The Hate U Give - Angie Thompson

To read the official synopsis, click here.

Starr is a girl trying to figure out where she fits in. She is one of the few black at her private school, which causes her to feel out of place in her lower class neighborhood. When her childhood friend gets shot in front of her by a police officer it completely alters her reality. She doesn't know where she belongs or who to trust.

I knew this book was going to break my heart. It talks about such a sad and ugly truth that so many people have been effected by. We live in a time where so many black young men and women are being mistreated and killed by people of authority. 

The author was able to capture the heartache that community feels when something this senseless happens. 

I am starting to choke up as I remember everything that Starr went through that night of the murder. She was so scared and so confused about how this could happen. 

But this book was much more than the shooting. 

This is a book about family, friendship, identity, culture, and race. These are big, tough topics and Thompson was able to balance it with a wonderful family storyline. I absolutely love all the interaction between Starr and her father. He was so funny and supportive. Starr and her brother Seven also had a great brother and sister relationship. He was so protective of her. 

One of my favorite storylines was Starr trying to figure out who she was as a person and how does she fit in school and at home. I liked that as time went on she confronted her friend and let her know that wasn't comfortable with all the jokes and little comments. 

This book was filled with so many wonderful moments. I absolutely love that this book has been getting so much praise and buzz. It definitely deserves all the attention it has been getting. 

I highly recommend this book. 

​I give it an A.