Scan barcode
A review by safekeeper
The Hate U Give by Angie Thomas
challenging
dark
emotional
informative
inspiring
sad
tense
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.0
Starr and her close-knit family lives in Garden Heights, where it's not a given that a kid will graduate high school, or even live to turn 18. The sound of gunshots is an everyday occurrence, snitching can make you the target of gang violence, and encounters with white police officers can be traumatizing life-or-death moments where making the wrong move during a stop can lead to you "becoming a hashtag". Skin colour matters a lot more than many of Starr's white friends realize, and she's hesitant to introduce her white boyfriend to her parents.
By contast, where Starr goes to high school her privilegued students who go on vacation trips to distant countries. Here Starr can't be herself, but has to shift to a second version of herself who speaks and acts more formally so as not to be labelled "ghetto".
When Starr and her childhood friend Khalil are pulled over by a police officer and a confrontation ends up with him getting shot and killed, her neighbourhood erupts in protests and violence while she has to deal with her own trauma and grief, and friends at her high school, who don't know she was present at the shooting, views the incident as little more than a drug dealer killed by police. Meanwhile, Starr struggles to come to terms with her own role, and whether she should remain anonymous and try to move on, or use her voice for Khalil and everyone subject to police killings and systemic racism in general.
The book does a great job at portraying both the societal issues it writes about, including Starr's trauma, including the way her friends don't understand her sudden outbursts when they talk about the killing, or throw out the kind of racist remarks that can be played down with "I was just joking, why are you being so sensitive". It takes the time to delve into a wide range of topics, from black activism and litterature, gang violence and "snitching", the ethics around protests, riots, and vandalism, class difference and prejudice, how people can so easily get caught up in a life of drug dealing and crime, and white ignorance about racism and the minority experience.
I've seen the book be criticized for being too predictable, both in terms of plot and the admittedly one-dimensional characters. If you are already familiar with the topics, this book maybe won't do much for you. To this privilegued white guy who's far removed from it all living in Scandinavia, though, it was shockingly eye-opening, even after following the last few years' discussion on police shootings, discrimination, and the violent attacks on peaceful protests in the summer of 2020.
Overall, 4 stars, highly recommended. Probably going to watch the film now.
By contast, where Starr goes to high school her privilegued students who go on vacation trips to distant countries. Here Starr can't be herself, but has to shift to a second version of herself who speaks and acts more formally so as not to be labelled "ghetto".
When Starr and her childhood friend Khalil are pulled over by a police officer and a confrontation ends up with him getting shot and killed, her neighbourhood erupts in protests and violence while she has to deal with her own trauma and grief, and friends at her high school, who don't know she was present at the shooting, views the incident as little more than a drug dealer killed by police. Meanwhile, Starr struggles to come to terms with her own role, and whether she should remain anonymous and try to move on, or use her voice for Khalil and everyone subject to police killings and systemic racism in general.
The book does a great job at portraying both the societal issues it writes about, including Starr's trauma, including the way her friends don't understand her sudden outbursts when they talk about the killing, or throw out the kind of racist remarks that can be played down with "I was just joking, why are you being so sensitive". It takes the time to delve into a wide range of topics, from black activism and litterature, gang violence and "snitching", the ethics around protests, riots, and vandalism, class difference and prejudice, how people can so easily get caught up in a life of drug dealing and crime, and white ignorance about racism and the minority experience.
I've seen the book be criticized for being too predictable, both in terms of plot and the admittedly one-dimensional characters. If you are already familiar with the topics, this book maybe won't do much for you. To this privilegued white guy who's far removed from it all living in Scandinavia, though, it was shockingly eye-opening, even after following the last few years' discussion on police shootings, discrimination, and the violent attacks on peaceful protests in the summer of 2020.
Overall, 4 stars, highly recommended. Probably going to watch the film now.