The Hate U Give/Thomas - 3 stars (for adults); 4 for teens

[Anita]

**Advance apologies for the not glowing review - I know a lot of people here loved this one**

This debut novel introduces its readers to Starr, a young woman living in the inner city and attending private school in a predominantly white suburb. After leaving a party with a childhood friend, Khalil, they are stopped by the police, and the stop goes terribly wrong. The rest of the book addresses the aftermath of that event and Starr's growth as an individual in its wake.

For me, the strength of the book is in Starr's voice. The story is narrated in an engaging, accessible way that seems true to the age of the protagonist (as judged by a 50 year old, so who really knows). It's well paced, interspersing moving quiet scenes with action packed ones. I can totally see this book being used in school as a way to discuss today's current events in the context of American history.

However, there are numerous reviews that say something to the effect of "ignore the YA label; this is the one book you should read this year." and personally, I do not agree with that advice. Maybe if you've never been exposed to inner city urban life or thought about the repercussions of urban policing or lived near/read about protests/riots. Maybe then, this book will feel engaging. The author does do a nice job of conveying the feelings of the protagonist and the quandaries of her family and the neighborhood. But to me, as a resident of a metropolitan area where these stories are essentially truth, it seemed like just too much of a rehash of the same editorials, arguments, and insights that appear over and over again on the paper and in the news. In a simplified format. By not detailing certain elements, I think a lot of the grit of the story is removed, making it more appropriate for the YA group, but less real feeling for an adult reader. Starr and her family's characters are well developed, but the antagonists are not. I felt that more of a counterpoint would be needed to make this truly a book for adults.

So, I'd say four stars for the target audience, but three stars for adult readers.

[Jason]

I'm in the middle of reading this now and so far I have to say I agree. Also, I don't think the legal aspect of it so far is correct. The police asking, actually begging for her to talk to them several days after the incident. I'm still undecided how I feel because I'm not even half way through.

[Amy]

This is one that my book group is doing together, and we put it off for months which is why I haven't read it yet either. But this was a book we all felt we should be reading with our highschoolers. I'm still hoping that it happens that way. Because I think while probably this is a very worthwhile book, it is made more worthwhile having the experience talking about it together with our teens. I will keep you posted how that goes.

[Nicole R]

I understand your critique from a purely adult point of view. But when I detach myself from that, that is when this book shines for me.

The author took a topic that no authors are effectively addressing in fiction. Yes, there are non fiction books full of facts and figures, but there are draw backs to that.

I compare it to my work that very much focuses on climate change education. I do not go out and talk to audiences about how carbon dioxide insulates the earth and prevents solar radiation from escaping back into space, how melting ice impacts the albedo effect, or how, really, we’re all pretty f-ed.

Instead, I take small, discrete impacts (not causes) of climate change, talk about how it impacts every day life, and scale back my doom and gloom so that there is a silver lining, there is a path forward. Because everyone needs a personal, emotional connection to major issues. And everyone needs hope.

This is what inspires compassion and begins to change minds. Not facts and figures. Maybe not even the full picture, which can be overwhelming and actually trigger inaction. You work up to facts and figures, but you need an initial step.

I feel like that is what this book is for police violence. It is a story that makes you feel. That exposes you to some (not all) of the nuances and social issues surrounding the problem. It does not lay everything on the table, it does put a silver lining/rosy glow on some pretty raw aspects. But, the author does it to serve the greater good. To connect with people. To show another view point. To begin to change hearts and minds.

Maybe I am giving the author to much credit, but this is why this book spoke to me. It was a brave step during a tumultuous time that reached millions of people—primarily YA, who are going to be the generation that stands up to this violence and says enough is enough.

And that is more powerful than almost any other book I have read in years.

[Anita]

Nicole R wrote: "I understand your critique from a purely adult point of view. But when I detach myself from that, that is when this book shines for me.

The author took a topic that no authors are effectively add..."

I love your eloquent defense of this book (especially as you compare it to your own work)!

And obviously, for some readers, this book is going to do what you said it can. But I have to tell you, I didn't feel the emotion of it very much at all. It may be just the type of person that I am (very left brained?), or maybe it's just that I've been very overexposed to this particular social issue (police corruption, gang violence, and the state of inner city youth are part of the everyday dialogue in our city, and frankly, I don't think the issue is that people aren't being heard. But rather that there's almost no agreement on the policy prescriptions).

I definitely think there is something to be said though about the fact that this book speaks to a teen audience that may not see themselves portrayed in fiction very often and can introduce tough issues to a young audience who may not be often exposed to them. There's definitely a lot of value in that, and I do think the book was well written.

But as an adult, I didn't find it an especially compelling (nor emotional) read, and I wouldn't really be able to endorse it to other adult readers (other than educators or like Amy suggests, to perhaps read it with their teenagers).

[Anita]

Jason wrote: "I'm in the middle of reading this now and so far I have to say I agree. Also, I don't think the legal aspect of it so far is correct. The police asking, actually begging for her to talk to them sev..."

I'm definitely not a lawyer so not quite sure how the whole witness statement thing works, but I have another friend reading it at the same time, and she keeps indicating that it seems very "unrealistic" to her. That may have been a similar concern to the one you are raising, but I felt as though the author did a pretty good job with the basic storytelling; for me it was more a matter of did it move the needle for me emotionally (which is one of the main reasons I read fiction). It didn't. I was actually a little bored which is why I am VERY CLEAR that I'm not the target audience . . .

It may not have helped that I just finished two really good non-fiction books addressing inner city problems Evicted: Poverty and Profit in the American City and The Short and Tragic Life of Robert Peace: A Brilliant Young Man Who Left Newark for the Ivy League. And as Nicole points out, you really can't compare a YA book to a non-fiction one, but these were both narrative non-fiction and very accessible.

[Karin]

I had to stop by Nicole's discussion because I am planning to read this, and the more I know, the harder it will be for me to just read the book. This is making me more interested, though, as I was initially reluctant to read it. While it's fun to do as a game, I'm not keen on books with titles that use single letters to make entire words.

[Nicole R]

Karin, I will say there is a very good reason for the "U" that you learn in the book. Because, I agree with you--single letters drive me insane typically, but here I can tolerate it because it serves a purpose.