Thursday, February 22, 2018

The Hate U Give by Angie Thomas

Author: Angie Thomas
Title: The Hate U Give
Publication: February 28, 2017
Publisher: Balzer + Bray
Length: 464 pp.
Source: Library
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Synopsis
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.
 "Once upon a time there was a hazel-eyed boy with dimples. 
I called him Khalil. 
                                                            The world called him a thug. 
He lived, but not nearly long enough, and for the rest of my life I'll remember how he died." 

Review
My name is Starr Carter. I go to school in the better part of town because my neighborhood isn't the best. At Williamson, I can be whoever I want just not ghetto or angry. I work hard to keep Williamson Starr separate from who I am at home because the one time I did try to mesh both worlds, didn't work out well. 
"Keep your hands visible. No sudden moves. Only speak when spoken to."
But one night my struggle to keep my two lives apart crumbles. There on the ground my friend, Khalil takes his last breath and I can do nothing to help him. Now,  I live in the aftermath of his death wondering what I could've done to save him but I also feel guilt that I wasn't a better friend to him. Guilt that my silence will cost him justice. Fear that nothing will change.
"What's the point of having a voice if you're gonna be silent in those moments you shouldn't be?"
I liked the characters in this book because they are realistic, the struggle they face in their day to day lives is authentic. The writing is fluid and Starr's close perspective gives a personal perspective on this topic. Overall, I think this is a powerful message that is relevant and current. This was a hard story to read but it only begins to touch the surface of this matter but I think many will enjoy reading it.


Have you read the book? How did it make you feel? What are your thoughts about the subject matter?

12 comments:

  1. I found you because you stopped by my blog. Thank you for that. I like your header a lot. Totally speaks to your name.

    I've seen this book on so many blogs. It has been very well- received and is a book with strong thoughts for modern issues.

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  2. Do you belong to the Book Bloggers Group on FB? https://www.facebook.com/groups/bookbloggerssupport/
    It's a great group of book bloggers geared to help each other.

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  3. I actually have this ebook on my kindle, but am almost afraid to read it. I know that it will touch my emotions, and I guess I have to be in the mood to be saddened and angered. That phrase about the hazel-eyed boy with dimples who others called a thug... powerful!

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    Replies
    1. Yes. I agree, it was one of the most touching moments.

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  4. I still haven't read this but I really really want to :)

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    Replies
    1. I hope you it enjoy it when you get the chance :)

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  5. oh this book this book. This is a subject matter very dear to me even though I'm not black. My husband is half black and I've seen how life is for him. This book IS SPOT ON. It is not easy to be black in America, It is indeed incredibly dangerous.

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    Replies
    1. It really isn't. I worry about my husband and the men in my family every day. It's just sad.

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  6. Glad to hear you are part of the many who like this one. I plan on reading it soon.

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