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lectrixnoctis's review against another edition
challenging
dark
emotional
funny
hopeful
informative
inspiring
reflective
sad
tense
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
5.0
Sixteen-year-old Starr Carter goes between the poverty-stricken neighbourhood where she lives and the rich suburban prep school she visits. The awkward balance between these worlds is shattered when Starr witnesses the fatal gunfire of her youth best friend Khalil at the hands of a policeman. Khalil was defenceless.
Soon afterwards, his passing is a national title. Some are calling him a criminal, even a drug dealer and a gangbanger. Protesters are taking to the places in Khalil's name. Some policemen and the local drug lord try to threaten Starr and her family. What everyone wants to know is: what went down that evening? And the only person alive who can explain that is our protagonist.
But what Starr does—or does not—say could upend her community. It could also endanger her life.
"The Hate U Give" explores the link between race and identity as Starr tries to navigate the primarily black life of Garden Heights and the predominantly white world of Williamson Prep. Starr feels torn between her Garden Heights self and Williamson Prep self, and she switches her speech, mannerisms, and behaviours to fit whichever place she finds herself in. After Khalil's shooting, Starr is hesitant to speak about his death for panic that her white friends, Hailey and Maya, and her white boyfriend, Chris, will not understand everything that happens in her Garden Heights life. Starr feels concurrently "too black" to speak about Khalil's life and death with her fellow students but "too white" at home to stand up for her friend, mainly after Kenya challenges Starr of behaving like a white person who thinks herself better than her neighbours.
Starr's personality conflict is apparent in her father figures, Maverick and Uncle Carlos, who have varied perspectives on authentic blackness. Maverick pulls inspiration from the Black Power Movement and believes in a self-reliant blackness that uses existing constructions within black neighbourhoods to better circumstances. Maverick's philosophy explains why, throughout most of the novel, Maverick refuses to move his family from Garden Heights to a more protected area—he believes they should change their community from the inside. Besides his job as a police officer and house in a gated neighbourhood, Uncle Carlos represents absorption into white culture. Uncle Carlos thinks he can support black communities by using white organisations like the police force to battle gang violence. The endless argument between Maverick and Uncle Carlos highlights how tricky it is for Starr to settle her two worlds and find a way to honour her whole self.
"The Hate U Give" analyses how society uses stereotypes of black people to verify brutality and racism against them. These stereotypes shield white communities, such as the pupils at Starr's school, Williamson Prep, from reflecting upon systemic racism, perpetuating discrimination. We see this bias most clearly in how One-Fifteen justifies his murder of Khalil. The officer has no reason to think Khalil's hairbrush is a gun other than One-Fifteen's presumption that Khalil is a criminal because he is black. However, the broadcast media and many white characters endorse One-Fifteen's version of events because they protect law enforcement from accusations of racism by watching him. Uncle Carlos, Starr's black uncle on her mother's side, is on the same police force as One-Fifteen, also initially defends One-Fifteen's actions before realising he wrongly tried to defend the shooting of Khalil. The media disguises racism in One-Fifteen's efforts by portraying them as logical, and news coverage emphasises Khalil's alleged gang associates, preserving black boys' stereotyped as violent and dangerous. Hailey, Starr's Williamson Prep friend, settles that Khalil was nothing more than a thug upon hearing these rumours. The media circus surrounding Khalil's death shows how white media prioritises protecting law enforcement and perpetuating stereotypes over black lives.
This novel was written in the first person in the present tense. Moreover, it is written like it is happening in this day and age in our natural world.
Holding the traumatic events of "The Hate U Give" is the cyclical reality of racialised poverty, which Maverick describes to Starr during their conversation about Tupac's phrase "Thug Life." According to Tupac, public racism keeps black communities from the possibilities and sources needed for financial success, and poverty feeds on itself, affecting periods of black families. This cycle captures many of "The Hate U Give's" black characters into a situation where they cannot flee poverty without relying on the drug business, which is then used to decrease them as somebody in both life and death. Maverick was born to a drug dealer and joined a gang to create some feeling of protection. Due to the difficulties created by poverty, Khalil marketed drugs to pay off his mother's bill. DeVante explains to Starr—who is initially confused about how Khalil could sell the same "medicines" ruining his mother's life—that Khalil felt compelled to provide for his family and could not find a more suitable alternative. Through Starr's hollowing understanding of racialised poverty, we see how this intergenerational cycle is hard to break because black neighbourhoods, like Garden Heights, do not have adequate access to sources such as education, employment, and protection from police brutality.
Overall I enjoyed this book. I did not think that I would appreciate it as much, but let me tell you, this is everything you need to read about a fiction book that is a place in the real world. I have laughed because of this book, but I also have cried; it is exceptionally well. You feel connected with the characters. For me, a white girl in Germany, I especially adored the insides given to me by seeing the other side and feeling with the black characters.
Moreover, I enjoyed that the book felt realistic. It is so hard to imagine that a teenager dies because of a hairbrush. Although the ending was sad, I thought it was the best ending the book could have since this is a path from reality which is unfortunate that black people die in the white cop stays alive and free.
Soon afterwards, his passing is a national title. Some are calling him a criminal, even a drug dealer and a gangbanger. Protesters are taking to the places in Khalil's name. Some policemen and the local drug lord try to threaten Starr and her family. What everyone wants to know is: what went down that evening? And the only person alive who can explain that is our protagonist.
But what Starr does—or does not—say could upend her community. It could also endanger her life.
"The Hate U Give" explores the link between race and identity as Starr tries to navigate the primarily black life of Garden Heights and the predominantly white world of Williamson Prep. Starr feels torn between her Garden Heights self and Williamson Prep self, and she switches her speech, mannerisms, and behaviours to fit whichever place she finds herself in. After Khalil's shooting, Starr is hesitant to speak about his death for panic that her white friends, Hailey and Maya, and her white boyfriend, Chris, will not understand everything that happens in her Garden Heights life. Starr feels concurrently "too black" to speak about Khalil's life and death with her fellow students but "too white" at home to stand up for her friend, mainly after Kenya challenges Starr of behaving like a white person who thinks herself better than her neighbours.
Starr's personality conflict is apparent in her father figures, Maverick and Uncle Carlos, who have varied perspectives on authentic blackness. Maverick pulls inspiration from the Black Power Movement and believes in a self-reliant blackness that uses existing constructions within black neighbourhoods to better circumstances. Maverick's philosophy explains why, throughout most of the novel, Maverick refuses to move his family from Garden Heights to a more protected area—he believes they should change their community from the inside. Besides his job as a police officer and house in a gated neighbourhood, Uncle Carlos represents absorption into white culture. Uncle Carlos thinks he can support black communities by using white organisations like the police force to battle gang violence. The endless argument between Maverick and Uncle Carlos highlights how tricky it is for Starr to settle her two worlds and find a way to honour her whole self.
"The Hate U Give" analyses how society uses stereotypes of black people to verify brutality and racism against them. These stereotypes shield white communities, such as the pupils at Starr's school, Williamson Prep, from reflecting upon systemic racism, perpetuating discrimination. We see this bias most clearly in how One-Fifteen justifies his murder of Khalil. The officer has no reason to think Khalil's hairbrush is a gun other than One-Fifteen's presumption that Khalil is a criminal because he is black. However, the broadcast media and many white characters endorse One-Fifteen's version of events because they protect law enforcement from accusations of racism by watching him. Uncle Carlos, Starr's black uncle on her mother's side, is on the same police force as One-Fifteen, also initially defends One-Fifteen's actions before realising he wrongly tried to defend the shooting of Khalil. The media disguises racism in One-Fifteen's efforts by portraying them as logical, and news coverage emphasises Khalil's alleged gang associates, preserving black boys' stereotyped as violent and dangerous. Hailey, Starr's Williamson Prep friend, settles that Khalil was nothing more than a thug upon hearing these rumours. The media circus surrounding Khalil's death shows how white media prioritises protecting law enforcement and perpetuating stereotypes over black lives.
This novel was written in the first person in the present tense. Moreover, it is written like it is happening in this day and age in our natural world.
Holding the traumatic events of "The Hate U Give" is the cyclical reality of racialised poverty, which Maverick describes to Starr during their conversation about Tupac's phrase "Thug Life." According to Tupac, public racism keeps black communities from the possibilities and sources needed for financial success, and poverty feeds on itself, affecting periods of black families. This cycle captures many of "The Hate U Give's" black characters into a situation where they cannot flee poverty without relying on the drug business, which is then used to decrease them as somebody in both life and death. Maverick was born to a drug dealer and joined a gang to create some feeling of protection. Due to the difficulties created by poverty, Khalil marketed drugs to pay off his mother's bill. DeVante explains to Starr—who is initially confused about how Khalil could sell the same "medicines" ruining his mother's life—that Khalil felt compelled to provide for his family and could not find a more suitable alternative. Through Starr's hollowing understanding of racialised poverty, we see how this intergenerational cycle is hard to break because black neighbourhoods, like Garden Heights, do not have adequate access to sources such as education, employment, and protection from police brutality.
Overall I enjoyed this book. I did not think that I would appreciate it as much, but let me tell you, this is everything you need to read about a fiction book that is a place in the real world. I have laughed because of this book, but I also have cried; it is exceptionally well. You feel connected with the characters. For me, a white girl in Germany, I especially adored the insides given to me by seeing the other side and feeling with the black characters.
Moreover, I enjoyed that the book felt realistic. It is so hard to imagine that a teenager dies because of a hairbrush. Although the ending was sad, I thought it was the best ending the book could have since this is a path from reality which is unfortunate that black people die in the white cop stays alive and free.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Alcohol, Addiction, Alcoholism, Blood, Bullying, Child abuse, Cultural appropriation, Cursing, Death, Domestic abuse, Drug abuse, Drug use, Emotional abuse, Fire/Fire injury, Gore, Grief, Gun violence, Hate crime, Injury/Injury detail, Medical content, Murder, Panic attacks/disorders, Physical abuse, Police brutality, Racial slurs, Racism, Toxic friendship, Toxic relationship, Violence, Vomit, and Xenophobia
emilyellen07's review against another edition
challenging
dark
emotional
hopeful
informative
inspiring
reflective
tense
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
5.0
Content Warnings
Graphic: Police brutality, Addiction, Blood, Cursing, Death, Drug abuse, Drug use, Gun violence, Grief, Murder, Racism, and Toxic friendship
Minor: Alcohol, Toxic relationship, and Physical abuse
jenniferpalmblad's review against another edition
emotional
hopeful
informative
inspiring
reflective
sad
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.25
This is such a powerful story.
When I started it I wasn’t in the right mindset for it and the guy wrenching events and retelling from a sixteen year old girl’s perspective tore at me so hard I had to put it down for a few days.
This is one of the first fictional novels I’ve read that deals with racism from an inside perspective. Over the past year I’ve picked up a few non fictional texts, but this one hit a lot harder. The writing is very accessible, even though it deals with some extremely heavy topics.
Everyone could benefit from reading this book, from being a great reading experience to educating oneself on what it’s like not to walk through life with white privilege. Angie Thomas’ voice is so important and I’m glad I got the chance to listen to it.
When I started it I wasn’t in the right mindset for it and the guy wrenching events and retelling from a sixteen year old girl’s perspective tore at me so hard I had to put it down for a few days.
This is one of the first fictional novels I’ve read that deals with racism from an inside perspective. Over the past year I’ve picked up a few non fictional texts, but this one hit a lot harder. The writing is very accessible, even though it deals with some extremely heavy topics.
Everyone could benefit from reading this book, from being a great reading experience to educating oneself on what it’s like not to walk through life with white privilege. Angie Thomas’ voice is so important and I’m glad I got the chance to listen to it.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Racism, Racial slurs, Violence, Toxic relationship, Police brutality, Physical abuse, Murder, Hate crime, Gun violence, Grief, Gaslighting, Domestic abuse, Death, Child death, and Addiction
Moderate: Alcohol, Blood, Cancer, and Fire/Fire injury
nyxiee's review against another edition
challenging
emotional
hopeful
informative
inspiring
reflective
sad
tense
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
4.75
bootyful amazing show stopping immaculate
the only reason why its not 5 stars is bc i only give books 5 stars if it is on par with my personal preferences ,, which is lesbian romance ,, buttt for a book that doenst fit my preferences ,, its 10000% perfect in every literary element n i would recommend anyone this book regardless of what they typically read!!! its very universal and has a powerful message that stands the test of time!!! pls pls read it if you ever have the chance !!!! <33
the only reason why its not 5 stars is bc i only give books 5 stars if it is on par with my personal preferences ,, which is lesbian romance ,, buttt for a book that doenst fit my preferences ,, its 10000% perfect in every literary element n i would recommend anyone this book regardless of what they typically read!!! its very universal and has a powerful message that stands the test of time!!! pls pls read it if you ever have the chance !!!! <33
Content Warnings
Graphic: Death, Fire/Fire injury, Murder, Police brutality, Racism, and Violence
Moderate: Child death, Gaslighting, and Toxic friendship
Minor: Toxic relationship
mme_carton's review against another edition
challenging
dark
emotional
hopeful
sad
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
4.75
Content Warnings
Graphic: Blood, Child abuse, Child death, Cursing, Death, Domestic abuse, Fire/Fire injury, Grief, Gun violence, Hate crime, Murder, Physical abuse, Police brutality, Racial slurs, Racism, Toxic friendship, Toxic relationship, and Violence
Minor: Infidelity
februaryfriday's review against another edition
challenging
hopeful
informative
reflective
sad
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
this is a book i would recommend to anyone. it’s something you just need to have read at some point.
i’ve been wanting to read this forever and i’m glad i finally got to it.
i’m usually someone who likes “feel-good books” and the hate u give definitely does not fit that category. on the contrary, it actually confronts you with uncomfortable, devastating truths. not “feel-good” at all.
nevertheless, that does not make it any better or worse. making you happy or giving you an escape is not the point of this book; facing the reality of real issues, such as racism and police violence, is.
it’s just as important, if not even more, as the escapism a “feel-good” book would give you. sometimes you have to take in all the frustration, anger and devastation these characters face, because that is what real people face every day. this book shows you the ugly truth and it does so in a very grounding, accessible and thought provoking way i appreciate a lot.
i usually rate books according to my enjoyment. however, in this case, i have a hard time due to what i mentioned before: this book made me frustrated and sad. but because it was supposed to, not because it was bad in any shape or form. as a consequence, i will skip the rating on this one for now.
still, i can confidently say that i have nothing bad to say about it. it did what it was meant to do and it will definitely stick with me.
i’ve been wanting to read this forever and i’m glad i finally got to it.
i’m usually someone who likes “feel-good books” and the hate u give definitely does not fit that category. on the contrary, it actually confronts you with uncomfortable, devastating truths. not “feel-good” at all.
nevertheless, that does not make it any better or worse. making you happy or giving you an escape is not the point of this book; facing the reality of real issues, such as racism and police violence, is.
it’s just as important, if not even more, as the escapism a “feel-good” book would give you. sometimes you have to take in all the frustration, anger and devastation these characters face, because that is what real people face every day. this book shows you the ugly truth and it does so in a very grounding, accessible and thought provoking way i appreciate a lot.
i usually rate books according to my enjoyment. however, in this case, i have a hard time due to what i mentioned before: this book made me frustrated and sad. but because it was supposed to, not because it was bad in any shape or form. as a consequence, i will skip the rating on this one for now.
still, i can confidently say that i have nothing bad to say about it. it did what it was meant to do and it will definitely stick with me.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Death, Police brutality, and Racism
Moderate: Addiction, Gun violence, Child abuse, Domestic abuse, Drug use, Drug abuse, and Toxic relationship
elisanisly's review against another edition
emotional
sad
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
4.25
Content Warnings
Graphic: Police brutality and Murder
Moderate: Racism, Violence, and Toxic relationship
Minor: Racial slurs, Sexual content, and Cursing
kaitsteak's review against another edition
dark
hopeful
reflective
sad
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
5.0
Content Warnings
Graphic: Police brutality, Gun violence, Violence, Domestic abuse, Addiction, Blood, Child death, Cursing, Death, Grief, Hate crime, Murder, Racial slurs, and Racism
Moderate: Toxic relationship, Drug abuse, and Drug use
Minor: Vomit and Alcoholism
reevins's review against another edition
challenging
emotional
hopeful
inspiring
reflective
tense
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
5.0
Content Warnings
Graphic: Cursing, Violence, Toxic relationship, Racism, Police brutality, Physical abuse, Murder, Gun violence, and Grief
Moderate: Addiction and Domestic abuse
laurenleigh's review against another edition
challenging
emotional
hopeful
sad
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
4.5
Content Warnings
Graphic: Blood, Police brutality, Gun violence, Racism, and Murder
Moderate: Drug abuse, Toxic relationship, Violence, Domestic abuse, and Physical abuse