The Hate U Give, by Angie Thomas - Starting June 15th, 2019

[Felicia]

Sixteen-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. Some cops and the local drug lord try to intimidate Starr and her family. What everyone wants to know is: what really went down that night? And the only person alive who can answer that is Starr.

But what Starr does—or does not—say could upend her community. It could also endanger her life.

[Ella]

Chapter 16 (view spoiler)[ I have been absolutely horrendous about posting my thoughts on this book because I cannot bear to put the amazing book down. Angie Thomas wastes no time and gets right into the meat of the story with Khalil's death taking place within the first fifty pages. I've already cried some many times and I'm only halfway through. I've also been realizing how little I know about being African-American. I try to keep up with the social justice issues covered in the news but I still know so little about those issues and what it is like to not be white. I'm thankful that I have been able to learn so much already and I really can't wait to keep reading.

"A silver cross pendant hangs from his neck, like he's saying Jesus endorses what he did. We must believe in a different Jesus."

"'Are you serious right now?' Hailey asks. 'What's wrong with saying his life matters too?'
'His life always matters more!' (hide spoiler)]

[Ella]

Chapter 21 (view spoiler)[ Hailey makes me so mad! Nothing makes me more frustrated than when people are not respectful of others and make hurtful "jokes" but also refuse to see how they could be hurtful.

On a completely different note, I love Starr's parents. Sure, they are deeply flawed but they love their children and each other so much and won't let anything rip their family apart. (hide spoiler)]

[Ella]

Finished (view spoiler)[ This was sooooooooooo goooooooooooood! I'm so glad I ready this book. it's taken me a couple of days to process this beautiful book and I'm not sure I've fully recovered but here goes.

The Hate U Give offers such a unique perspective that is so often overlooked in literature. I was in tears practically the whole time; from Khalil's death to the end. I wrote down so many quotes from this book it's unreal but mostly everything Starr said really resonated with me. I thought it was really interesting how Angie Thomas did not shy away from acknowledging the rougher parts of Starr's community but embraced it. I really liked her parents because they were real people who made mistakes but were able to move on and forgive. Even Starr makes plenty of mistakes but she learns from her mistakes and becomes better for it. There really wasn't anything about this book that felt fake to me, only raw emotion. (hide spoiler)]

[Ella]

Finished (view spoiler)[ Hands down, my least favorite character was Hailey. I've met some many people like her who speak without thinking of how their words could be hurtful to others but refuse to see how they could have hurt someone. This book was a good reminder for me to always stand up to people who make hurtful jokes/comments no matter how afraid I am.

My favorite character was Starr though. As I said in my last comment, I really liked how real she was. She is constantly struggling with her two identities and is truly afraid to speak out but ashamed of her fear at the same time. Her character growth was amazing and I really want a sequel set twenty years in the future so I can read about all the amazing things she will accomplish.

My second favorite character was probably Chris since I loved how sweet he was with Starr and how he stood by her side through thick and thin. (hide spoiler)]

[Jessica]

25%: (view spoiler)[ I hate how Khalil's death happened in the first few pages. I love how the author jumped right in. Feel so bad for Starr right now at this point in the book. (hide spoiler)]

[Jessica]

50%: (view spoiler)[ Hailey is an asshole, and I don't like her. Starr's parents are great, and I love them. I feel like Starr really needs her family right now. Her family is doing a great job supporting her. (hide spoiler)]

[Jessica]

75%: (view spoiler)[ I like this book a lot so far. I don't agree with Starr's way of dealing with things, but that is for her family and for her friend. I feel like she made a lot of mistakes, and that she is paying for some of them, and that she regrets some of the things that happened. (hide spoiler)]

[Jessica]

Finished: (view spoiler)[ I have only 6 words right now. Go read this book right now.

This was a beautiful story showing what the world has come to. I hate the racism towards every race. Not just African American, but Hispanic and every other race. Final thoughts on this book. This was one of the best books that I've ever read, and I think that everyone needs to read it. (hide spoiler)]

[Marissa]

22%
(view spoiler)[I like this book a lot so far. The book started off quickly with Khalil's death, which I knew was going to happen, but it was still hard to read. I just finished Starr's trip to the police station to talk to the detectives, and it just made me angry how the detectives already had their own ideas of what happened. It seemed like they were trying to justify the shooting because Khalil had dealt drugs before. That had nothing to do with what happened when Star and Khalil were pulled over. (hide spoiler)]

[Marissa]

50%
(view spoiler)[Starr is really brave for wanting to publically voice what happened to Khalil. It is awful that she has to be afraid for herself and her family, though. However, I would be so upset if the media was portraying my friend as a criminal and implying that he deserved being killed. Hopefully, some justice will be served. (hide spoiler)]

[Patty]

Anyone who has read Hate U Give and seen the movie? Thinking about seeing it this weekend and was curious!

[Ella]

I have not seen it personally (I really want to though!) but I heard it’s fantastic!

[Marissa]

75%
(view spoiler)[Wow, just wow. I can’t believe Hailey said those things. She is such an awful person! How could she do that to someone who was one of her best friends for most of her life? Actually she said terrible things to both Maya and Starr. I hope before the end of the book she realizes that she is wrong. (hide spoiler)]

[Marissa]

100%
(view spoiler)[I really liked the main character, Starr, and her story. Actually, I liked all of the characters. Everyone added something important to The Hate U Give. Even Hailey, who was definitely the least likable character, had a role and a reason for being included in the story. This entire book was really eye-opening, well-written, and so relevant to society today. I am definitely curious about the movie now. (hide spoiler)]

[Dr. Andy]

*****Restarting June 15th*****

[Celia]

Hi!

[Celia]

I'll probably have to start this a little later than expected. Real life got in the way, and now I'm trying to get through two other books before I look at anything else.

[Dr. Andy]

Celia wrote: "I'll probably have to start this a little later than expected. Real life got in the way, and now I'm trying to get through two other books before I look at anything else."

Me too lol