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A review by calarco
The Hate U Give by Angie Thomas
5.0
While I am typically skeptical of new releases with massive hype, Angie Thomas' The Hate U Give is unequivocally an amazing read. Given the present political climate in the United States, I would even call it essential reading for 2018.
Admittedly, while I love this book I have struggled to write a comprehensive review for it. This is largely due to the fact that the book is difficult to describe beyond its subject matter. As far as a genre categorization, I would definitely call it a Y/A novel in that it is told from the perspective of a teenager and centers on her experience. I do not state this to in anyway belittle the gravity of the work, but rather to highlight how unique and groundbreaking it is. Thomas' prose is engrossing and accessible in the vein of Rainbow Rowell, yet the magnitude of the traumatic content is comparable to Erich Maria Remarque's All Quiet on the Western Front at the other end of the Y/A spectrum. That balance of literary elements is no simple feat.
To highlight this point, I must share one of my most favorite moments from the novel, and as ridiculous as it will seem given the many profound moments of emotionally authentic truth telling, my favorite scene is the main character Starr just describing food at her brother’s birthday party. The young teenager is dealing with extreme levels of emotional trauma, but she takes a moment to have an internal rant about her great distaste for potato salad, “That’s the devil’s food. All that mayonnaise... I’m not touching that mess” (360). It’s such a simple slice of life moment; a teenager complaining about food preferences. But it is the little (and comedic) moments like this that help to establish Starr's voice outside of the trauma, and ground a story filled with so many difficult and heart-wrenching tragedies to one of a complete (and complex) life.
Most will probably (and rightfully) opt to highlight their love for the grand and beautiful exchanges on Tupac’s acronym “The Hate U Give” and the depth it demonstrates on how systemically ingrained socio-economic injustices lead to tragedies like unarmed black teenagers being cruelly killed. I do not believe it is a spoiler to state that the novel kicks off with Starr witnessing her teenage friend getting shot in the back by a cop. Such a tragedy would be difficult for even an adult to witness and live through, but it is especially heartbreaking to see through young Starr's eyes.
Starr is not yet an adult, but still such a bright, inquisitive, and intelligent voice of reason who works to make sense of the chaotic world around her. So as the aftermath of this tragedy builds around her, she grows to give voice to her truth with immaculate maturity. In so many cases this could come off as an inauthentic representation of such a young teenage girl or even a Mary Sue archetype, but Angie Thomas is so good with those little details that she does not allow for grand speeches and truth bombs to overshadow the character. At the end of the day Starr is still a teenager just living her life, and she just happens to hate both mayo AND injustice. I feel like so many so stories focus on one or the other, but it all comes together so well in The Hate U Give.
The novel will also make any reader reflect on current events. It made me think about hate as I receive it from others, but also on how I am capable of delivering it (even unwittingly) to others. It cut into my hate of living in a world where people have to actively defend their existence. Hate that parents of color have to have “the talk” with their children on how to behave with law enforcement so that their kids can make it home in time for dinner safe and sound. Hate that anyone would be unable to live without life, liberty, and the pursuit of happiness. Hate that these ideals are broken promises for too many. In general, I hate that society can so easily allow for the erasure of any minority group's percieved humanity.
But what I love is that I got to read a novel about a young girl experiencing hate, surviving it, and growing from it to strive for better. Starr is not real, but she gave me hope, and when a fictional character makes you feel anything worthwhile is when you know you read a damn good book.
Admittedly, while I love this book I have struggled to write a comprehensive review for it. This is largely due to the fact that the book is difficult to describe beyond its subject matter. As far as a genre categorization, I would definitely call it a Y/A novel in that it is told from the perspective of a teenager and centers on her experience. I do not state this to in anyway belittle the gravity of the work, but rather to highlight how unique and groundbreaking it is. Thomas' prose is engrossing and accessible in the vein of Rainbow Rowell, yet the magnitude of the traumatic content is comparable to Erich Maria Remarque's All Quiet on the Western Front at the other end of the Y/A spectrum. That balance of literary elements is no simple feat.
To highlight this point, I must share one of my most favorite moments from the novel, and as ridiculous as it will seem given the many profound moments of emotionally authentic truth telling, my favorite scene is the main character Starr just describing food at her brother’s birthday party. The young teenager is dealing with extreme levels of emotional trauma, but she takes a moment to have an internal rant about her great distaste for potato salad, “That’s the devil’s food. All that mayonnaise... I’m not touching that mess” (360). It’s such a simple slice of life moment; a teenager complaining about food preferences. But it is the little (and comedic) moments like this that help to establish Starr's voice outside of the trauma, and ground a story filled with so many difficult and heart-wrenching tragedies to one of a complete (and complex) life.
Most will probably (and rightfully) opt to highlight their love for the grand and beautiful exchanges on Tupac’s acronym “The Hate U Give” and the depth it demonstrates on how systemically ingrained socio-economic injustices lead to tragedies like unarmed black teenagers being cruelly killed. I do not believe it is a spoiler to state that the novel kicks off with Starr witnessing her teenage friend getting shot in the back by a cop. Such a tragedy would be difficult for even an adult to witness and live through, but it is especially heartbreaking to see through young Starr's eyes.
Starr is not yet an adult, but still such a bright, inquisitive, and intelligent voice of reason who works to make sense of the chaotic world around her. So as the aftermath of this tragedy builds around her, she grows to give voice to her truth with immaculate maturity. In so many cases this could come off as an inauthentic representation of such a young teenage girl or even a Mary Sue archetype, but Angie Thomas is so good with those little details that she does not allow for grand speeches and truth bombs to overshadow the character. At the end of the day Starr is still a teenager just living her life, and she just happens to hate both mayo AND injustice. I feel like so many so stories focus on one or the other, but it all comes together so well in The Hate U Give.
The novel will also make any reader reflect on current events. It made me think about hate as I receive it from others, but also on how I am capable of delivering it (even unwittingly) to others. It cut into my hate of living in a world where people have to actively defend their existence. Hate that parents of color have to have “the talk” with their children on how to behave with law enforcement so that their kids can make it home in time for dinner safe and sound. Hate that anyone would be unable to live without life, liberty, and the pursuit of happiness. Hate that these ideals are broken promises for too many. In general, I hate that society can so easily allow for the erasure of any minority group's percieved humanity.
But what I love is that I got to read a novel about a young girl experiencing hate, surviving it, and growing from it to strive for better. Starr is not real, but she gave me hope, and when a fictional character makes you feel anything worthwhile is when you know you read a damn good book.