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catsuqa's review against another edition
emotional
funny
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
4.0
jennbzreads's review against another edition
challenging
emotional
reflective
tense
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
5.0
camhoffman's review against another edition
challenging
emotional
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
5.0
eesh25's review against another edition
5.0
The Hate U Give is arguably the most well received novel that has come out this year so far. It tells the story of a young girl whose childhood best friend is shot and killed by a cop right in front of her for no other reasons than that he's black.
Seeing this happen, the balance between the life Starr has in her poor black neighbourhood and the one she has in her suburban prep school, is disturbed. The reality of prejudice against her race, her colour, becomes more glaring than ever and Starr struggles to understand what the right thing to do is. Soon, Khalid's death is headline news and people accuse him of being a drug dealer and a gangbanger, as if that justifies a sixteen-year-old, unarmed boy being murdered for no reason.
The efficiency with which Khalid's death is justified and covered up is astounding. Saying that the cop was afraid for his life as if it's okay for a man in his late thirties to kill a child because he was spooked; a child who gave no reason for the cop to even suspect that he might have any ill intentions. But just because he's black and lives in a poor neighbourhood, he obviously couldn't be up to any good.
I won't lie, in the beginning I didn't want to believe that a police officer would just shoot someone like that. I hoped that maybe there was another reason for why it happened because no one wants to think that the people who are supposed to keep us safe could also be a danger to us. Honestly, will Starr ever be able to trust the police after that? She knows that not all officers are bad because her uncle is one of the good ones, but still. Her world has been shaken completely.
This was a very heartbreaking novel about the hate that society gives those that are deemed inferior, and how that hate never has good consequences. It's an endless, vicious cycle and the book takes us into the midst of that reality in the best way possible.
Things could have easily turned into hate for all white people and you can see how carefully Angie Thomas balanced the novel to avoid that. She gave us good and bad characters, irrespective of their race. Some characters to be redeemed and others not. Starr's family dynamic was beautiful. I freaking LOVE Starr's mom but I liked her dad, her uncle and her brothers as well. She had an interesting dynamic with her friends, ones from her neighbourhood and ones from school. Her boyfriend, Chris, was a great addition and we got some really sweet moments. There were sweet and funny moments with everyone that stopped the book from becoming too heavy.
Overall, this was a beautiful and wonderful book that I think is a must read, especially if you live in the US because that's where its set, but its significant for everyone. I also have a little video that I think you should watch. It's titled 'Racism in the United States: By the Numbers'. It's by the vlogbrothers (John and Hank Green) and less than 4 minutes long. Check it out.
Seeing this happen, the balance between the life Starr has in her poor black neighbourhood and the one she has in her suburban prep school, is disturbed. The reality of prejudice against her race, her colour, becomes more glaring than ever and Starr struggles to understand what the right thing to do is. Soon, Khalid's death is headline news and people accuse him of being a drug dealer and a gangbanger, as if that justifies a sixteen-year-old, unarmed boy being murdered for no reason.
The efficiency with which Khalid's death is justified and covered up is astounding. Saying that the cop was afraid for his life as if it's okay for a man in his late thirties to kill a child because he was spooked; a child who gave no reason for the cop to even suspect that he might have any ill intentions. But just because he's black and lives in a poor neighbourhood, he obviously couldn't be up to any good.
I won't lie, in the beginning I didn't want to believe that a police officer would just shoot someone like that. I hoped that maybe there was another reason for why it happened because no one wants to think that the people who are supposed to keep us safe could also be a danger to us. Honestly, will Starr ever be able to trust the police after that? She knows that not all officers are bad because her uncle is one of the good ones, but still. Her world has been shaken completely.
This was a very heartbreaking novel about the hate that society gives those that are deemed inferior, and how that hate never has good consequences. It's an endless, vicious cycle and the book takes us into the midst of that reality in the best way possible.
Things could have easily turned into hate for all white people and you can see how carefully Angie Thomas balanced the novel to avoid that. She gave us good and bad characters, irrespective of their race. Some characters to be redeemed and others not. Starr's family dynamic was beautiful. I freaking LOVE Starr's mom but I liked her dad, her uncle and her brothers as well. She had an interesting dynamic with her friends, ones from her neighbourhood and ones from school. Her boyfriend, Chris, was a great addition and we got some really sweet moments. There were sweet and funny moments with everyone that stopped the book from becoming too heavy.
Overall, this was a beautiful and wonderful book that I think is a must read, especially if you live in the US because that's where its set, but its significant for everyone. I also have a little video that I think you should watch. It's titled 'Racism in the United States: By the Numbers'. It's by the vlogbrothers (John and Hank Green) and less than 4 minutes long. Check it out.
samantha_sahm_reads's review against another edition
5.0
This book pulls you in right from the start. I laughed, I cried, my heart was filled with joy and sadness. Once you are hooked you can’t stop reading. Over all I would give it a 4.75 because there were some slower parts, but over all an amazing book. I wouldn’t be surprised if I read it again in the future.
sararose_cozy's review against another edition
5.0
Incredible. So moving. This needs to be mandatory reading for all schools. It checked me and educated me about a world that I never grew up in and the current biases that are still present today.
So thankful for this read.
So thankful for this read.
futurama1979's review against another edition
5.0
The first thing to say about this book is that I just can't believe I waited this long to read it. Seriously, I was missing out for years on this one. It's accessible and targeted to a YA audience without dumbing itself down or making itself more palatable, while handling each topic it touches on with grace. In my mind, that cements Thomas one of the best YA authors of the last decade, definitely.
There's also the fact that the narrative voice in this story is so utterly strong that we know Starr, the narrating character, from the very first few pages of the very first chapter. The characterization of her family and friends is well done too, but she stands out as a brilliantly written, completely three dimensional character.
The ending is the only place where this book falls a little short for me, because while it is bittersweet, the parts of it that are good are completely deserved but a little too fairyatale ending for me to totally believe in an otherwise really realistic story. That being said, it's a really small qualm that doesn't detract much at all from the enjoyment of the book. It's a quick read, too! The only reason it took me so long is because I'm weighed down with coursework and internships.
There's also the fact that the narrative voice in this story is so utterly strong that we know Starr, the narrating character, from the very first few pages of the very first chapter. The characterization of her family and friends is well done too, but she stands out as a brilliantly written, completely three dimensional character.
The ending is the only place where this book falls a little short for me, because while it is bittersweet, the parts of it that are good are completely deserved but a little too fairyatale ending for me to totally believe in an otherwise really realistic story. That being said, it's a really small qualm that doesn't detract much at all from the enjoyment of the book. It's a quick read, too! The only reason it took me so long is because I'm weighed down with coursework and internships.
faeriesparks's review against another edition
4.0
4.5 stars
So incredibly powerful. This book is a must-read!
So incredibly powerful. This book is a must-read!