The Hate U Give

Books. A way of keeping imagination alive and keeping people updated on educated. Books are timeless in a world with time periods spanning from centuries back. Books are an important part of living.

One book in particular relating to many topics in the world today is, “The Hate U Give” written by Angie Thomas. This book addresses the problems of racism, police violence and gang violence. The book is classified as young adult fiction, but speaks on modern-day problems fairly accurately.

“The Hate U Give” is about a young, black teenage girl named Starr. She has to balance two very different worlds. One being the poor, black neighborhood she lives in and the other being the rich, mostly white school she attends. She witnesses the fatal shooting of her childhood best friend, Khalil at the hands of a police officer. Starr has to fight for justice for Khalil, and the book shows the struggles she goes through because of her race, her emotions and discrimination.

Several reviews have gave the book nothing but positive feedback. “The Huffington Post” said, “Read Starr’s story because it’s important, but also read it to feel, to heal, to empathize and enjoy. Read it because it’s a damn good book.” Another review by “The Atlantic” said, “An incisive and engrossing perspective of the life of a black teenage girl.”

This book relates to the Black Lives Matter movement. Khalil is shot by a white police officer because the officer claims to see Khalil with a weapon, which turns out to be a hairbrush. Then the riots begin in the book and police officers throw tear gas to end the riots. This has many similarities to the movement.

This book relates to many modern day issues. Such as the issues of police brutality and racism. This book shows the struggles of being a black teenager in today’s world and it does so in the most empowering way, through words. In the book Starr learns that words are her most powerful weapon, maybe if people in the real world would consider words over violence the world would be a better place to live in. If people would talk and work out their differences maybe racism wouldn’t be as big of a problem and people would be able to accept the diversity America has.

There will be a movie coming out based off of the book. The movie comes out on Oct. 19, 2018 and is showing at the West Chester AMC.  No showtimes have yet been scheduled at the Hamilton AMC.

Books are timeless, and this book could help be a piece of the puzzle of putting the world back together again. Through an empowering book people could change the world.

“The Hate U Give” is available to check out in the THS Media Center and in many English teacher’s classrooms.

Infographic created by V. Sturgill using Canva.  Photo from Angie Thomas’ website and credited to Anissa Photography.