The Hate U Give

About “The Hate U Give”

The Hate U Give is a 2017 young adult novel by Angie Thomas. It is her debut novel, based on a short story she wrote in college in response to the police shooting of Oscar Grant. The story is told from the perspective of Starr Carter, a 16-year-old Black girl from a poor neighborhood who attends a private school in a wealthier, predominantly white area of the city. Starr becomes involved in a national news event after witnessing a white police officer shoot her friend, Khalil. She gradually speaks out about the shooting, leading to social tensions and a riot after a grand jury decides not to charge the officer. The book was published on February 28, 2017, by Balzer + Bray. It became a bestseller and received critical acclaim for its themes, including the Black Lives Matter movement and the challenges of code-switching. The novel also sparked controversy due to its language and subject matter, making it one of the most challenged books of 2017 and 2018.