The Hate U Give

A wonderfully written masterpiece and I wanted to read the book before I saw the film (the film doesn’t do the book justice, so always read the book!!) A recommendation for older secondary students.

nikoletty

A very thought provoking and relevant book

tracey.ellis13

I was hooked from the opening and was compelled to read the book in a day. There was a strong cinematic feel to this story and I'm not at all surprised to see that it has been made into a film. I was caught by the relationship between Starr and Big Mav and them working through the tension between protecting/being protected and a father supporting a daughter to find and use their voice when it would have been so understandable to stay under the radar. I was aware that I was looking from outside the situations of the story, in many ways; I would be very interested in hearing from the young people with whom I work about their own reactions.

julianbrown

An incredible read with some hard hitting quotes and moments. A book of fiction that is sadly far too real. A must read and a great starting point for understanding the difficulties the minority face on a daily basis. Outstanding!

ItzJackle

An incredible read with some hard hitting quotes and moments. A book of fiction that is sadly far too real. A must read and a great starting point for understanding the difficulties the minority go through. Highly recommend!

ItzJackle

An incredible read with some hard hitting quotes and moments. A book of fiction that is sadly far too real. A must read and a great starting point for understanding the difficulties the minority go through and how we can all do better.

ItzJackle

This book explores and depicts social issues, from a young person’s perspective excellently. The thorough discussions of cultural prejudice enables the reader to instantly empathise with the characters as well as to reflect on current social issues. The vast contrast between Starr’s school life and home life reveals the potential struggles with identity that some young people are subjected to. As a white female living in the U.K. it has opened my eyes to the fact that these traumatic, racist experiences are still very current.

Bethmay217

This book was a stunning read. Fast paced and with characters that you came to care about. Usually I find books set in America a challenge to read but this one had me hooked from the beginning. At its core is a story about police brutality, accountability and racism but it also deals with themes of family and self identity.

MmeG

A very well-written book, telling the story of a teenage girl who witnesses the shooting of a childhood friend. The serious subject matter is balanced by a lot of humour and really engaging style of writing. The way dialogue is written is particularly effective and realistic. I would recommend it to Y9/10 and above because of the language used and also to adult readers.

Lucyfrin

Start has learned to exist in two worlds without ever having to speak her mind. She’s forced to find her voice when her best friend is murdered by a police officer. This highly political young adult novels, deals with hard hitting themes including Black Lives Matter. All of Thomas’ characters and well developed and she shows readers the reality of gang culture. This is a modern classic that everyone should read to understand the depths of racism.

Essiquibo1

This is an essential read for teens. It felt so real and highlighted the importance of the Black Lives Matter movement. The characters were so well developed you either loved or hated them (sometimes changing at any given moment!) but were always seeped in the complexity that being human entails. The events are emotional; the relationships between the variety of characters well-realised. The main character was so caught between two worlds it was no wonder she struggled to find herself but this struggle was endearing and I couldn't help rooting for her. A book from out of my comfort zone but I am so glad to have read it and will recommend it widely (with consideration to age-appropriateness - mature year 7s have discussed the book sensibly but there is extensive swearing and more mature themes).

purple8383

I have mixed feelings about this book. The main subject is SO important and brilliantly dealt with. In the world we live, it is more than important to give young people of colour a sense of pride in who they are, and this book is awesome for that. But... I really thought it was too long and the story focused on a lot of secondary (and unnecessary) subjects. I didn't like Starr's character and for me, the book would have won in depth if alternating between the different characters' point of views. Apart from these minor flaws, this is a book that every young adult should read at least once in his/her life!

Juniper11

An important, relevant and profound novel that was inspired by the Black Lives Matter movement. Starr is a brilliant protagonist - her narration and experiences encourage readers to explore their own experiences and ideas about racism and injustice.

jmcadam

A brilliantly written book – Very descriptive, you felt you were actually with the characters throughout the story. I would recommend!

Carradale

A brilliantly written book – Very descriptive, you felt you were actually there with the characters throughout the story. I would recommend!

Carradale

A beautiful read about a strong female protagonist who finds the courage to speak out against injustice. A page turner which I devoured and would be suitable for any reader who is interested in our world and the events that shape it (which should be every reader!). The book offers a comprehensive perspective on inequality and really highlights the importance of taking meaningful action within our communities.

Ms. G

Incredible book. As a person of colour it’s amazing to see the ways Angie Thomas so accurately depicts the micro aggressions directed towards black people and the accuracy around how the community treat one another. Taking into account the events of the last year this sought of book is essential as a tool to educate and convey marginalised voices. One of the main things I took away was the statement, ‘Sometimes you can do everything right and things will still go wrong. The key is to never stop doing right’.

Tamar

Excellent book to read, especially in the light of BLM. Strong plot and storyline with good characters each containing a believable representation of many of the challenges felt within the different sorts of people you might encounter within a rundown community of black American New York. At the same time you see the humanity and compassion within the same community pouring out that brings out hope within the tragedy.

jonathanoliver