Thomas, A. 2017. The Hate U Give. New York, NY: HarperCollins Publishers. ISBN 9780062498533
2. Summary
Starr Carter, a daughter of a former gang leader, Big Mav, lives in Garden Heights, but attends a school outside of this area. While at Williamson Prep, she struggles with her identity of living two very different lives. One night, when Starr is taken out of her comfort zone and goes to a party, she meets up with her former best friend, Khalil Harris. After gunshots are heard, Khalil helps Starr escape and gives her a ride home. On their way, a police officer stops them and orders Khalil out of the car. Scared for the possibility that Khalil was reaching for a gun while he was actually just checking on Starr (who was still in the car), the police officer shoots and kills Khalil. This causes riots and protests in Garden Heights, and although Starr was told not to attend and participate, she was raged with anger and joined in after the grand jury did not indict the police officer for the death of Khalil. While rioting and protesting, she puts her life, Seven, her friend DeVante, and her boyfriend Chris’s life at risk when they are trapped in a burning building cast by gang members and their leader, King. This helps put King and his gang members under arrest, and the violence comes to an end. Although Khalil may have not gotten the justice he deserved, Starr promises to never forget Khalil along with others who fell under the cases of police brutality. Starr learns to accept her background and molds her two different worlds together as her family lives a new life out of Garden Heights.
3. Discussion
This book had me laughing and crying from beginning to end, and I could not put this book down. I had been wanting to read it for some time but never found the time to get to it, so I was extremely happy when I saw it in the required list of books to read. I love how relatable the author, Angie Thomas, made the book feel, and I do believe this book can fall under the umbrella of realistic fiction. The characters, settings, and living conditions discussed throughout the book may not be relatable to all students, but the author does a great job in helping the reader visualize what they are reading and are able to put themselves in the characters’ shoes.
Because the topic of police brutality is one that can cause a heated discussion, I do not believe it would be suitable for elementary or middle school students. I think elementary students may be too young to have a different and difficult view of policemen, and middle school students may not be mature enough to read a book with this topic, potentially leading them to want to “act out” against authority.
4. Connections
As mentioned before, I am not sure if this is a book to read in an elementary or even middle school level, but I do believe high school students can handle debates on whether the grand jury made the right decision (especially with this new generation and their willingness to speak up).
There is a movie based on this book that was released in 2018 titled, The Hate U Give. I have not yet watched it, but I do plan on viewing it and seeing any similarities/differences between the book and the movie. This can also be done in a classroom setting, and the teacher can stop the movie at various times to discuss the students’ viewpoints of the book compared to the movie.
Starr Carter, a daughter of a former gang leader, Big Mav, lives in Garden Heights, but attends a school outside of this area. While at Williamson Prep, she struggles with her identity of living two very different lives. One night, when Starr is taken out of her comfort zone and goes to a party, she meets up with her former best friend, Khalil Harris. After gunshots are heard, Khalil helps Starr escape and gives her a ride home. On their way, a police officer stops them and orders Khalil out of the car. Scared for the possibility that Khalil was reaching for a gun while he was actually just checking on Starr (who was still in the car), the police officer shoots and kills Khalil. This causes riots and protests in Garden Heights, and although Starr was told not to attend and participate, she was raged with anger and joined in after the grand jury did not indict the police officer for the death of Khalil. While rioting and protesting, she puts her life, Seven, her friend DeVante, and her boyfriend Chris’s life at risk when they are trapped in a burning building cast by gang members and their leader, King. This helps put King and his gang members under arrest, and the violence comes to an end. Although Khalil may have not gotten the justice he deserved, Starr promises to never forget Khalil along with others who fell under the cases of police brutality. Starr learns to accept her background and molds her two different worlds together as her family lives a new life out of Garden Heights.
3. Discussion
This book had me laughing and crying from beginning to end, and I could not put this book down. I had been wanting to read it for some time but never found the time to get to it, so I was extremely happy when I saw it in the required list of books to read. I love how relatable the author, Angie Thomas, made the book feel, and I do believe this book can fall under the umbrella of realistic fiction. The characters, settings, and living conditions discussed throughout the book may not be relatable to all students, but the author does a great job in helping the reader visualize what they are reading and are able to put themselves in the characters’ shoes.
Because the topic of police brutality is one that can cause a heated discussion, I do not believe it would be suitable for elementary or middle school students. I think elementary students may be too young to have a different and difficult view of policemen, and middle school students may not be mature enough to read a book with this topic, potentially leading them to want to “act out” against authority.
4. Connections
As mentioned before, I am not sure if this is a book to read in an elementary or even middle school level, but I do believe high school students can handle debates on whether the grand jury made the right decision (especially with this new generation and their willingness to speak up).
There is a movie based on this book that was released in 2018 titled, The Hate U Give. I have not yet watched it, but I do plan on viewing it and seeing any similarities/differences between the book and the movie. This can also be done in a classroom setting, and the teacher can stop the movie at various times to discuss the students’ viewpoints of the book compared to the movie.
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