The Hate U Give
About Author
Angie Thomas (born September 20, 1988) is an American young
adult author, best known for writing The Hate U Give (2017). Her second young
adult novel, On the Come Up, was released in February 25 2019. Angie Thomas was
born and raised in Jackson, Mississippi,[2] where she still resides today. Thomas
was subjected to multiple instances of gun violence at a young age. She grew up
near the home of assassinated civil rights activist Medgar Evers, stating that
her mother heard the gunshot that killed him. When she was six years old,
Thomas witnessed a shootout. Thomas' initial intention was to write fantasy and
middle grade novels, however she was worried that her stories would not matter.
While querying her first manuscript, she began another that would soon turn out
to be her first novel, The Hate U Give.
Summary of Book
The novel “The hate
you give” takes place in garden Heights a predominantly black and
impoverished urban neighbourhood. The protagonist is a teenage girl named Starr
Carter, a 16 year old African-American living in Garden Heights while attending
the upscale largely white private school Williamson prep. Stars continually
navigating both worlds but as the novel opens her best friend from childhood
Khalil is unjustly shot and killed by a cop. The novel follows star to transform
her trauma and grief into activism. The main characters include maverick or
bigmav Carter who is Starr's father and owns and operates a grocery store in
Garden Heights and is a firm believer in the tenets of black power. Lisa Carter
is star's mother and registered nurse she is an invaluable source of support
and care for her daughter throughout the novel. She encourages star to do as
much as she is comfortable with in terms of activism and speaking out. Carlos
is Lisa's brother who serves as a police officer in the same force with the
officer who shot Khalil, he lives in a suburb that is wealthier than garden
Heights. Seven is the older son of Maverick and Ayesha and his star's
half-brother he has a close and supportive relationship with star and they play
basketball together every month. King is the most notorious gang banger in the
neighbourhood a king Lord deeply involved in drug dealing and violent acts.
Ayesha is king's girlfriend and the mother of seven and Kenya. Kenya is Starr's
friend who lives in garden Heights she and Starr share a brother since maverick
is sevens father and Aisha is the mother of both Kenya and seven. Devantae is
an acquaintance of stars in garden Heights and a member of Kings gang the King
lords. Chris is stars white and rich boyfriend who shares Starr's love for
Jordan sneakers and The Fresh Prince of bel-air.
“What's the
point of having a voice if you're going to be silent in those moments you
shouldn't be?”
The novel opens with star attending a Spring Break party with her friend Kenya, stars just started to catch up with Khalil her best friend from childhood who has entered the dangerous world of drug dealing since star began attending prep school. When a gang dispute leads to a dance floor gun fight, Star and Khalil flee the scene and are pulled over by a police officer for driving with a broken taillight. The officer Pat's Khalil down and walks back to his car when Khalil opens his car door to ask Starr if she is okay the officer opens fire and star watches her friend die. The grief, confusion, anger and fear that star must deal with aftermath of Khalil's death make her initially unwilling to identify herself as the sole witness of the night's events. As time passes however star loses her reluctance serving as part of the police department's investigation speaking to the local defense attorney and hiring a lawyer from a local activist group. Star ultimately embraces activism herself by advocating for justice for Khalil on a nationally televised interview and brazenly joining street protests after a grand jury fails to indict the officer who shot Khalil. Starr's mother Lisa argues with Maverick about whether the family should move out of garden Heights. At first Maverick is opposed because he believes he can best improve garden Heights when he is living in it. Lisa counters that their family's safety is a priority and that maverick can continue to use the grocery store he owns in the neighbourhood as a means to help the community. Ultimately the family moves to the suburbs. Star’s brother seven who lives with Kenya and King remains torn between the urge to stay and protect his mother and sisters and the desire to attend college outside the city, meanwhile a newly initiated gangbanger named Devantae turns to Maverick for help in getting out of the gang, he ends up living with Carlos.
The tensions and feuds running through the novel come to a head when the grand
jury fails to indict the officer who shot Khalil protests and riots erupt in
garden Heights. King takes advantage of the chaos to set fire to Maverick store
while Star, Kris, seven and Devantae are trapped inside with Maverick’s help
they managed to escape. The neighbourhood turns on King getting him arrested
for Arson with the promise of Carlos's protection, Devantae agrees to serve as
a witness to King's drug-dealing schemes removing King from the neighbourhood's
gang scene and ending his abuse towards Kenya and sevens mother. Maverick also
grows to accept Chris inviting his daughter's boyfriend to go boxing with him.
The novel ends with star making a promise to Khalil's memory she won't remain
silent and will continue fighting against injustice.
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