The Hate U Give

The Hate U Give is a 2017 young adult novel by Angie Thomas. It is Thomas’s debut novel, expanded from a short story she wrote in college in reaction to the police shooting of Oscar Grant. The book is narrated by Starr Carter, a 16-year-old black girl from a poor neighborhood who attends an elite private school in a predominantly white, affluent part of the city. Starr becomes entangled in a national news story after she witnesses a white police officer shoot and kill her childhood friend, Khalil. She speaks up about the shooting in increasingly public ways, and social tensions culminate in a riot after a grand jury decides not to indict the police officer for the shooting.

The Hate U Give was published on February 28, 2017, by HarperCollins imprint Balzer + Bray, which had won a bidding war for the rights to the novel. The book was a commercial success, debuting at number one on The New York Times young adult best-seller list, where it remained for 50 weeks. It won several awards and received critical praise for Thomas’s writing and timely subject matter. In writing the novel, Thomas attempted to expand readers’ understanding of the Black Lives Matter movement as well as difficulties faced by black Americans who are forced to code switch. These themes, as well as the vulgar language, attracted criticism and caused the book to be one of the most challenged books of 2017 and 2018 according to the American Library Association.

I just finished reading this as part of a research project I’m doing on young adult literature. Curious if anyone else has read it (or seen the film, because apparently there is one, so I’m tagging this as #literature and #movies) and what their thoughts are. I found it super powerful, though that’s coming from a white person, so take it for what you will. I thought it rang with a lot of hard truths that white folks could use to hear and develop a better understanding of what’s at stake for many black folks in America. I’d be super interested to teach the book one day, but I imagine it would be a fight to get it included in a curriculum (and it skews a little older than the age groups I typically work with).

I saw the movie around the time it came out and I started reading the novel (about 20% through according to Apple Books).

For me, it was one of the best movies that came out that year. I found the whole story grounded and honest. I remember when it was ending and my heart was beating fast. I’ll probably buy the movie once I’m done with the book.

So far, I’m really enjoying the book. It’s a lot denser than other YA novels I have read. There is an authenticity to Starr’s narration. Like, this is how a teenager in this situation talks and thinks. We see everything through her eyes and she is very relatable.

Interested to hear your thoughts on how the movie adapts the book’s narrative once you finish it! I do need to check out the movie myself.

I agree that there’s a density to the book that is really compelling and elevates it among other YA novels. It’s a book about police brutality for sure, but it also looks at the densely layered economies and communities and complex family structures in black America. Starr is also a brilliantly composed narrator because she’s torn between two worlds – her home and her school – so all readers have some kind of entryway into stepping into her shoes and accessing her story. It’s so, so well done. I’ve been looking for YA novels that deal with similar subject matter that I could maybe use in my classroom, but The Hate U Give opens so many different doors for conversation. I read All American Boys for the same research study and while it also deals with police violence (and is also very good), it isn’t as multi-layered as The Hate U Give. Unfortunately I think The Hate U Give skews a little too old for the age group I’m working with (mostly I worry about the sexual content of all things being an issue for some parents and administrators). I really need to check out Angie Thomas’s other YA novel. I believe it also takes place in Garden Heights.

I wrapped up the novel last night and really loved it. It’s been a while since I saw the movie, but from what I remember, it’s well done. A couple of characters are cut but their actions are given to other characters, making them more impactful in some cases. Also, they have Starr’s affection for the Harry Potter series be a bit more propionate than in the book. The ending of the movie also slightly differs.

SPOILERS FOR HOW THE MOVIE ENDS

While I was reading, I thought about how this book would be taught to a class. There are unfortunately too many things elements that would keep it out of curriculum. It’s a shame because there is so much kids can learn. There’s the social elements to work with as well as the underlying theme of finding your voice.

One book that this reminded me of is Speak by Laurie Hales Anderson. It’s been years since I’ve read it (it was back in high school, which was ten years ago!!), but I do remember that it shares the same level of depth in its main character as The Hate U Give. Speak also deals with with adult themes (mainly sexual assault), so reading these as companion pieces may be rough.

EDIT
I saw today that the movie is currently on sale for $4.99 on iTunes. As well, I believe it is also currently free to rent on digital platforms.

I was fine with these changes to the ending, but I thought the movie flubbed some of the more powerful and specific language that the book’s ending had.

I thought the ending with Sekani holding the gun was shocking in a good way. I understand why they took out DeVante, but I think it undercut Mav’s character a bit. We don’t really understand in the movie why the store is so important to him and how it’s part of his vision for effecting change in Garden Heights. I also didn’t like how little Uncle Carlos was in the movie and I REALLY don’t remember him basically saying he was racist in his policing too in the book, but it’s also been a few months now since I read it.