A-Z CLASSIC LITERATURE

After fleeing a fight at a party, 16-year-old Starr Carter and her friend Khalil are stopped by a cop. A confrontation ensues and Khalil is shot and killed by the police officer. Starr is the witness who can dispute the police report, but her statement can put her and her family in danger. 

"Sirens wail outside. The news shows three patrol cars that have been set ablaze at the police precinct.… A gas station near the freeway gets looted.… My neighborhood is a war zone" (139).

Starr tries to find a way to honour Khalil and preserve her friendships and family's safety.

“That's the problem. We let people say stuff, and they say it so much that it becomes okay to them and normal for us. What's the point of having a voice if you're gonna be silent in those moments you shouldn't be?” (252)

The film adaptation of this smash-hit YA novel, directed by George Tillman Jr. and starring Amandla Stenberg, was met with widespread positive reviews. The novel, however, is a must-read. With its powerful story of a young woman straddling her poor neighbourhood and the fancy prep school she attends, who witnesses white police officers shooting her unarmed childhood friend, "The Hate U Give" is more than timely. It’s one of those rare books that combines artistry with smart social commentary. In other words, it’s destined to be one of those books that gets taught in schools to generations to come, so the film version is superfluous to the conversation — just read it.

The book is recommended for ages 14 + up, as it contains scenes of violence, profanity, and sexual references. 

Questions for Discussion:

• What is Starr's reaction to the detective's line of questions that deal with Khalil’s past (102–103)? How does this change her?
• Discuss the scene when Starr admits to Chris that she was in the car with Khalil and shares the memories of Natasha’s murder (298–302). Why is this confession so significant?
• How do the motifs of silence and voice support a theme? 
• Explain the connection between the title and the phrase "Thug Life."
• Will a reader’s race, environment, and socio-economic background have a major or minor effect on how they read and react to The Hate U Give?