Being a white girl rating and reviewing one of the most influential #ownvoices Black Lives Matter stories of the decade, I'm going to have to choose my words carefully. For that reason, I'll be brief. I really did like The Hate U Give, and I understand what the hype was about. The characters were likeable, and I was rooting for them all the way, but ...I hope I don't sound like an idiot for saying this, but I didn't find Starr relatable at all. This is by no means the fault of the author. The fact is that, in terms of background, culture, and upbringing, my experience was, is, and had always been very different from the one described in the book. Needless to say, I'm not surprised I didn't relate to her much and, God forbid, I'm not calling the book out on that. I still liked her - but a great part of what makes a reading experience enjoyable for me is a main character that I can relate to. (This is, I repeat, entirely a matter of personal preference!) For this reason, I wasn't as immersed in the story as other readers might've been, and it dragged for me just a little. Nevertheless, I enjoyed it well enough, and I believe the story and its message are biting, raw and relevant without being overly didactic. It did make me uncomfortable in a number of instances but I suppose that is what it is meant to do. It's a good story with solid characters, an important message, likeable writing style, and above all? It's real. It doesn't portray its white characters as universally racist and bigoted, and it doesn't portray its black characters as perfect and blameless. It exposes the flaws and prejudices of both sides as well as their qualities and I think that is part of what makes the book so compelling.