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4.58 AVERAGE
4.58 AVERAGE
accidentally deleted my review for this one but yeah thought this was very well written
emotional
funny
informative
inspiring
reflective
sad
tense
fast-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Character
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
Yes
Diverse cast of characters:
Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus:
No
Whatever I say about this book will probably sound so cliche and obvious. It is powerful and timely and well-written. The story is about Starr, a 16 year old girl who sees something no one should ever have to see. There were times when I put the book down and cried about what she and her parents were going through. You truly cannot judge what other people are going through because there are always two sides to a story - what you hear from one side has truth but not all the truth. This book is a fantastic read.
Wow. Wow wow wow. READ THIS BOOK! Seriously. Open your eyes and read it. If I could give it 10 stars I would. PHENOMENAL book!! Angie Thomas - you are a genius!!
Had to read this for my grad class, but LOVED it. Read it all in one sitting!
challenging
emotional
inspiring
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
challenging
emotional
funny
reflective
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
A mix
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
Yes
Diverse cast of characters:
Yes
what a fantastic book... and i can definitely see why it's banned. what a raw description of the relationship between Black folks, the police, and white privilege (and lack thereof). also i love the way its written; ive always been a sucker for YAs, but i felt like i was in Starr's head with her, thinking and feeling with her. or perhaps i couldve been reading a diary. either way, i loved how the writing style invited you to be so intimate with the main characters. also Starr's development over the course of the book (which is roughly 3-4 months) is astounding! i love how she grows to realize the world she's in and the roles she could or could not play. and the way she talks about code-switching without really knowing how to label it.. chefs kiss. this book should be TAUGHT in schools, not banned. might read again!
Content Warnings
Graphic: Racism, Violence, Police brutality
Moderate: Child abuse, Domestic abuse
Minor: Drug use
challenging
emotional
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:
Complicated
emotional
reflective
tense
fast-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
A mix
Strong character development:
No
Loveable characters:
Yes
Diverse cast of characters:
Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Complicated
Minor spoilers follow. Verdict: would seriously recommend.
Reading The Hate U Give felt, in many ways, like an emotional gut punch followed by a thoughtful embrace. Angie Thomas crafted a story that’s deeply intimate while sharply political, and didn't hide from confronting the reader with the realities of systemic racism, police violence, and the fractured trust between communities and those tasked with protecting them.
From the very beginning, one of my first thoughts on the novel was that I was grateful for the relative lack of militarization in law enforcement where I live, because even with similar temperament and flaws, the lethal consequences described in the book would be far less likely to happen. I liked how the shooting that catalyzed the plot was neither overdramatized nor downplayed, but it was the fact that it was so chilling in its mundanity that sold it for me. How the aftermath felt so tense for Starr, but everyone else, especially at her school, treated it like something inconsequential as the narrative was manipulated by the media and justice system alike. The novel certainly invited righteous outrage, the same as it encouraged reflection.
Stylistically speaking, I sometimes disagreed with certain choices, like using “pow” for gunfire as it felt jarringly out of place and cartoonish, but maybe that was the intention. But regardless, these were ultimately minor quirks in an otherwise grounded and well-executed voice. Starr’s narration was raw, and though-provoking, and her trauma was taken seriously and not used for cheap emotional leverage, which is something I don't see well-represented often either. The people around her, especially Lisa and Maverick, also showed a realistic spectrum of support, coping, and conflicting responsibilities and were generally very well fleshed-out characters.
The novel also does an excellent job of portraying allyship (and its limitations) through characters like Chris, in my opinion, while highlighting more toxic dynamics/fake or conditional allyship via characters like Hailey. Hailey’s arc in particular—or more like lack thereof—was unfortunately also very believable, and I liked that her kind of subtler bigotry, that's much too common, was not excused with a vague apology by Starr or any other character. Chris, by contrast, was refreshingly willing to listen, stumble or get things wrong, and still stand by Starr, which being completely honest was the trait that made him one of my favorite characters by the end of the book. His growth wasn't meant to “fix” things, but rather meant to affirm that understanding is possible when someone chooses to truly listen. TL;DR: I love imperfect characters that show growth and willingness to communicate.
But what stood out to me the most was, above all, the community aspect of the story. From Starr’s shifting relationship with Garden Heights, to her relationship to complex and multifaceted characters like Mr. Lewis, or DeVante, or Iesha. No one was perfect, yet was willing to fight to protect what matters the most to them together, and that's what made this such a great read. There’s power in the collective, and I think the moment (and character) that better showcased this was when DeVante made the decision to speak out and in how the community rallies not only in anger, but in hope and resolve.
The ending was also great, satisfying, and definitely earned: not necessarily a neat 'n clean resolution, but still a clear declaration that change begins with both voice and action. I was honestly afraid where it was going in during the last 50 pages or so, but thankfully it stuck the landing.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Racism, Police brutality
Moderate: Physical abuse, Violence, Toxic friendship