The Hate U Give by Angie Thomas

Title: The Hate U Give

Author: Angie Thomas

Genre: YA, Fiction, Contemporary

Published February 28th 2017 by Balzer + Bray

Rating: 5/5

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, Khalil’s death is a national headline. Some are calling him a thug, maybe even a drug dealer and a gangbanger. Starr’s best friend at school suggests he may have had it coming. When it becomes clear the police have little interest in investigating the incident, protesters take to the streets and Starr’s neighborhood becomes a war zone. 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 destroy her community. It could also endanger her life.

Huge thanks to JM @ The Book Freak Revelations for including me to be part of this blog tour and also to Harper Collins International for sending an ARC of this book. This will not affect nor influence my review!

LET ME BREATHE FOR A WHILE!

Okay so, I just finished reading this tonight and I still can’t get over how amazingly beautiful and powerful this book was. I might write a very thorough and clear review right now so please bear with me. Recently I’ve been reading books that talk about relevant issues in today’s society. To be honest realistic fiction is not my cup of tea but somehow it has opened my eyes in understanding the world in which we live in right now. How cruel and horrifying humans can be to one another, they might not hurt you physically but with their words? They can kill you in an instant.

Everything about this book? I LOVED! The characters, the plot and let me tell you about the relationships! May it be family, friendship and romance this book has it all. The bond between the characters made me feel so attached to them, this is my first time to see this in a YA book. My first ever black MC and I am glad I gave this one  try. No regrets at all!

This book was inspired by Black Lives Matter! I can say that this book is truthful and it can empower not just black people but everyone else. Issues like racism and oppression were clearly seen in this book, I attended a forum about peace education in which we dissected the different forms of violence. It is not only done physically but also emotionally, mentally everything that has to do with a person’s well-being. Yes, we can make a statement, we can do something about it. It only takes enough courage and determination to fight for what is right.

All I can say is that this story has inspired me, it will also inspire everyone who will dare to pick up this book and accept the power that it holds. I assure you I will reread this book every now and then to make me realize in times when I am down there is always hope.

Angie Thomas has proven to everyone of us that a book can really change a person’s life. The Hate U Give is the proof! It has enlightened me, it embodies the true meaning of the word thug. It’s not everyday that we get the chance to read a beautiful piece of literature like this novel.