THE HATE U GIVE BY ANGIE THOMAS

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" AT AN EARLY AGE I LEARNED THAT PEOPLE MAKE MISTAKES, AND YOU HAVE TO DECIDE IF THEIR MISTAKES ARE BIGGER THAN YOUR LOVE FOR THEM. "

" BRAE DOESN'T MEAN YOU'RE NOT SCARED. IT MEANS YOU GO ON EVEN THOUGH YOU'RE SCARED. "




It’s been a long time since I read a proper black history book. The hate u give has stayed in my TBR for quite a long time now until I finally decided to pick it up. This book has been listed as urban fiction but doesn’t really look like a work of fiction at all. It’s real, it has happened and it’s happening even now.!


This book revolves around Starr, a 16 year old teenager, whose parents strive hard every day to give their children a normal life. She lives simultaneously in two different worlds, one in her school ‘Garden heights’ among her other American friends and the other one, where she is scared to pass on every day just to survive. Both of her world changes when she becomes the prime witness of a racial violence and murder of her friend whom the police assume to be armed. She is caught between being right and being safe and she has to decide whether she is going to let her friend and her entire people down or put herself and her family in danger.


This book gave me so much to learn. It was witty, thoughtful and real. Starr was a kid who was full of life who was heckled constantly just for being born dark skinned. There was not just one, but a whole lot of ‘Starrs’ who had to face this. They were denied normal life, forced into drug dealings, made to feel like they are a danger to the society. They had, or rather have to fight everyone and everything just for a simple life like their peers. This book is a must read for everyone.


PROS: Too realistic - not too much, not less. 

It stays true and relevant. 

It’s a combination of all elements - it’s witty, sad, infuriating, insightful, powerful and inspiring at the same time. 

It gives so much to think about. 

A quick read.

CONS: Few stereotypical characters. 

Ending was predictable, maybe because the pattern is simple (there is no other way around as of now).

MY REVIEW: 4.5/5


#penbooksandscalpel

I'm participating in Blogchatter's #TBRchallenge

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