may have said, what he may have done, what he may not have done. I didn’t know a dead person could be charged in his own murder, you know?
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Add a CommentSuch a great book for teens and adults. A real look into so many social injustices and stereotypes that our society is faced with.
This book is raw and real. I am impressed with the reality the author portrays as I was able to apply knowledge from my study in poverty to the book. Easy read, captivating.
Honest, heartfelt, and relevant, this book should be on everyone's must-read list.
I really enjoyed this book. I also think that it's a really important book as it tells a story that is increasingly common in our world, and it personalizes it. While Starr and Khalil are, of course, fictional characters, I found that reading their story brought this issue closer to home that reading news stories - simply because the characters in a well written book become like friends.
I felt that this book did an excellent job of exploring some very complex issues of race, poverty and identity. Furthermore, it was actually a very enjoyable read. It took me a few pages to get used to a different style of speaking than I'm used to, but that vernacular really helped Starr feel real. I'm not a huge fan of first person writing but, in this case, it worked extremely well.
Highly recommend.
I hadn't read anything quite like this book before, so it interested me. Also, considering the great reviews it was getting, and the popularity, I decided to give it a try. 'The Hate U Give' was a bit tricky for me to get into, mostly because of the fact that I had a hard time relating to many of the characters. Also, the book is written with language and slang that I am not familiar with. I kept reading though, and am so glad I did. Once I was more familiar with the book, probably about a third of the way through, I started to find it hard to put down. I really understood Starr and the other characters. The lasts two thirds of the book were amazing and I am so glad I kept reading. I learnt so much from 'The Hate u Give'. This book really sheds light on topics that need to be talked about. This book leaves you thinking. Definitely a bit hard to get into, but don't stop reading otherwise you'll regret it. Pick up this book to walk in the shoes of characters that will take you many places. You'll see many things and feel many emotions. A must read.
yes, i loved it. i've been picking a favorite fiction (and non-fiction book) each year. feel sure this will be my favorite in the fiction (but very real-to-life) category in 2018. I read it in 2.5 days, didn't want to put it down and its neat to see 11 people are waiting for it as i get ready to bring it back to the library.
also, i'm surprised that its from the "teen" section. it was recommended to me by a friend in California who is about my age (70s). i'm glad i didn't notice the "teen" part, otherwise i might not have read it. its for everyone!!
I read this for the "A New York Times Bestseller For More Than 10 Weeks" part of my 2018 reading challenge. It was fantastic and insightful and real, it didn't read as too childish or too adult, it found it's voice perfectly. And it's a voice everyone needs to hear.
Through this book I was able to put on a different pair of shoes - ones that fit a young girl in a poor, crime-ridden, urban neighborhood with a father who had fought his way out of the gang life and drugs, and a mother who was trying to keep her children safe. I understand now the horror of losing your childhood friends to violence. This is now a favorite book of mine from a gifted storyteller.
Strongly centered on one issue, but so much more than a story about the single issue. Through Starr we all can explore questions of doing the right thing, speaking out against injustice, knowing how best to make a change in our community, and above all the impossibility of trying to live two distinct identities.
This is such a moving and timely book. There are many parts that are heartbreaking to read. Starr is with her friend Khalil when he is killed by a cop. She doesn’t want everyone to know that she is the unidentified witness the news keeps mentioning. She wants justice for Khalil, but is unsure of who she can trust. Starr’s world is fleshed out with vivid descriptions of her family, friends, and surroundings. The book shows how complex and multi-dimensional issues surrounding race and class are. Starr feels like she is stuck between two worlds. She loves her neighborhood because of the people and sense of community, while also worrying that drugs and gangs are destroying many things she holds dear. She likes her fancy private school 45 minutes from her home, but also feels like nobody there can possibly understand her life. She wants justice for Khalil and every other victim of police brutality, but she also worries about what protests and riots could do to her uncle who is a cop. While reading this book I felt like Starr is the kind of kid who could change the world, and the best part of the book is seeing her recognize her own power.