1. BIBLIOGRAPHY
Thomas, Angie. 2017. THE HATE U GIVE. New York: Balzar + Bray, an imprint of HarperCollins Publishers. ISBN 978-1-54900-622-7.
2. PLOT SUMMARY
One minute she is at a Spring Break party, the next, she is watching her childhood friend, Khalil, get shot by a police officer. Sadly, death and loss are not new to Starr. In Garden Heights, gunshots are heard regularly. But this time is different. Now Starr Carter has to decide how she moves forward. Her life is already complicated; she lives in two different worlds. Garden Heights is her home, but Williamson Prep is where she goes to school. Starr has to figure out how to be true to herself and how to stand up for what is right.
3. CRITICAL ANALYSIS
Once again- wow. This book feels so important. Angie Thomas wrote a realistic fiction story that is, tragically, too real. In the final pages, Thomas lists familiar names- Trayvon, Tamir, Sandra, Emmett…of the real victims who have lived this story. Police violence toward young black people has finally made it to the mainstream conscience. Too often, news outlets are bringing our attention to these types of tragedies that are occuring in our country.
As a close observer to the unjustified killing of a young, black man, Starr gives readers the context that we can’t understand in a 2-minute news segment. Thomas’s characterization of Khalil, as well as DeVante, Maverick, etc. addresses stereotypes and critical misconceptions. She gives depth and context for her character’s actions and motivations.
The juxtaposition of the different neighborhoods helps the reader see the good, the bad, and the ugly of different communities. Thomas also addresses the tension between service to our community and preservation of our personal well-being and safety.
The diction and syntax of the book are well-used tools. The dialogue builds the characters into beloved people who earn your respect and empathy. The mood of the book shifts back and forth between the lightheartedness of teenage drama to the heaviness of adult hardship and humiliation. The Hate U Give takes its reader on an emotional, but valuable journey to see contemporary news stories from a different perspective.
4. AWARDS & REVIEW EXCERPT(S)
Booklist starred, December 2016
Coretta Scott King Author Honor, 2018
Horn Book Magazine starred, March 2017
Kirkus Reviews starred, December 2016, "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. This story is necessary."
Michael L. Printz Honor, 2018
Publishers Weekly starred, November 2016
School Library Journal starred, January 2017, "The first-person, present-tense narrative is immediate and intense, and the pacing is strong, with Thomas balancing dramatic scenes of violence and protest with moments of reflection."
Voice of Youth Advocates (VOYA) starred, February 2017
William C. Morris YA Debut Award, 201
5. CONNECTIONS
*If you teaching a Social Justice unit, there are several good books that could be read alongside The Hate U Give that address police violence and the Black Lives Matter movement like I am Alfonso Jones by Tony Medina, Shot Clock by Caron Butler, Light it Up by Kekla Magoon, and Tyler Johnson was here by Jay Coles.
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