21FA-LS-5653 - African-American Literature: The Hate U Give by Angie Thomas

 

"Sometimes you can do everything right, and things will still go wrong. The key is to never stop doing right."

Bibliography:
Thomas, Angie. 2017. The Hate U Give. New York: Balzer and Bray. ISBN: 9780062498533

Plot Summary:
Starr Carter is a 16-year-old girl surviving two different lives; the life in Garden Heights with her family and the life she leads at her predominately white school in the rich suburbs.  Soon her divided worlds collide when Starr witnesses her best friend, Kalil Harris, being racially profiled and shot by a cop. Starr knows she should speak up about Kalil's death but is afraid of what will happen to her and her family if she says something. On one side, there is the drug lord who runs Garden Heights; on the other are the cops who almost always walk away without any legal ramifications. There's also the fact that Kalil's death has become a national news sensation, and Starr has to keep quiet while her friend is depicted as a thug. However, Starr can no longer stay silent, and she must do whatever it takes to speak up, no matter the danger, no matter the consequences. 

Critical Analysis:
The Hate U Give by Angie Thomas is a phenomenal realistic fiction YA novel that is a must-read. Teens will especially relate to this story and see their own lives reflected in Starr's experiences. Thomas does a fantastic job of bringing all of the dynamic characters to life and writes in a contemporary style that displays quality work. I found myself laughing out loud and tearing up at the appropriate moments. Starr is an outstanding character who learns to navigate the hardships of police brutality, fake friendships, racial differences, and courage to stand up for her rights. Maverick and Lisa, Starr's parents, are genuine characters based on realistic families. They discuss the real-life issues of being in a gang, spending time in prison, managing systemic racism, running businesses, what happens if you get pulled over by a police officer, and more. The diverse cast of characters authentically reflect people in the world today and throughout history.  

The cultural values and settings of the story are accurate, believable, and distinct. Readers will easily differentiate the socioeconomic issues, social injustices, and conflicts intertwined throughout the narrative. Angie Thomas provides concise details of African American's experiences with racism, which is relevant to cultural history and current society. She also depicts similarities between real-world situations and the plot of The Hate U Give, such as protests, activism, and outcries for justice. Readers will also recognize places familiar to the settings, like poor neighborhoods such as Garden Heights and rich communities such as Riverton Hills, Starr's two worlds.

Overall, The Hate U Give by Angie Thomas is an amazing reading experience that calls for reflection on African American cultural values and the issues of America that are still ongoing. Readers will relate to Thomas's relevant and genuine depiction of diverse represented characters and writing. People will also find moments of relief, such as hilarious insights like Maverick's theory of Harry Potter being a gangbanger, as well as compassionate feelings for Starr's devastations. Most importantly, this banned book is a novel worth reading and will teach all a lesson or two about values, beliefs, and our rights. An instant classic and a new favorite. 

Awards & Reviews:

  • 2017 Kirkus Prize Nominee for Young Readers' Literature
  • 2017 Goodreads Choice Award for Young Adult Fiction & for Debut Goodreads Author
  • 2017 National Book Award Nominee for Young People's Literature
  • 2018 Carnegie Medal Nominee
  • 2018 Coretta Scott King Book Award Nominee for Author Honor
  • 2018 Edgar Award Nominee for Best Young Adult
  • 2018 NAACP Image Award Nominee for Youth/Teens
  • 2018 Odyssey Award
  • 2018 William C. Morris YA Debut Award
  • 2019 Rhode Island Teen Book Award
  • 2020 Evergreen Teen Book Award Nominee for High School
From ALA Booklist, "Beautifully written in Starr’s authentic first-person voice, this is a marvel of verisimilitude as it insightfully examines two worlds in collision. An inarguably important book that demands the widest possible readership."

From BCCB, "Ultimately the book emphasizes the need to speak up about injustice. That’s a message that will resonate with all young people concerned with fairness, and Starr’s experience will speak to readers who know Starr’s life like their own and provide perspective for others."

From Kirkus Reviews, "With smooth but powerful prose delivered in Starr’s natural, emphatic voice, finely nuanced characters, and intricate and realistic relationship dynamics, this novel will have readers rooting for Starr and opening their hearts to her friends and family. This story is necessary. This story is important."

From VOYA, "The Hate U Give is an important and timely novel that reflects the world today’s teens inhabit. Starr’s struggles create a complex character, and Thomas boldly tackles topics like racism, gangs, police violence, and interracial dating. This topical, necessary story is highly recommended for all libraries."

Connections:
Discussion: One part of The Hate U Give is about Starr navigating a racist friendship; ask patrons/students to discuss how they would have handled the situation with that friend. Have they ever had a similar experience? Encourage participants to brainstorm ways for combating racism within their inner circles and what they can do to be antiracists. 

Activity: For patrons who want to learn more about youth activism, suggest the following video resources: 

Patrons interested in The Hate U Give might also enjoy these Angie Thomas' novels:

  • Clayton, Dhonielle, Tiffany D. Jackson, Nic Stone, Angie Thomas, Ashley Woodfolk, and Nicola Yoon. 2021. Blackout. ISBN: 9780063088092
  • Thomas, Angie. 2021. Concrete Rose. ISBN: 9780062846716 
  • Thomas, Angie. 2019. On the Come Up. ISBN: 9780062498564

To continue the discussion of social injustice and activism, recommend the following novels to patrons:

  • Abdul-Jabbar, Kareem., and Raymond Obstfeld. 2017. Becoming Kareem: Growing Up On and Off the Court. ISBN: 9780316555388
  • Bieschke, Marke. 2020. Into the Streets: A Young Person's Visual History of Protest in the United States. ISBN: 9781541581463
  • Reynolds, Jason and Brendan Kiely. 2015. All American Boys. ISBN: 9781481463331
  • Reynolds, Jason. 2017. Long Way Down. ISBN: 9781481438254
  • Sims, Guy A. and Walter Dean Myers. 2015. Monster: A Graphic Novel. Ills. by Dawud Anyabwile. ISBN: 9780062275004
  • Stone, Nic. 2017. Dear Martin. ISBN: 9781101939499 
  • Stone, Nic. 2020. Dear Justyce. ISBN: 9781984829665
  • Zoboi, Ibi and Yusef Salaam. 2020. Punching the Air. ISBN: 9780062996480