It added another layer to the story to see how he had stepped in for her family when she was young and to see events from a Black police officer’s perspective.Īudrey: I loved Starr’s parents. It was also good to see Starr’s uncle and his role in her life.
They had a beautiful relationship they were sharing and modeling for their kids. The humor and respect they show sure add another great element too. Their rules and consequences are reasoned decisions based on love and a desire to do what’s best for their kids. Starr’s parents showed that they loved their children and were going to hold them to high standards because of that love. So many people question who Khalil was, whether he had it coming, and so on, but Starr’s parents are steadfast in their understanding of the reality of the situation – that nothing justified his killing.Ĭrystal: I really appreciated the adults in the story and the relationships Starr had with them. She points that out to her parents, and they understood instantly. The policeman pointed his gun at her as well. Jessica: Speaking of The Talk – I didn’t notice until later in the book that even though Starr did everything “right” when she and Khalil were pulled over, just like her parents told her, it wasn’t enough. I know many Black folk who go through the same process when pulled over, especially these days when one never knows how their encounter will end up. I like how Thomas revealed the different parts of The Talk by having her think of her father’s words as she encountered the hostile police officer. It is because of this talk/relationship with her parents that Starr initially stays relatively calm when she and Khalil are pulled over. We learn early that her parents are very frank with her, specifically having given her “The Talk” (not the sex talk, the one all Black kids get about dealing with the police) at a young age, and even shows when her 8 year old brother receives The Talk. Imani: One aspect of the novel I loved is that Starr had a relationship with her parents. The hate played out differently across the characters, but there was no question that it made things worse for everyone all around. I loved how it kept coming back into the story and how Starr’s relationship to it changed as she watched the fallout of Khalil’s murder in her family, her community, and the surrounding city.
It only seems logical that sowing hate will bring negatives for everybody.Īudrey: It was also my first time hearing that quote, but it is a powerful sentiment and a perfect distillation of the themes in THUG. It made me think of the many ways that Black children are seeing and experiencing hate in our country. Children of color are bearing witness to hate against them and I can only imagine what will happen when they come of age and discover the power of their voice like Starr does.Ĭrystal: I too hadn’t heard of this particular quote, but it resonated with me. And a true statement of our times, especially since the election there has been a rise in hate crimes. As the novel progressed and the meaning of Thug Life became more and more evident, I found it to be extremely profound. Imani: The title comes from a quote by Tupac who said Thug Life stood for “The Hate U Give Little Infants F*** Everybody.” I had never heard that quote before and found it very interesting. What everyone wants to know is: What really went down that night? And the only person alive who can answer that is Starr.īut what Starr does-or does not-say could destroy her community. When it becomes clear the police have little interest in investigating the incident, protesters take to the streets and Starr’s neighborhood becomes a war zone. Starr’s best friend at school suggests he may have had it coming. Some are calling him a thug, maybe even a drug dealer and a gangbanger. Soon afterward, Khalil’s death is a national headline. The uneasy balance between these worlds is shattered when Starr witnesses the fatal shooting of her childhood best friend, Khalil, at the hands of a police officer. The Hate U Give: Sixteen-year-old Starr Carter moves between two worlds: the poor neighborhood where she lives and the fancy suburban prep school she attends.
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