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The Hate U Give (The Hate U Give, #1)

Angie Thomas

Start date: January 1, 2018

Finish date: January 31, 2018

Discussion: ~2018 Monthly Book Discussions~

Why we're reading this: January 2018: Book of the Month
[close] January 2018: Book of the Month

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~2018 Monthly Book Discussions~

May 2018: 84, Charing Cross Road
By Megan · 6 posts · 90 views

last updated Feb 12, 2023 06:50AM

Dec 2018: Children of Blood and Bone
By Megan · 8 posts · 155 views

last updated Jun 15, 2022 08:27AM

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What Members Thought

Feb 13, 2019 Shawnda M. rated it really liked it

16 year old Starr Carter moves between two worlds: the poor neighborhood where she lives and the fancy suburban prep school she attends. The uneasy balance between these worlds is shattered when Starr witnesses the fatal shooting of her childhood best friend Khalil at the hands of a police officer. Khalil was unarmed.

Soon afterward, his death is a national headline. Some are calling him a thug, maybe even a drug dealer and a gangbanger. Protesters are taking to the streets in Khalil’s name. What 16 year old Starr Carter moves between two worlds: the poor neighborhood where she lives and the fancy suburban prep school she attends. The uneasy balance between these worlds is shattered when Starr witnesses the fatal shooting of her childhood best friend Khalil at the hands of a police officer. Khalil was unarmed.

Soon afterward, his death is a national headline. Some are calling him a thug, maybe even a drug dealer and a gangbanger. Protesters are taking to the streets in Khalil’s name. What everyone wants to know is: what really went down that night? And the only person alive who can answer that is Starr.

I think this is a must read for people of all races and all ages! You've probably heard a lot about this book and if not at least the movie adaptation. The topic is heavy. It's all about the BLM movement, why it exists, and shows a scenario of a policeman crossing the line and taking an unarmed black teenager's life. However that is not all the story is about it is also the story of family, love, loss, while showing how that injustice goes on to affect everyone in its path. Reading about this young girl’s situation and the after-effects of watching her childhood friends die in her arms in front of her brought me through so many emotions.

I would like to say I never felt once that this book paints all cops in a bad light but discusses what really happens when a situation like this occurs and the officer is acquitted of all wrongdoing. I really did like that about this book. I love that it spoke about how standing up for yourself, and your community can be done without violence. Use your voice and speak up! Be the light that educates, be the change!

This was a quick read. The story and conversations were realistic and compelling. At the end of this novel I had cried, I had laughed, and above all, I had learned something about an experience I have never even thought twice about being involved in. I am so thankful I read this book, it gave me a lot of insight and food for thought as I strive to be a better member of society and gave me a whole new appreciation for all those who have to live through this sort of thing every day. ...more

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May 06, 2018 Wendy rated it liked it

Shelves: lcsc-book-club, 2018-reads, pop-sugar-challenge-2018

This was our spouses' club book club selection for May. I think the main topic of this book - police brutality against African Americans - is relevant to what is happening today and needs to have a voice in literature. It is the only book that I have read, to date, that deals with this societal problem and I hope to have the opportunity to read more. Starr's voice was very relatable and honest. I could feel her anger about what happened and the uncertainty about living in two different worlds, t ...more

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Jan 22, 2019 Pili rated it really liked it · review of another edition

Técnicamente son 3.5 estrellas, pero le di la otra mitad porque creo que es muy poderosa la historia que cuenta.

Culturizándome un poco, supe que este libro entra dentro de la categoría de "Own Voices Books", porque son escritos por una persona que comparte la misma marginalización que los protagonistas de sus historias. No tenía la más mínima idea, estoy súper desactualizada con esas categorías, pero creo que prestaré más atención la próxima vez porque definitivamente se nota que este libro lo Técnicamente son 3.5 estrellas, pero le di la otra mitad porque creo que es muy poderosa la historia que cuenta.

Culturizándome un poco, supe que este libro entra dentro de la categoría de "Own Voices Books", porque son escritos por una persona que comparte la misma marginalización que los protagonistas de sus historias. No tenía la más mínima idea, estoy súper desactualizada con esas categorías, pero creo que prestaré más atención la próxima vez porque definitivamente se nota que este libro lo escribió una persona afroamericana en Estados Unidos.

El libro tiene sus cositas, empezando por la narración en primera persona que ya es un NO para mí, además de que la narrativa en sí es bastante simple, se nota que es el primer libro de la autora. A veces creo que peca mucho de estar construyendo un discurso más que contando una historia. Pasa pocas veces, pero pasa y me sacó un poco de la lectura algunas veces. Al principio cuesta seguir el desfile de personajes que salen, pero una vez la historia te engancha ya estás.

Creo que, a pesar de la forma y que la prosa pueda pulirse mucho mejor, lo más poderoso es la historia que cuenta. La cantidad de veces que tuve que parar la lectura por la rabia que estaba sintiendo por todo lo que tenía que vivir la protagonista. El libro transmite un mensaje muy fuerte, muy de no quedarse callado o, peor, de ser indiferente ante lo obvio. Me fascinaron sobre todo los personajes secundarios de Maya y Chris. La primera para recalcar que, realmente, la comunidad asiática también sufre un montón de discriminación en USA (y varios países, pero ese es otro tema). Me habría gustado ver más de ella, lástima que la historia no daba para ello. Y Chris, el "blanco token" de esta historia, porque a pesar que es dibujado como una persona buena, que tiene el corazón en el lugar correcto, a veces tiene racismo internalizado sin darse cuenta. Pero eso es lo bonito, que Chris lo aprende y crece. Me encantó que realmente el único conflicto que tuvieron él y Starr no fue acerca de racismo en sí (como lo temí) sino que Chris quería entrar a un mundo al que Starr no el estaba dando acceso. Me pareció de lo más bonito de la historia.

Es una lectura maravillosa, la recomendaría mil veces. ...more

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