The Hate U Give

Angie Thomas- Walker Books

Review By Gemma E McLaughlin

I have chosen this week’s book for several reasons. Of course the book itself came out in 2017, however on a recent trip to the cinema I was met with the trailer for an upcoming movie based on the story and made a mental note to read the book soon. It was not until a trip to Waterstones last week that I finally picked up The Hate U Give and was intrigued by its stunning reviews and the perfect quote for this awe inspiring novel. “Whats the point of having a voice if you’re gonna be silent?”

When I started reading the book I was thrown into the life of Starr, a young girl living two lives, neither of them completely authentic. She grew up in a poor neighbourhood and went to school there until a horrific incident when she was only a child forced her to change schools to a fancy school just out of town, filled with rich white children. Starr found herself struggling to fit in anywhere and the story starts at a party she’s not supposed to be at with her childhood best friend Khalil.

Without any warning, only a little bit into the book all out chaos ensues starting with the two gunshots heard at the party. Starr and Khalil leave the party and end up driving home listening to the song that gave the book its name. The two are pulled over by the police and despite being unarmed, Khalil is shot to his death. It was almost impossible to read this scene, it needed to be written and there couldn’t have been a better person to write it than the incredible Angie Thomas. Reading that moment felt like I was there; the chaos, the flashing lights, and then all when it seems like the noise in your head is never going to end the sound of three gunshots in your mind, then silence. Horrific, heartbreaking, moving silence.

After Khalil’s death Starr is at first urged not to talk about it, if she gets involved things could become very dangerous for her. The whole neighbourhood is talking about what happened to him and to begin with no one knows what really happened, what Starr witnessed and what it’s doing to her. We are informed at all points possible that Starr didn’t think she would be so quiet about it all, she had previously thought that if she witnessed something like that she would speak up. Now the opportunity to tell the truth has risen and the story becomes laced with fear and hundreds of impossible choices that Starr shouldn’t have to make.

This book is indescribably important and beautiful. I cannot bring myself to recommend The Hate U Give enough and in the current state of the world the haunting truth oozing from Angie Thomas’ every word is exactly what we need. I cannot thank her enough for forcing me to open up my eyes just a little and see so many of the things that I have missed. If you do nothing else I beg of you to pick up a copy of The Hate U Give, and as soon as it comes out to go see the upcoming movie.