THE HATE U GIVE
Eight Starred Reviews and a #1 New York Times Bestseller!
Angie Thomas’s searing debut about an ordinary girl in extraordinary circumstances addresses issues of racism and police violence with intelligence, heart, and unflinching honesty.
Sixteen-year-old Starr Carter is thrust into the national spotlight after her childhood friend is killed by a white police officer after a routine traffic stop. As she works through her grief and her relationships with family and friends, she must navigate the vastly different worlds of her suburban private school and her poor, urban neighborhood. This gripping debut echoes conversations about police brutality dominant in the news and moves readers beyond Twitter hashtags.
Eight Starred Reviews and a #1 New York Times Bestseller!
Angie Thomas’s searing debut about an ordinary girl in extraordinary circumstances addresses issues of racism and police violence with intelligence, heart, and unflinching honesty.
Sixteen-year-old Starr Carter is thrust into the national spotlight after her childhood friend is killed by a white police officer after a routine traffic stop. As she works through her grief and her relationships with family and friends, she must navigate the vastly different worlds of her suburban private school and her poor, urban neighborhood. This gripping debut echoes conversations about police brutality dominant in the news and moves readers beyond Twitter hashtags. Readers will feel energized to promote and advance social justice against police brutality and racism.
- Balzer and Bray
- Hardcover
- February 2017
- 464 Pages
- 9780062498533
Buy the Book
$17.99
About Angie Thomas
Angie Thomas was born, raised, and still resides in Jackson, Mississippi. She is a former teen rapper whose greatest accomplishment was an article about her in Right On! Magazine. She holds a BFA in creating writing. The Hate U Give is her first novel.
Praise
“Stunning.”—John Green
“Absolutely riveting!”—Jason Reynolds
“This story is necessary. This story is important.”—Kirkus Reviews (starred review)
“Heartbreakingly topical.”—Publishers Weekly (starred review)
“A marvel of verisimilitude.”—Booklist (starred review)
“A powerful, in-your-face novel.”—The Horn Book (starred review)
Discussion Questions
1. Chapter 2 begins with Starr flashing back to a talk her parents had with her about what precautions to take when encountering a police officer (Chapter 2, p. 20). Have you had a similar conversation with people you love about what to do when stopped by the police? Reflect upon or imagine this conversation.
2. Thomas frequently uses motifs of silence and voice throughout the book. Find instances in the book where silence or voice and speech are noted, and talk about the author’s possible intentions for emphasizing these motifs.
3. At the police station after Starr details the events leading up to the shooting, the detective shifts her focus to Khalil’s past. Why do you think the detective did this? Discuss Starr’s reaction to this “bait” (Chapter 6, pp. 102–103).
4. Once news of Khalil’s shooting spreads across the neighborhood, unrest arises: “Sirens wail outside. The news shows three patrol cars that have been set ablaze at the police precinct . . . A gas station near the freeway gets looted . . . My neighborhood is a war zone” (Chapter 9, pp. 136–139). Respond to this development and describe some parallels to current events.
5. How do you think Starr would define family? What about Seven? How do you define it?
6. Chris and Starr have a breakthrough in their relationship—Starr admits to him that she was in the car with Khalil and shares the memories of Natasha’s murder (Chapter 17, pp. 298–302). Discuss why Starr’s admission and releasing of this burden to Chris is significant.
7. How and why does the neighborhood react to the grand jury’s decision (Chapter 23)? How does Starr use her voice as a weapon, and why does she feel that it is vital that she does?
8. Starr pledges to “never be quiet” Chapter 26, p. 444. After reading this book, how can you use your voice to promote and advance social justice? Reflect on how you and your community discuss and address inequality.