THUG was my selected buddy read with @natalie_anne_books on Instagram! Feel free to check her out.
Dates read: 04/10/21 to 24/11/21
Star rating: ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐
Word to describe: Revolutionary
Genre: Young Adult Fiction
TW: Racism, murder, domestic violence, gun violence, drug abuse, police subject.
The Hate U Give by Angie Thomas is a fictional book inspired by the Black Lives Matter movement. It was highly anticipated and remains highly relevant for today's society. Published in 2017, the story of Starr and her fight against injustice has skyrocketed into fame and quickly became an award-winning movie adaptation, and a recommended read for young people everywhere. I was truly late to the party in reading this revolutionary masterpiece and I am honestly disappointed in myself for waiting so long to complete this book.
Starr and the other characters introduced (except Hailey, that police officer, and King *glares*) are all exceptional characters. They embody a strong sense of family and values that are to be envied by all readers. Starr's character, in particular, is resolute, charming, and above all selfless. Her determination for justice after the murder of her childhood best friend Kahlil mixed with her fear of retaliation truly showcases Angie Thomas' ability to create characters with inner conflict. Starr's character arc from the side effects of witnessing such a horrific event to being the leader in a protest for Black Lives Matter is fantastically written. Every chapter along the way shows how this character struggles with her trauma and her identity - she tries to keep the peace between her two lives but also feels guilty for not speaking - and allows the reader to understand the difficulties that come with processing such a horrible act.
There are many topics covered in this book such as gang violence, gun control, systematic racism, and code-switching. The latter in particular is greatly explored through Starr's character. As a reader, you see her struggle with her dual life as a black student in a rich white school trying to hide her blackness versus the daughter of an ex-convict living in a black neighborhood. The difference between her two lives and the contrast between them highlights how far Starr, as a character, has to treat herself as separate from those around her in order to fit into their idyllic viewpoint of what she needs to be. The significance of this Starr's code-switching helps to educate readers into the exhaustive anxiety that surrounds stereotypes and preventing being one. By the end of the book, it is easy to see how Starr stops changing herself to fit into those around her and becomes a more confident individual. This brilliantly symbolizes how being yourself is always the best thing even if it is difficult.
This book brings about a brilliant discussion into systematic racism and the connection to violence and poverty. Several characters in this book engage in illegal activities simply because they have no choice and it has become a survival mechanism significant to their community. This connection is well known and discussed in great non-fiction books, such as Why I No Longer Talk To White People About Race by Reni Eddo-Lodge, the impact on society, as a whole, is tremendous. In THUG, the parallels between racism and poverty are so evident that it is hard not to feel sympathetic towards these characters trapped in the cycle.
Victims of an already unfair world, characters like Iesha and Devante bring to light the cruel reality of this survival mechanism.
Overall, this book is revolutionary it is a brilliant depiction of harsh reality. Angie Thomas is an excellent author and all the praise The Hate U Give has received since 2017 is well deserved. This story is fantastic and is indefinitely a piece of literature that will remain a classic for many people that have been touched by it.
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