Intern Book Review: “The Hate U Give” by Angie Thomas

If you’re looking for a book that’ll make you rethink your whole life after you’ve turned the last page, “The
Hate U Give” by Angie Thomas is a must-read. This book is not just a story , its real life and it deals with
some pretty heavy stuff. The book follows Starr Carter, a 16-year-old girl who witnesses the shooting of
her best friend, Khalil, by a white police officer. From there, everything in Starr’s life changes as she’s
forced to face her identity, her community, and the unfair world around her.

The story really hits home because Starr isn’t just dealing with one major tragedy—she’s also trying to
figure out how to navigate two completely different worlds. At her school, which is mostly white and pretty
wealthy, Starr tries to blend in and not stand out too much. But at home, she’s a part of a close-knit,
working-class family in Garden Heights, a neighborhood that’s seen its fair share of struggles. When Starr
sees Khalil’s death go viral, she has to decide whether to speak up and risk everything, or stay silent and
protect herself. The way Starr deals with this is really relatable, especially for teens who have ever felt like
they didn’t fully belong in one place or another.

One of the best parts of the book is how real and relatable the characters feel. Starr’s struggle with
balancing her “school self” and “home self” is something that many people, especially teenagers, can
relate to. Her family is another highlight—the way her parents, particularly her dad Maverick, support her
and teach her lessons about standing up for what’s right is so important. Their relationship adds so much
depth to the story. It’s not just about Starr dealing with an awful situation—it’s about how her community
comes together to support each other, even when things are falling apart.

What really stands out in this book is how it doesn’t sugarcoat things. Angie Thomas dives deep into
issues of race, police violence, and systemic injustice, and she does it in a way that’s easy to understand
but still powerful. It’s not just about Khalil’s death—it’s about how the system keeps failing people like him,
and how that failure affects everyone around them. It can be tough to read at times, but it’s so important
to think about these things and not be ignorant to it.

The book also never gets boring, even though it’s covering some heavy stuff. There’s always some kind
of tension or suspense going on—whether it’s Starr figuring out whether to speak up, the drama that
unfolds in her neighborhood, or the pressure she feels at school. You’ll find yourself turning pages quickly
because you just want to know what’s going to happen next.

Overall, “The Hate U Give” is a book that makes you reflect on a lot of things, not just about race but also
about how we can make the world better. It makes you think about the importance of speaking out and
standing up for what’s right, even when it feels scary. This is definitely a book that’s worth reading, and I
think it’s one that everyone, especially teens, should pick up. It’s one of those books that stays with you
long after you’re done.