"Brave doesn't mean you're not scared, Starr," she says. "It means you go on even though you're scared. And you're doing that."
I'm an emotional mess right now. This book exceeded my expectations. An apt representation of what Black people have to go through, and the #BlackLivesMatter Movement.
At some parts, I couldn't go on; it's like this book broke my heart, but then mended it. Warmed some parts of me. Chanted that sometimes you should try to have things end differently- the right way.
**********
The book starts with Starr Carter, a sixteen-year-old black girl, explaining the two versions of hers: the Starr of Garden Heights, where she lives among her people; and the Starr of Williamson, where she goes to school. She reluctantly attends a party with her friend Kenya, with whom she shares a brother, Seven. There she meets Khalil, one of her best friends whom she has not seen in months. Due to some chaotic shots, they have to leave, and Khalil offers to take her home.
Then she goes through the worst experience of her life as she witnesses the unjust, horrendous murder of Khalil on the hands of a police officer.
As if that weren't enough, we get to know that Starr has gone through this before at the tender age of ten when she had witnessed the murder of her best friend, Natasha.
At first, Starr gets so scared she won't relive the experience verbally with anyone, including her best friends and white boyfriend. Her understanding and supportive family tries to make things better for her, and do what she wants.
Starr testifies in the police's investigation, but One-Fifteen, Khalil's murderer, does not get charged.
"The Hate U Give Little Infants F---s Everybody."
.
.
Khalil said it's about what society feeds us as youth and how it comes back and bites them later," I say. "I think it's about more than youth though. I think it's about us, period."
"Us who?" he asks.
"Black people, minorities, poor people. Everybody at the bottom in society."
"The oppressed," says Daddy.
After an insightful conversation with her father, Starr realizes that they can't be silent. She can't be silent. Later, she agrees to do a TV interview, and speak up. With the help of Ms. Ofrah, she also trains for the grand jury.
Her family gets threats from gangs and the police alike. They decide to move to a new neighbourhood.
The grand jury decides not to indict the officer in the death of Khalil Harris, and hell breaks loose. People fight, march, and riot, all in anger at the injustice and The Hate they are still given. Starr joins them, but she does not approve of all of their acts. Then she joins some activists led by Ms. Ofrah, and fights. She fights with her voice revealing her identity as The Witness. She uses her voice as her weapon to let everyone know that Khalil mattered. Khalil did not deserve to die like that. Khalil lived.
"The truth casts a shadow over the kitchen-people like us in situations like this become hashtags, but they rarely get justice. I think we all wait for that one time though, that one time when it ends right. Maybe this can be it."
**********
Humans matter even if they do bad things, and that does not justify murder.
Angie Thomas writes emotionally-charged words. This book is one that leaves a mark on your life because it's that powerful, unforgettable story. Personally, it is one of my top favourite books.
I'm an emotional mess right now. This book exceeded my expectations. An apt representation of what Black people have to go through, and the #BlackLivesMatter Movement.
At some parts, I couldn't go on; it's like this book broke my heart, but then mended it. Warmed some parts of me. Chanted that sometimes you should try to have things end differently- the right way.
**********
The book starts with Starr Carter, a sixteen-year-old black girl, explaining the two versions of hers: the Starr of Garden Heights, where she lives among her people; and the Starr of Williamson, where she goes to school. She reluctantly attends a party with her friend Kenya, with whom she shares a brother, Seven. There she meets Khalil, one of her best friends whom she has not seen in months. Due to some chaotic shots, they have to leave, and Khalil offers to take her home.
Then she goes through the worst experience of her life as she witnesses the unjust, horrendous murder of Khalil on the hands of a police officer.
As if that weren't enough, we get to know that Starr has gone through this before at the tender age of ten when she had witnessed the murder of her best friend, Natasha.
At first, Starr gets so scared she won't relive the experience verbally with anyone, including her best friends and white boyfriend. Her understanding and supportive family tries to make things better for her, and do what she wants.
Starr testifies in the police's investigation, but One-Fifteen, Khalil's murderer, does not get charged.
"The Hate U Give Little Infants F---s Everybody."
.
.
Khalil said it's about what society feeds us as youth and how it comes back and bites them later," I say. "I think it's about more than youth though. I think it's about us, period."
"Us who?" he asks.
"Black people, minorities, poor people. Everybody at the bottom in society."
"The oppressed," says Daddy.
After an insightful conversation with her father, Starr realizes that they can't be silent. She can't be silent. Later, she agrees to do a TV interview, and speak up. With the help of Ms. Ofrah, she also trains for the grand jury.
Her family gets threats from gangs and the police alike. They decide to move to a new neighbourhood.
The grand jury decides not to indict the officer in the death of Khalil Harris, and hell breaks loose. People fight, march, and riot, all in anger at the injustice and The Hate they are still given. Starr joins them, but she does not approve of all of their acts. Then she joins some activists led by Ms. Ofrah, and fights. She fights with her voice revealing her identity as The Witness. She uses her voice as her weapon to let everyone know that Khalil mattered. Khalil did not deserve to die like that. Khalil lived.
"The truth casts a shadow over the kitchen-people like us in situations like this become hashtags, but they rarely get justice. I think we all wait for that one time though, that one time when it ends right. Maybe this can be it."
**********
Humans matter even if they do bad things, and that does not justify murder.
Angie Thomas writes emotionally-charged words. This book is one that leaves a mark on your life because it's that powerful, unforgettable story. Personally, it is one of my top favourite books.
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