“The Hate U Give” by Angie Thomas
Speaking up to make a difference.
The story starts when Starr Carter witnesses the fatal shooting of her friend Khalil by a police officer. Khalil and Starr had been friends since they were kids, and that night he was driving her home after a party - unarmed. His death soon becomes a national headline and Starr, being the only witness, comes face to face with the importance of finding her voice in a world full of flaws, in which marginalized groups need to fight for equality and their civil rights through courage, strength, and taking risks.
“The Hate U Give” is fiction, but the topics that it covers are heartbreakingly real. As readers, we get to experience these through the eyes of a teenager, with whom we live her grief and fear, but also her bravery as she realizes that speaking up can help make a difference.
It is a difficult book to read because what is described in its pages is sadly a depiction of a reality that we can't ignore. I picked it up fully aware that reading it wouldn't be easy, but also knowing that books like these are important to be read in the world we live in. I also found it to be a book about family, love, friendship, and community, and how important these are in building strength, driving empathy, and finding courage and support when we need it most.