The Hate U Give by Angie Thomas Published by HarperAudio on February 28, 2017
Format: Audiobook
Narrator: Bahni Turpin
Length: 11 hrs and 40 mins
Genres: Young Adult
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Sixteen-year-old Starr Carter moves between two worlds: the poor neighborhood where she lives and the fancy suburban prep school she attends. The uneasy balance between these worlds is shattered when Starr witnesses the fatal shooting of her childhood best friend Khalil at the hands of a police officer. Khalil was unarmed.
Soon afterward, his death is a national headline. Some are calling him a thug, maybe even a drug dealer and a gangbanger. Protesters are taking to the streets in Khalil's name. Some cops and the local drug lord try to intimidate Starr and her family. What everyone wants to know is: what really went down that night? And the only person alive who can answer that is Starr.
But what Starr does or does not say could upend her community. It could also endanger her life.
I’m ashamed it took me so long to read this book. An unarmed black man being shot by a white police officer is something that has become frighteningly common. The subsequent news stories always create a storm of emotions in me, and none of them are pleasant. I needed time to brace myself for what I anticipated would be an uncomfortable book to read. Rather than depressing, I found The Hate U Give to be a profound and uplifting story—one that transcends the Young Adult genre.
Although the message behind the Black Lives Matter movement is the basis of the book, its center is 16-year-old Starr. There’s a lot going on, and all the events are relayed through her eyes. I identified with Starr’s struggle to straddle her two worlds: the ghetto where she lives and the white prep school she attends. In trying to blend both sides of her life, she feels inauthentic, guilty, and exhausted. After being the only eyewitness to her friend’s murder at the hands of a white police offer, Starr questions whether or not to speak out. She also begins to examine the deteriorating social climate and what motivates our actions.
Angie Thomas creates a vivid picture of Starr’s neighborhood and its marginalized residents. Although some streets are littered with gang violence and drugs, there is a great deal of love to be found in her family and among members of the community. I adored Starr’s parents and the strong bond she has with them and her brothers. The story explores issues of racism, stereotypes, poverty, and abuse. Despite dealing with such heavy topics, I was surprised by how often the colorful cast of characters had me doubled over in laughter.
The Hate U Give is a simply phenomenal must-read for everyone.
About the Audiobook
I listened to a previous audiobook narrated by Bahni Turpin, and I seriously underestimated her ability to do justice to this book. There are so many characters on the canvas of this story, and she painstakingly paints each one with a unique stroke. I could clearly visualize each person. Bahni Turpin doesn’t just narrate the book; she turns in a stirring performance. Five stars for her as well.
Recommended for fans of:
Tackling social issues
Sneakers
Corner stores
Tupac Shakur
About Angie Thomas
Angie Thomas was born, raised, and still resides in Jackson, Mississippi as indicated by her accent. She is a former teen rapper whose greatest accomplishment was an article about her in Right-On Magazine with a picture included. She holds a BFA in Creative Writing from Belhaven University and an unofficial degree in Hip Hop.She is an inaugural winner of the Walter Dean Myers Grant 2015, awarded by We Need Diverse Books. Her debut novel, The Hate U Give, is a #1 New York Times Best Seller. Film rights have been optioned by Fox 2000 with George Tillman attached to direct and Hunger Games actress Amandla Stenberg attached to star.
I have this version of the book on hold. I’m excited to finally get to it because it sounds so good! Great review!