Skip to main content

When the World Give You Hate

 If you haven't read The Hate U Give by Angie Thomas then stop right now. Do not read any further. Go to your local library and check it out. You maybe on a waiting list for the title since it has garnered much interest since it's debut. In fact it even caught the attention of Hollywood and will soon be in theaters as a motion picture. Now I am about to delve into a bit of a review and there might be a spoiler or two. So again, I urge you to stop reading this post and come back to my blog after you have read the book. For those who have read the book please proceed.

Why has The Hate U Give attracted so much attention? Honestly, because it is a fast-paced, moving storyline told from a side that is not often seen. The story is relatable to many who struggle with the same issues covered in the book.

Synopsis: Starr is a 16 year-old girl living in the "hood" and going to a rich private school. It is hard enough to deal with the everyday drama of life, but then she witnesses the death of one of her childhood best friends at the hand of a police officer. Because of where the incident happens and who Starrs friend seems to be many others assume he deserved his fate. Starr must figure out how to tell his story and how to fight her own fight against the hate the world gives her.

The Hate U Give was born of the stuff that seems like it should only happen in movies, but for many communities across the nation is a reality. Though not a true story in the sense that the events actually occurred this story rings true for many people who have witnessed their love ones die by the hands of another. Not only have their loved ones died, but often the person gets away with the killing.

This book offers a unique perspective from a witness to the killing. It also opens up the opportunity to really delve into discussions of race, economic disparity, and the Black Lives Matter movement. I personally found my opinion wavering throughout the book. I found a better understanding of myself and my own community in reading this novel. 

Comments

Post a Comment

Popular posts from this blog

How I Choose Books

Working in a library gives me access to tons of books. I must admit that I typically read what comes across my desk based on the title. That is to say, I first see the title of books that are being shipped to my library and then I read the back of the book or the excerpt from the inside jacket to help me decide whether to read a book or not. My library uses NoveList which I find to be a helpful tool in finding read-alikes. I have also used Goodreads because I really like to see what other people are saying about the books they are reading. I also check my local library's blog to find out what other librarians are recommending. IndyPL's page is called Staff Picks and can be found at: http://www.indypl.org/collection/picks. Overall, I look for books in a lot of places. For myself, there is nothing like looking at a book in person and studying it before I decide to read it.
3 comments
Read more

Week 16 Prompt: Past, Present, and Future of Books

Reading has definitely changed since I was a child. I remember the first book I read by myself was a glow-in-the-dark book! It was so cool to be able to read the book in a closet at school. I was able to literally go in the coat closet and read my book. That was the coolest and newest thing back before everyone had tablets, mobile phones, or even computers in their home. Today all of those technologies that we rely on have a back light and thus glow, so to speak. I remember reading all the time as a child. My mother read a lot more than she watched television and so did I. We took weekly trips to the library and so did other families in our neighborhood.  Today it is more rare to see families engaged in reading that way. However, there are new ways to read books other than going to get a hard copy. One can simply download a file to their mobile device and have the book on the go and several others at the same time without carrying the weight of all of those titles. While reading ...
2 comments
Read more

Week 14 Prompt: Separating Fiction

Prompt:  Consider yourself part of the collection management committee of your local library, or a library at which you would like to work. You must decide whether or not to separate GBLTQ fiction and African American Fiction from the general collection to its own special place. Some patrons have requested this, yet many staff are uncomfortable with the idea - saying it promotes segregation and disrupts serendipitous discovery of an author who might be different from the reader. Do you separate them? Do you separate one and not the other? Why or why not? You must provide at least 3 reasons for or against your decision. Feel free to use outside sources - this is a weighty question that is answered differently in a lot of different libraries. Response: I like to be on the side of forward thinking. Librarians have a duty to bring certain issues and in this mater types of fiction to the light. Placing GBLTQ and African American Fiction among the general fiction is almost like hiding ...
5 comments
Read more