The Hate U Give
Angie Thomas- Walker Books
Review By Gemma E McLaughlin
I have chosen this week’s book for several reasons. Of course the book itself came out in 2017, however on a recent trip to the cinema I was met with the trailer for an upcoming movie based on the story and made a mental note to read the book soon. It was not until a trip to Waterstones last week that I finally picked up The Hate U Give and was intrigued by its stunning reviews and the perfect quote for this awe inspiring novel. “Whats the point of having a voice if you’re gonna be silent?”
When I started reading the book I was thrown into the life of Starr, a young girl living two lives, neither of them completely authentic. She grew up in a poor neighbourhood and went to school there until a horrific incident when she was only a child forced her to change schools to a fancy school just out of town, filled with rich white children. Starr found herself struggling to fit in anywhere and the story starts at a party she’s not supposed to be at with her childhood best friend Khalil.
Without any warning, only a little bit into the book all out chaos ensues starting with the two gunshots heard at the party. Starr and Khalil leave the party and end up driving home listening to the song that gave the book its name. The two are pulled over by the police and despite being unarmed, Khalil is shot to his death. It was almost impossible to read this scene, it needed to be written and there couldn’t have been a better person to write it than the incredible Angie Thomas. Reading that moment felt like I was there; the chaos, the flashing lights, and then all when it seems like the noise in your head is never going to end the sound of three gunshots in your mind, then silence. Horrific, heartbreaking, moving silence.
After Khalil’s death Starr is at first urged not to talk about it, if she gets involved things could become very dangerous for her. The whole neighbourhood is talking about what happened to him and to begin with no one knows what really happened, what Starr witnessed and what it’s doing to her. We are informed at all points possible that Starr didn’t think she would be so quiet about it all, she had previously thought that if she witnessed something like that she would speak up. Now the opportunity to tell the truth has risen and the story becomes laced with fear and hundreds of impossible choices that Starr shouldn’t have to make.
This book is indescribably important and beautiful. I cannot bring myself to recommend The Hate U Give enough and in the current state of the world the haunting truth oozing from Angie Thomas’ every word is exactly what we need. I cannot thank her enough for forcing me to open up my eyes just a little and see so many of the things that I have missed. If you do nothing else I beg of you to pick up a copy of The Hate U Give, and as soon as it comes out to go see the upcoming movie.
Why are you making commenting on The National only available to subscribers?
We know there are thousands of National readers who want to debate, argue and go back and forth in the comments section of our stories. We’ve got the most informed readers in Scotland, asking each other the big questions about the future of our country.
Unfortunately, though, these important debates are being spoiled by a vocal minority of trolls who aren’t really interested in the issues, try to derail the conversations, register under fake names, and post vile abuse.
So that’s why we’ve decided to make the ability to comment only available to our paying subscribers. That way, all the trolls who post abuse on our website will have to pay if they want to join the debate – and risk a permanent ban from the account that they subscribe with.
The conversation will go back to what it should be about – people who care passionately about the issues, but disagree constructively on what we should do about them. Let’s get that debate started!
Callum Baird, Editor of The National
Comments: Our rules
We want our comments to be a lively and valuable part of our community - a place where readers can debate and engage with the most important local issues. The ability to comment on our stories is a privilege, not a right, however, and that privilege may be withdrawn if it is abused or misused.
Please report any comments that break our rules.
Read the rules here