The Hate You Give

I honestly didn't know how to begin the review of this novel. Before now, I'll open my document and watch the arrow tick for minutes without being able to type out a single word. I guess it was because I was still held under the poignant spell of the book and it took me days to get over it.

The Hate You Give by Angie Thomas is a young adult novel that tells the story of Starr Carter. A sixteen year old, living in a poor black neighborhood called Garden Heights but attends a prominent white school, Williamson Prep.

Synopsis (possible spoilers)

Starr is at a party, in her neighborhood, trying her best to blend in when her childhood friend, Khalil, who she's not seen in a while walks up to her. They reconnect and while at it, a fight ensues and Khalil helps Starr to the safety of his car and peels out of the environment. On their way to Starr's house, a white police officer, waves them down. Khalil pulls over and is interrogated by the police. The encounter with the police soon escalates and Khalil is forced out of the car by the officer. When suddenly, he moves a little closer to the window to ask Starr if she was okay, the officer sends three bullet into his body that has him looking up to heaven and in no time laying eyes open on the ground, covered in blood. Starr rushes out to him and the gun is pointed at her as well until when an ambulance arrives.

The incident soon enough becomes a national news story and the police officer gives a diluted story as to what happened and Khalil is tagged a thug and a drug dealer. Starr being the only witness to what actually transpired is called upon to give her side of the story but she's afraid that if she accepts to speak against the white officer, they would come for her and blow her head off just like they did Khalil. So, she denies knowing him at her school and also refuses to say anything about it but subsequent events of people calling Khalil a drug dealer and a thug triggered her enough for her to speak up about the incident.

When Starr finally saw the need to speak up, for her friend, for the sake of the other innocent blacks living in Garden Heights, nothing was done to the officer, One-fifteen as Starr called him. The court had passed their judgement that he wasn't found guilty even after Starr's statement and the dew evidences presented.

Since injustice was the case, the blacks took it upon themselves to protest for the death of Khalil and stories alike his.

My review

I honestly understood Starr's fear when she was asked to speak up about the incident. It's one thing to love your friend and want justice for them but it's another thing to want justice but end up endangering the lives of your immediate family. Starr was scared for her life and that of her family and I like that her parents didn't force her to speak when she didn't want to. I like that in the end, she saw a reason to fight for her right as a human not because of her skin color.

I really don't know how to express how I felt reading this book in words but I know it was a heart wrenching read except towards the ending when it seemed like there was a little gleam of hope.

The novel is poignant, it explores the impact of police violence on African American communities through the eyes of Starr Carter and the struggle for justice and equality. It's written with straightforward language and vivid imagery.
It's a great book, which I applaud for it's authentic voice, compelling characters and of course timely themes. This book not only tells a gripping story but serves as a call to action. It also inspires in a way that it helps readers confront and challenge systemic racism and inequality.

PS: there's frequent use of swear words and violence here and there.

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