This is a book that in the last few months I kept seeing in posts and alerts from publishers and Goodreads as the best YA book for 2017. It was nominated for Goodreads Best Books of 2017 awards and it was fan voted as a top YA pick and the top Goodreads Debut Author pick. So after seeing the book image in my social media numerous times and reading positive reviews, I wanted to check it out.

This book deals with contemporary themes and a significant incident that is all too real for many individuals in society today. Starr is 16 and black. She witnesses the shooting of her childhood best friend Khalil by a white police officer. Khalil was unarmed. His death becomes a national headline, as many are quick to judge - saying Khalil was a drug dealer and a thug. Starr and her family feel intimidation from the cops and Starr is caught up between standing up for what she saw and fighting for justice for Khalil, and also keeping herself safe, processing her grief (again, another book with a grief theme - really not intentional here I swear!) and dealing with the harsh realities of life in her neighbourhood.

This book was compelling and enjoyable. It was very well written. It made me think about how this story is reality for many people in North America, especially in the southern United States and in communities where racism, prejudice, and the lines between black and white are sometimes clearly drawn. I think that Thomas did an excellent job at portraying a sensitive scenario that we see play out in the media through her writing. There are many themes included in the book ncluding biracial relationships, gang life, rich vs. poor, police vs. civilians, and blended families. She encapsulated these themes and showed many sides to the story and presented multiple perspectives with her many major and minor characters.

I realize that being Canadian and growing up in a predominately white community that the realities of families like Starr’s are often seen most in movies, on tv, and in the news in cities far from my own. These types of incidents are not ones that I encounter as part of my every day life and I am very thankful for that. I also know that as white person I have a different perspective and different privileges than those of other races. However, The Hate U Give has opened my eyes. I feel that the next time I do hear about the injustice that black people face (or any race for that matter), I think I will have a deeper level of empathy for those involved and I might find myself asking more questions and paying closer attention about what is going on. “A hairbrush is not a gun.” You can’t just kill someone because they look threatening. You can’t just end someone’s life because you think the value on your own is more. All lives matter.