THUG: The Hate U Give by Angie Thomas

Thomas, A. (2018). The hate u give. New York: Balzer Bray.

The Hate U Give by Angie Thomas is, in my opinion, one of the most influential and important works in modern realistic fiction, period. Not YA fiction, but all fiction. This story follows Starr on her brutal journey after witnessing her friend, and first crush, die by the hands of a cop. Starr struggles with Khalil's death and the survivor's guilt that comes with being the one who is still left.

Throughout the book, Starr deals with identity and self-esteem issues- never feeling like she is able to be truly herself. She is stuck between Williamson Starr and Garden Heights Starr, always feeling never enough. She is both a nerd, like "the hood trio" which was a Harry Potter fan group with her two best friends, and a sneaker head, obsessed with sneakers specifically Jordans. It discusses diverse family structure like the issues between Mavrick and Uncle Carlos. The dual identity of feeling like a traitor to ones own race because Starr is dating a white boy, and going to a majority rich school while living in a vastly different area. This book is often challenged because of it's use of cursing and the violent nature of the plot, but arguably this book is so important because of those things. Starr ends up being the sole witness to the killing of her good friend, an unarmed black man, and the only witness for a grand jury that does not find the officer guilty. She becomes the voice to a movement in Garden Heights for the justice of all of the unarmed black men and women that have died because of police violence.

This story is the epitome of empathy, showing the reader exactly what it is like to be in this horrific situation. Angie Thomas has masterfully intertwined modern issues, 90s pop culture, race issues, and self identity in one book.  This book's topic of loss, death, and police brutality of African Americans is very important to students today. This is a book that never stays on the shelf very long. It is very consistent with the manner, behavior, and self identity for kids today. Angie Thomas received We Need Diverse Books Walter Grant which allowed Angie to finish her manuscript for The Hate U Give. 

Other books that deal with similar themes and point of view:

  • The Absolute Diary of a Part-time Indian by Sherman Alexie (self identity- similar to Starr's feeling of betraying her own race- Native American perspective) 
  • Mexican Whiteboy by Matt de la Pena (self identity- similar to Starr's feeling of betraying her own race- Hispanic perspective) 
  • Dear Martin by Nic Stone (police brutality & diverse point of view- loss of friend and self identity) 
  • On the Come Up by Angie Thomas (same author- similar themes of identity and learning to stand up for oneself)

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