Review: The Hate U Give by Angie Thomas

About the Book

The Hate U Give by Angie Thomas

Published by Balzer + Bray on February 28, 2017

GoodReads Description

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, his death is a national headline. Some are calling him a thug, maybe even a drug dealer and a gangbanger. Protesters are taking to the streets in Khalil’s name. Some cops and the local drug lord try to intimidate Starr and her family. 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 upend her community. It could also endanger her life.

My Thoughts

Please allow me to be honest.  I had a very hard time reviewing this novel.  I am a white lady living in a very white part of Minnesota.  I teach a total of three African American students in all six of my classes.  Reading this novel was like opening a whole different part of the world.  I am really not sure about how much of this was exaggerated for the purpose of entertainment and how much is based on the way that things really are.  As a result of my lack of knowledge, I don't think I'm the right person to speak about this book from a political/racial point of view.  I do, however, know quite a bit about readability and literature in general.  Please allow me to write my review about the things I do know about.

Angie Thomas is a master of characterization.  If you have been reading my blog for any amount of time, you know that I find it impossible to get into a book when I don't care about the characters. Thomas' characters destroyed me.  I know that Khalil really didn't spend much time in this novel, but I cried when he died.  After all, he was just a kid! He was trying to take care of his friend. I can't imagine being Starr in this particular instance, watching my good friend get murdered right before my eyes.  I don't think that I would have the personal strength to come back from that.  This, however, is where Starr really shines. Not only does she choose to grow from a timid follower to a brave leader.  She stands up against her friends, her society, and even her own comfort.  I hope that every one of my students chooses to read this book so that they can learn from Starr's wonderful example of pure bravery and courage.

Throughout the entire novel, I fell deeper and deeper in love with Thomas' writing style.  She may be an adult herself, but she knows how to get into the mindset of a teenager with impressive accuracy.  Too often, adult writers strive to make teenagers seem whinier than they truly are.  Many (not all) adult writers forget that, like adults, kids have worries and fears and concerns about things that matter.  It isn't all just about their hair products or dating.  Thank you, Thomas, for bringing a fresh sense of reality to the Young Adult genre.  

I absolutely adore this book.  It is one that I put off reading because of my limited knowledge with the politics surrounding it.  After reading it, I will admit that it is truly eye-opening.  I am excited to read more from Angie Thomas.

My Rating

Three Reasons to Read A List of Cages by Robin Roe

Title: A List of Cages

Author: Robin Roe
Publisher: Hyperion
Publication Date: January 2017
Genre: YA, Realistic Fiction, Mental Illness Awareness

I won a copy of this book through a giveaway.  Neither the author nor publisher are associated with this review.

Due to graphic scenes of violence, this book may not be suitable for all audiences.

Description from GoodReads
When Adam Blake lands the best elective ever in his senior year, serving as an aide to the school psychologist, he thinks he’s got it made. Sure, it means a lot of sitting around, which isn’t easy for a guy with ADHD, but he can’t complain, since he gets to spend the period texting all his friends. Then the doctor asks him to track down the troubled freshman who keeps dodging her, and Adam discovers that the boy is Julian—the foster brother he hasn’t seen in five years.

Adam is ecstatic to be reunited. At first, Julian seems like the boy he once knew. He’s still kindhearted. He still writes stories and loves picture books meant for little kids. But as they spend more time together, Adam realizes that Julian is keeping secrets, like where he hides during the middle of the day, and what’s really going on inside his house. Adam is determined to help him, but his involvement could cost both boys their lives…

A List of Reasons

In her novel, Roe presents us with lists of her own.  It seems only fitting that I provide you with the top five reasons you should run out and purchase this book right now!

1.  Roe's writing style!

OMG!  I have waited a long time to read a book that I fall into as easily as I fell into A List of Cages!  Roe's descriptive style encourages the reader to not only understand each event in the book, but to experience it and to care about it.  Rather than leaving her audience feeling mildly upset, Roe destroys her audience and truly forces readers to think.

2. A Poignant Description of a Real Problem

Domestic violence is a common problem.  Because we hear about it so often, abuse can become a joke to younger generations who have had the fortune of never experiencing this problem.   I am happy to see a book written for young adults that truly brings this problem to attention.  Roe does a wonderful job demonstrating the abuse, how to respond if someone tells you they are being abused, and the importance of reporting cases of domestic violence.

3. Role Models

Adam and Emerald are every day ordinary kids.  However, each one shows that it is important to stand up for your beliefs and to take care of the people around you.  Many of the students I have worked with only see themselves as boring people.  They refuse to see that the seemingly small choices can make a world of difference for someone else.  

But, seriously, why are you still reading my review!  GO BUY THIS BOOK!  GO NOW!

My Rating:

About the Author

Robin Roe is the author of A LIST OF CAGES, which has received starred reviews from Booklist, Kirkus, School Library Journal, Shelf Awareness, and Publishers Weekly. She has a bachelor’s degree from Cornell University and a master’s from Harvard. She counseled adolescents in Boston before

she moved to Dallas to run a mentoring program for at-risk teens.

Robin loves connecting with her readers and can be found on Twitter @robinroewriter. You can also use the contact form on her website to send her a message: www.robinroewriter.com.