MC's Reviews > The Hate U Give

"The Hate U Give” is a moving novelization of an all-too familiar headline: a young black girl witnesses the police shooting of her unarmed friend. The book has one of the strongest, most loving depictions of family dynamics that I have ever encountered in the YA genre – I found each of the family members to be multi-faceted and deeply endearing. “The Hate U Give” also approaches a difficult topic with a lot of heart. But, it’s not perfect. The book is absurdly lengthy – coming in at 464 pages – and full of brief vignettes attempting to tackle a variety of serious subjects: casual racism, grief, street justice, gang violence, poverty, addiction, and interracial relationships, just to list a few. And, the main thesis (speaking your truth in the face of adversity and systemic racism) feels weak and out of focus for a majority of the book. Still, “The Hate U Give” is timely, necessary and adds much-needed complexity to the YA genre.