Book Review of The Hate U Give

 

BIBLIOGRAPHY

Thomas, Angela. 2017. THE HATE U GIVE. New York, NY: HarperCollins Children’s Books, a Division of HarperCollins Publishers. ISBN 9780062498533.      

 

PLOT SUMMARY

Starr Carter is an African-American living in a ghetto neighborhood with her family. She witnesses the death of her friend after he is shot by a policeman. Eventually, the policeman goes to trial. The events that happen before, during, and after the trial showcase the world that Starr lives in.       

 

CRITICAL ANALYSIS

This book poignantly reflects race relations today in the United States, as well as the history of those relationships for the past number of decades. References throughout the novel are made to Dr. Martin Luther King, Malcolm X, Tupac, and other iconic members of the civil rights movement and modern American society. The title of the book is explained by the teenage protagonist of the story, Starr Carter. “Pac said Thug Life stood for, ‘The Hate U Give Little Infants F---- Everybody.’” Starr explained, “T-H-U-G-L-I-F-E. Meaning what society gives us as youth, it bites them in the a-- when we wild out. Get it?” As Starr narrates the story of her life, we see the many sides of her personality as she tries to fit into both worlds she inhabits, one being her ghetto home and neighborhood, and the other being the uptown school that her parents enrolled her in to try to help her escape from the violence and poverty endemic in their own lives. There are no one-dimensional characters in this novel. Everyone shows multiple aspects to their personalities as they struggle with relationships and life. The author doesn’t dodge any of the difficult issues that exist in real life. This multilayered description of Starr’s life adds depth and realism to the story. As Starr begins to understand that life is not black and white, but shades of grey, so too do we as the readers gain a more profound understanding. This book forces us all to see the world from the perspectives of others; and, from those perspectives, we gain a greater understanding of ourselves.   

 

AWARDS AND REVIEW EXCERPTS

2018 Audie Award for Young Adult Winner

2018 William C. Morris Award Winner

KIRKUS starred review: “This story is necessary. This story is important.”

ALA BOOKLIST starred review: “An inarguably important book that demands the widest possible readership.”

CHRISTIAN SCIENCE MONITOR review: “If The Hate U Give makes you uncomfortable, that’s because it should.”

 

CONNECTIONS

* This book would be a good introduction to racism; stereotypes; Black Lives Matter; and family relationships & dynamics.    

* Books similar to this one include:

Thomas, Angela. CONCRETE ROSE. ISBN 9780062846723.

Stone, Nic. DEAR MARTIN. ISBN 9781101939499.


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