Starr is with a friend when he gets pulled over by the police. She is in the car as the police officer guns down her friend. The Hate U Give deals with the aftermath of this shooting, the realities of living in certain neighborhoods of the city, and Starr's ability to get over this tragedy while she tries to make sure justice is served.
Yes, The Hate U Give is ripped from the headlines. But it's still an important book because it comes from the perspective of a teen. Thomas does a good job of finding the teen voice--the voice of young black people in this situation.
As an adult (and white), I have difficulty understanding the behavior of people who are confronted by the police. I'm a rule-follower. I'm scared of the police. If a police officer told me not to move, I wouldn't even blink. But, I understand people (especially young people), no matter what the color of their skin, aren't all like me. They can easily have a more confrontational attitude. I think The Hate U Give helped me understand that.
There are nuances to Starr's situation that add to the drama. She attends a private school that is outside her neighborhood, she's dating a white boy, and her family has more money than many families who live around them. All of this keeps the book interesting and very readable.
Like I said, I recommend The Hate U Give to everyone, teen or adult.
Published by Balzer + Bray, 2017
Copy obtained from the library
444 pages
Rating: 4.5/5
Great review! I agree that everybody should read this book. I really liked it. I’m terrified of police and avoid them whenever possible. If one confronted me, I’d probably be too scared to move.
ReplyDeleteAj @ Read All The Things!
I agree that this book is not only important, but well done. I am now interested to read her other book as well.
ReplyDeleteI need to read this one! I've heard such good things.
ReplyDeleteDid you see the news headline this week about the police who want this book banned in a community where the school district added it to a summer reading list? They said people shouldn't read bad things about the police.
ReplyDelete