I have to agree with the many reviews I've seen for
The Hate U Give. Everyone should read it.
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
