Release Date: April 2017.
Publisher: Walker Books.
Source: From publisher in exchange for an honest review
Synopsis:
Sixteen-year-old Starr lives in two worlds: the poor neighbourhood where she was born and raised and her posh high school in the suburbs. The uneasy balance between them is shattered when Starr is the only witness to the fatal shooting of her unarmed best friend, Khalil, by a police officer. Now what Starr says could destroy her community. It could also get her killed.
Inspired by the Black Lives Matter movement, this is a powerful and gripping YA novel about one girl’s struggle for justice.
My Thoughts:
5 stars.
There are a lot of books I have said are a must-read for various reasons, but this is a must read for how important it is. This book is inspired by the #BlackLivesMatter movement and I find it incredibly sad that in 2017 this needs to a movement at all. It should not be this way. This is why we need books like this, to educate, to stand up and speak and not be silent.
The Hate U Give was incredibly well-written. I was drawn in and held captive in the first few pages. I felt a quick connection with Starr and my heart broke for her and the horrific situation she is thrust into. She sees a friend get shot for no reason, and IT IS THE SECOND TIME. How horrible. No one should ever have to see anyone get shot once, let alone two times.
This happens early on and then we are with Starr as she lives with the aftermath. She doesn’t want to talk about it, doesn’t want anyone to know she is the witness, and doesn’t want her friends in her posh school to know she knew Khalil. She is already dancing a fine line trying to keep both her lives separate.
Starr had an incredible loving and protective family that are there for her through this hard time, and I am glad she has them because a lot of people don’t. Things start heating up in the media and the community as justice is called for. Starr must decide what she is going to do and whether or not she is going to stand up and speak out or stay safe and be silent.
Starr, and all the characters, were real and authentic. The plot and how it ends was all realistic. It was a heart breaking read, but there is a sense of hope in the end, for Starr, for her family and for the community.
The Hate U Give is a relevant, authentic, inspiring read. It is brilliant and moving, and packs an emotional punch. It is sure to stay with me for a long time. It is a stand out contemporary and I implore you to read it as soon as possible.
You can add it to your Goodreads HERE.
Inside My Worlds 
I’ve heard nothing but great things about this book, so I am so glad you enjoyed it so much as well! It sounds like such a powerful but relevant story. Thanks for sharing and, as always, fabulous review! ❤
Thank you. There is a lot of hype surrounding this book, and thankfully, it lived up to the hype. It is really worth reading.