Book Review – The Hate U Give

The Hate U Give is about the life of a 16-year-old black girl, Starr Carter, who is drawn to activism after she witnesses the police shooting of a childhood friend. An object of tug-o-war, Starr is pulled back and forth by her predominantly white school and friends and her predominantly black neighborhood and family. She’s no stranger to gang activity, drug use or violence, but when it’s her childhood friend who’s involved, things hit a little too close to home.

The Hate U Give is about the life of a 16-year-old black girl, Starr Carter, who is drawn to activism after she witnesses the police shooting of a childhood friend. An object of tug-o-war, Starr is pulled back and forth by her predominantly white school and friends and her predominantly black neighborhood and family. She's no stranger to gang activity, drug use or violence, but when it's her childhood friend who's involved, things hit a little too close to home.

There’s a lot of buzz about this book going around. I borrowed it from a friend so I could avoid another Hunger Games situation, waiting way too long to get in on the buzz.

Book 8:
The Hate U Give
by Angie Thomas

Genre:
Young Adult, Contemporary

Published:
February 2017

Synopsis According to Mandi:
Without spoilers, The Hate U Give is about the life of a 16-year-old black girl, Starr Carter, who is drawn to activism after she witnesses the police shooting of a childhood friend. An object of tug-o-war, Starr is pulled back and forth by her predominantly white school and friends and her predominantly black neighborhood and family. She’s no stranger to gang activity, drug use or violence, but when it’s her childhood friend who’s involved, things hit a little too close to home.

Favorite Quote(s):

“‘A’ight, let’s say we move,’ Daddy said. ‘Then what? We just like all the other sellouts who leave and turn their backs on the neighborhood. We can change stuff around here, but instead we run? That’s what you wanna teach our kids?'”

– Angie Thomas, The Hate U Give

Awards (based upon my brief research):

National Book Award Nominee for Young People’s Literature (2017)
Kirkus Prize Nominee for Young Readers’ Literature (2017)
Goodreads Choice Award for Young Adult Fiction & for Debut Goodreads Author (2017) and for Best of the Best (2018)
Carnegie Medal Nominee (2018)
NAACP Image Award Nominee for Youth/Teens (2018)
Odyssey Award (2018)
William C. Morris YA Debut Award (2018)
Los Angeles Times Book Prize Nominee for Young Adult Literature (2017)
Edgar Award Nominee for Best Young Adult (2018)
Michael L. Printz Award Nominee (2018)
Coretta Scott King Award Nominee for Author Honor (2018)
Amelia Elizabeth Walden Award (2018) 
Boston Globe-Horn Book Award for Fiction (2017)
Lincoln Award Nominee (2019)

Pages:
444

My Overall Rating:
4 – I hate that things like what happened in this book happen in real life. That makes me so sad. This was a great read with a strong message. At times I found it cheesy (though it’s young adult, so I should probably allow that), but as a whole I would strongly recommend this book. In a strange way, it felt like a less intense version of Just Mercy, which I loved.