The Hate U Give

 I read The Hate U Give back in 2017 when it was first published and had not yet gained a lot of traction. In class on Monday, we discussed the idea of when we became unassimilated from group-think of societal standards. For me, I truly think this book was the beginning. After this novel2, I was fortunate enough to be schooled in a very liberal area where I was never shut down for asking questions or wanting to pursue certain academic endeavors. We had walkouts, not to protest for various injustices across the country and around the world, but to have conversations about them outside of the classroom in a place where we could listen to peers ask and answer questions and declare their feelings on the matter. 

I think the most brilliant part of this novel is the fact that it is truly a coming of age novel, describing Starr trying to find herself, and juggle with the difficulty of witnessing a murder of her friend. To read it at a time when I’m also beginning that coming of age story of my own is so important. As the story began to gain traction, the power of this novel grew. Other people were reading this coming of age story, just as they were coming of age. There was a general reflection of struggles between Starr and the students in her book, and the students that surrounded me. 

What also is so brilliant about this novel, as well, is that while it is a story about growing up and learning, there is no sugar coating anything. I mentioned before that there is a moment of coming to awareness, and for Starr, that awareness has always been there. Yet, for white readers like myself and my peers, we’re just like the other students at Williamson who have to have a coming to awareness moment. There is no breezing past what happens in this story. We read what happened to Khalil, we read what Hailey says to Starr, we read about the protests and riots. We read about the truth of what happens across this country countless times, of the racism and systemic oppression that occurs. 

While the decision of the grand jury to not find Officer One-Fifteen guilty is sickening, frustrating, and angering, it is the truth. This novel looks to explain and share truths and realities faced by minorities in America and that sometimes means that happy endings are not written as we traditionally expect them to exist. The happiness Starr begins to find in her two lives coexisting, and for her to have a happy family and her friends is great and is so deserved, but it does not overshadow the reality – and for that matter, tragedy – that The Hate U Give emphasizes. The injustice in this book is not solved, just as the injustices of reality are never always solved. 

There’s merit to rereading this book, just as there is merit to rereading any book. Still, there is something powerful in this story that’s not just talking about the injustices and racism present in our country. This is a story about life and what it means to be human, what it means to be a girl, what it means to live two different lives, what it means to be a minority. I think rereading this novel helps readers to understand the nuances that are present everywhere in reality and how to better shape themselves to live in a world that contains racism and injustice, but also hope and family and love to help combat those injustices. 

Maybe that’s too idealistic. I just firmly believe this book is something that explores these injustices realistically. Nuances that can be so hard to convey are discussed seemingly perfectly. Other authors like Jason Reynolds, or even Nikki Grimes in Bronx Masquerade tend to write in a more elementary level that suffocates the topics meaning to be discussed, making it impossible to really enjoy the story or even fully experience the purpose of the writing. 

There is a clear and explicit purpose in narrating in Starr’s voice and in explaining her story. It invites conversation, understanding, and change.