The Hate U Give

Starr Carter’s world is shattered when she is the only witness to the fatal shooting of her unarmed best friend, Khalil, by a police officer. Now what Starr says could destroy her community. It could also get her killed.

Inspired by the Black Lives Matter movement, the multi-award-winning The Hate U Give is a powerful and gripping novel about one girl’s struggle for justice.

About the author

Angie Thomas was born, raised and still resides in Mississippi as indicated by her accent. She is a former teen rapper whose greatest accomplishment was an article about her in Right-On Magazine with a picture included. She holds a BFA in Creative Writing from Belhaven University and an unofficial degree in Hip Hop. She can also still rap if needed. She is an inaugural winner of the Walter Dean Myers Grant 2015, awarded by We Need Diverse Books. Film rights for her debut novel, The Hate U Give, was optioned by Fox 2000 with George Tillman attached to direct and Hunger Games actress Amandla Stenberg set to star. The film was released in 2018.

(from publisher)

Librarians’ comments

This is the kind of book that unflinchingly opens a door, in our minds, to the current state of affairs, which at once scare and infuriate us. We know that these types of things are happening right now. We know this and still we try to keep the door shut. It is uncomfortable to think about the prevailing racism, injustice and prejudice and still permeates our modern societies. Aren’t we all past that, one might ask ? No, we are not. And this is exactly why we need authors like Angie Thomas and books like “The Hate U Give“.  We need them to push these doors wider open and to bring hate to the bright daylight. We need them to blow more air into our lungs so we can stand up and shout for change. This is the kind of book that can move masses. The Hate U Give is eye opening, heartbreaking, and timely. It is both devastating and phenomenal.

Despite being written for younger audiences, adult patrons and staff found this story to be a favourite of 2017. Complicated topics concerning politics, policing, race, and justice are woven into a very compelling story. One reader wrote “Troubling, funny, complex, engaging, important and totally necessary.”