This realistic fiction story earned the Micheal L. Printz Award honor and the Coretta Scott King Award honor. It has been a #1 New York Times bestseller and was adapted for the big screen. All of these accolades inspired me to select this book.
Sixteen year old Starr Carter lives in the poor community of Garden Heights but attends a private school in an affluent community where the student population is predominately white. She finds herself balancing between two very different worlds. Those worlds collide when she witnesses the death of her friend, Khalil, at the hands of a police officer. Khalil did nothing wrong but when the news stories come out about his death it becomes clear that only one side is being heard, and it's not Starr's. Mustering up the courage to speak out for justice her friendships, relationships, and her own self-awareness are called into question as she considers the effects the truth will have.
This book made me reevaluate my understanding of racism. Racism starts with a victim and victim blaming is a very real thing. I once had a student who hit another student because she was touching (not taking) his money. When I was explaining the situation to an administrator she responded with, "well, she shouldn't have been touching his money." A woman gets raped and some will say it happened because of the outfit she chose to wear. Someone's car gets broken into and some ask, "well, did you leave your valuables in plain sight?" All of these scenarios hold the victims accountable for the actions of others which are outside of their circle of control. A fictitious character like Khalil is shot because he was a black man at the wrong place at the wrong time, but according to some of Starr's friends and the news reporters his death is justified because he was a thug.
Though I don't agree that rioting is a solution I can now understand why oppressed people may see rioting as a means to be heard when other peaceful alternatives fail. Though I don't agree that dealing drugs and joining gangs is a viable option I'm now more likely to understand why individuals may choose that life when other opportunities are limited and safety and acceptance are hard to come by. I don't agree that it's acceptable for people to speak using so much profane language, but I can agree that cultural differences influence the ways we communicate and every time my daughter hears a family member of mine curse she gets a dollar like Starr's little brother, Sekani.
This book has allowed me to see through the window into the black community and it has changed me. I don't think I will be so quick to pass judgement the next time controversial news stories appear on screen. There are always at least two sides to every story and every perspective should have the chance to be heard. I can also be more mindful about how I talk to my students. If a comment about going after a basketball like it's a piece of fried chicken can upset Starr, then I can put forth the effort to educate myself about cultural differences and sincerely apologize when I make mistakes. I give this book 5 out of a 5 star rating.
Thomas, A. (2017). The hate u give. Balzer + Bray.
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