The Hate U Give
By Angie Thomas
Publisher: Walker Books
Genre: Young Adult Fiction
I read The Hate U Give one week before the murder of George Floyd. It’s been on my book shelf since 2017 but a month ago I decided that it was time to read it. If it was a week later, I doubt I would have picked up the book. If you’re a regular reader of my book reviews you’ll know that my book reviews are personal and involve reflections of my thoughts and feelings as well. Especially in the It Hit Me When section.
“‘Pac said Thug Life stood for ‘The Hate U Give Little Infants Fucks Everybody”
Watch the Breakdown
The book is told through teenager Starr who is in the car with her best friend Khalil, who is unarmed, when he is murdered by the police in front of her eyes. It’s a real no play-play straight into the action sort of book. By chapter 2 Starr’s best friend has been killed and it really is the beginning of a spiral of events in her life taking place in and outside her community.
Starr already struggles with her juggling act. In her local neighbourhood, Garden heights, she is physically part of the majority, yet struggles to fit in. Meanwhile, at the private school she goes to out of ends, she is a minority and feels that she can’t be her true self. She fights an inner struggle dictated by the stereotypes and unsaid rules that exist in society. She can’t be too hood in front of her posh white friends, but on the other hand she’s not fully embraced in her community.
Someone always knows someone in the hood, and someone told someone something about Khalil’s struggles in the run up to his murder. The problem is the media are painting an ugly picture of who Khalil was, the city is rioting whilst they mourn another loss, and the kids at Starr’s posh school are using Khalil’s death as a cheap excuse to get out of school. All this is happening whilst Starr internally debates whether she should keep quiet about her being the witness to Khalil’s murder and let him go down as being another statistic in the cycle. She’s terrified. Terrified of the police, of the consequences in her area of saying what she knows about Khalil’s dealings, and of being known in her school as that girl who was friends with the lowlife the media made him out to be.
When a life is taken, we naturally focus on that person limiting their life and being to that incident and this book shatters all of that. It focuses on Starr who witnesses the murder, her family and their wider community as they adapt to this reality. It gives a real insight into Starr and Khalil’s family who have to come to terms with their loved one never coming back but also the opinions and justifications that people make up to excuse things like this.
“They finally put a sheet over Khalil. He can’t breathe under it. I can’t breathe.”
Is that how you’re feeling yeah
Angie Thomas’ writing style hooked me. This is the second book I’ve read of hers and she adopts the same easy flowing first-person narrative through the main character which keeps the whole story fresh and fully brings the details to life. The characters are consistent and lifelike which is very important, especially given a plot like this. Things that were mentioned felt true to their environment and didn’t feel forced. I wouldn’t be surprised if some of the content in the book mirrored elements of the author’s life because of how authentic it was.
Don’t get it twisted, I really enjoyed the book, but I felt sad all throughout reading it. The activism moments made me smile, but all in all, it was a sad read. I get that reading is not all about feeling happy and empowered after though. Sometimes, you need to be shaken and woken up. It’s so triggering that 3 years after being published this book feels brand new and relevant to the past few weeks. I do like timeless books, but this feels like it’s timeless for the wrong reasons. This is not a knock on the author, it’s a burst of rage at society!
Ok, on a lighter tone back to how I’m feeling. I was fully down with the subtle living room conversations that made their way into the story. The concept of ‘selling out’ was explored in a couple of angles. One by Starr dating outside of her race and the internal conflict she faced as well as commentary from those around her who passed judgement on her. And also the debate her parents had about moving the family up out the hood to the suburbs. I’ve been in numerous conversations where the two have come up, and many have labelled someone as less black for dating a white person, or not as real as other black people for being middle class and living in different settings. You need to be there to see how tense these conversations get. Living in London and having friends with young children, the second point is a topic that comes up monthly. It boils down regularly to a thought of potential ‘diversity over safety’, but that’s a discussion for another day.
The activism part was electrifying. As a book aimed at young people and seeing how young people are helping to tear up the system and institutional stupidity, I loved it. The book helps give ownership to those coming up.
It Hit me When
It hit me when I really peeped how the media did their circus routine and how they portrayed the police officer and his statement. In one of the media interviews, the police officer who shot Khalil’s father was interviewed sharing stories about his son and highlighting how much he had been affected by the incident. The energy that comes into the system, of making someone a victim when they have taken a life is puzzling. Stepping outside of the book for a minute, the whole social media presence that I’ve seen online is maddd when it comes to murder. Specifically police brutality and the mishandling of Black people. I’ve seen disgusting comments from people on their keyboards writing about how a victims mother doesn’t look sad enough. I’ve only just noticed recently how much the media can really influence criminal investigations and it is really scary.
“One-Fifteen Sr. (The father of the officer who shot Khalil) talks about his son’s life before the shooting. How he was a good kid who never got into trouble, always wanted to help others. A lot like Khalil. But then he talks about the stuff One-Fifteen did that Khalil will never get to do, like go to college, get married, have a family.”
Length
438 pages. There’s also the Author’s notes that I strongly suggest you hit up and read plus the opening chapter of On The Come Up, Angie’s second book.
*Cough cough I’ve reviewed it. Right here*
Who should read it
The book is definitely a green light for teenagers, core reading material right about 2020. Especially, a good starting point for young people questioning senseless killings and police brutality. It brings more depth and experience into life in America for a young Black person, which I think all young people regardless of their background can learn about through the power of storytelling like this. The death toll is getting so ridiculous that people are becoming desensitised to it. But this book will fling the holy spirit in you making you feel and most importantly think.
Seasoning Level
CO2 | Salt | Pepper | Mixed Herbs | All Purpose Seasoning
The big quotes
“ Good-byes hurt the most when the other person’s already gone.”
“What’s the point of having a voice if you’re gonna be silent?”
Have you read this book? What are your views on it? Drop your comments below!
