The Hate U Give by Angie Thomas

5/5 STARS

Genre: Contemporary, Young Adult
Author: Angie Thomas
Published: February 2017
Publisher: Walker Books
Pages: 438 {paperback}

Review on Goodreads

---

Initial Thoughts Upon Finishing

I had very high expectations for this book and it totally lived up to them and went beyond. I couldn’t read this fast enough and I found it impossible to put down. The message in this is beautiful, poignant and so so so so so so important. Hands down, I’m going to have to read every other book that Angie Thomas puts out from now on in.

---

The Hate U Give

If you don’t know what this book is about by now then allow me to throw it at your so you can enlighten yourself. This is an AMAZING book about so many relative things in today’s society. It’s about being black in a world far less tolerant than it thinks it is, about the reality of standing up to something wrong and using your own voice and about family. It’s beautiful and important and hot damn everyone needs to read it.

The story follows Starr who witnesses the murder of her friend Khalil. He is unjustly shot when a police officer pulls them over and gets spooked after assuming two kids in a car in a dodgy neighbour who weren’t white would be up to something. I WAS SO MAD. I’ve never been so mad throughout a book and oh my lord I can’t wait for the film so I more people will see it and share these feelings.

Angie Thomas has done an amazing job with this book with creating a riveting read that is not only entertainment in the form of literature but a damn good point to bring up and perfect for all audiences to be able to relate and understand. I just can’t express how frustrated I am knowing how many times I’ve seen this sort of situation flash on the American news headlines. *deep breaths*

---

Starr

The book wasn’t too much of anything – it was nicely balanced between the story of the shooting and Starr’s own journey. Which is important. It’s the character growth we go through with Starr that makes this book. Following her on her journey at a relatively young age of understanding her lot in the world was amazing. She’s the type of girl who’s promised herself in the past saying if she ever saw something like she did she would 100% stand up and talk.

But when she’s actually faced with the reality of it, everything is different. With her father an ex “gangbanger” and her neighbourhood extremely poor and relatively unsafe, she lives in a world where there is a lot of pressure on her to speak up. She’s seen first-hand many times what the law means for her people when the law isn’t really there to protect them.

So this progression of Starr from the murder to her Dad’s pep talks about the importance of speaking out was wonderful. It’s a slow journey of learning confidence to stand up for what is right and the Starr we know at the start of the book is definitely someone different to who we know by the end of it.

---

How Well is the Message Portrayed?

SO DAMN WELL. I came out of this wanting to wave a banner and march across the world because of how raw the emotions and how well Thomas makes us relate to what is going on. I’m seriously impressed by this book and totally thrilled to have finally read it. If you haven’t read this yet then you have no excuse and you definitely get onto it soon!

---

Summary

Highly recommend this and I hope it’s popularity only increases with the release of the movie which I PRAY is done well (and from the trailer it sure looks like it will). I’m really excited to read more from Thomas because she has a fantastic writing style and a real gift for bringing characters off the page. Loved this!

---

Grab a Copy!

I am an affiliate with these companies. By using these links to purchase books you are supporting Upside-Down Books!

Get free worldwide shipping and great prices with The Book Depository and Wordery!

Support an Australian company with Angus & Robertson and get free shipping on orders over $60!

Support an Australian company with Booktopia and enjoy flat rate shipping for AUS/NZ!

 

---

 You might also like . . .

---

Have you read The Hate U Give?

Share your thoughts below!

---

~~ Kirstie ~~

Follow @ozbooksnail