Angie Thomas’ debut novel “The Hate U Give” was amazing! It lived up to all of the hype and it is more relevant today, in these uncertain times, more than ever before. The story revolves around a teenage girl, Starr Carter, who lives in a poor neighborhood and goes to a fancy prep school in the wealthy part of town.

Starr witnesses the fatal shooting of a close friend, Khalil, in the back by a white police officer. The story that unfolds is the confusion about what to do, how to speak up, dealing with the feelings and perceptions of those around her, both the neighbors she lives around, and the students she attends school with, and the way society attempts to justify what occurred to best fit their own perspective.

The main thing I took from this book was a need for empathy and understanding. To understand that I “see” things through a certain filter because of my upbringing, my beliefs, and my experiences. I think that I need to always be able to recognize that filter and then try to change my viewpoint to see things from others’ perspectives. I want to engage with people when they feel like society has abandoned them or been unjust to them. I don’t want to be ignorant of the inequality and the biases that exist in this country and our world. I want to always stand up for what is right and to admit when I am wrong.

I strongly recommend that anyone who has not read this book yet go get a copy of it right away!

Get a copy of “The Hate U Give” by Angie Thomas on Amazon here.