A review by lisaarnsdorf
The Hate U Give by Angie Thomas

challenging emotional hopeful 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

5.0

I LOVED this book! I really wanted to read it, and I was also nervous about tackling the content. But once I picked it up, It was obvious that I had no reason to be nervous. Thomas was masterful at telling this story. Yes, it's a tough one and yes it made me think a lot about my own biases. But I was able to consider all of the impacts of Khalil's death through Starr's eyes and walk the journey with her. I didn't have to wear my "parent hat" while reading, thinking about what it would be like to have a child go through this. I could be the child and be solely involved in my own reactions. 

One of the best things this book did for me was to truly reframe all of the deaths at the hands of police and see the LIVES of the Black men and women, not just their deaths. It gave me language for what to say to people who argue that there was some justification for a police killing. 

And there were plenty of things that made me laugh! I loved Thomas's references to Harry Potter. Starr wasn't just a witness to a police shooting, she was also a regular teenager experiencing the ups and downs of friendships, family, love, and life. 
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