The Hate U Give by Angie Thomas
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.
Hardcover, 444 pages Published February 28th 2017 by Balzer + Bray
Current Goodreads Rating: 4.56 Stars
I completely understand why this story is banned. The author wrote it not sugar coating much. The recreational drug use, sex, and violence were encompassed in every aspect of this story, which not everyone is ready to accept as normal.
I’ve always wondered if we more openly talked about sex, drugs and even violence if there would be less of it because the mystery and secrecy entices so many. I thought I was cool in school doing what these kids did, but after getting out I realized while trying to be cool I became like everyone else. Standing strong in who you are and not bending to the status quo actually makes you stand out and is truly badass.
This story needs to be read by young adults to open their eyes to real issues out there. I enjoyed this story, but it seemed to be like many others out as well. It was nothing extravagantly unique.
Sometimes you can do everything right and things will still go wrong. The key is to never stop doing right.”
“What's the point of having a voice if you're gonna be silent in those moments you shouldn't be?”
“At an early age I learned that people make mistakes, and you have to decide if their mistakes are bigger than your love for them.”