The Hate U Give

By: Angie Thomas

Narrated by: Bahni Turpin

Length: 11 hrs and 39 mins

Publisher's summary

Winner of the Waterstones Children's Book Prize 2018
Winner of the Children's Book of the Year 2018 at the British Book Awards

Inspired by the Black Lives Matter movement, this is a powerful and gripping young-adult novel about one girl's struggle for justice. 

Sixteen-year-old Starr lives in two worlds: the poor neighbourhood where she was born and raised and her posh high school in the suburbs. The uneasy balance between them is shattered when Starr is the only witness to the fatal shooting of her unarmed best friend, Khalil, by a police officer. Now what Starr says could destroy her community. It could also get her killed.

©2017 Angela Thomas (P)2017 HarperCollins Publishers

Critic reviews

"Angie Thomas has written a stunning, brilliant, gut-wrenching novel that will be remembered as a classic of our time." (John Green)

"The narration here brings this powerful YA novel, inspired by the Black Lives Matter movement, vividly to life." (Lancashire Post)

Couldn’t get through it

Didn’t capture my attention for the first parts that I listened to. Noted after that it’s recommended for young adults so could be why. I chose not to complete it.

It is a conscious yet hilarious read

I enjoyed this read, took away some inspiring quotes and moments from it. The narrator brought the characters to life, I haven't watched the movie yet I could picture the characters and the settings. It is an amazing book and narration

Amazing!

I loved it...
the book made me realise that we all have a voice and sometimes we need to speak louder then others to be heard!

Nuanced and empathetic, well worth the read!

Poignant and nuanced with a balanced perspective, this book was a joy to read. There's a lot to unpack with this, and even with a heavy look at how ordinary people are affected by racism, racial profiling, and police brutality, Angie Thomas still manages to make the story entertaining and enrapturing with her way with words, and her quick wit and humour. Bahni Turpin also does an excellent job bringing the characters to life, and giving Starr her voice.

I will say that it's interesting to see how this book will be viewed decades later. Much like how Noughts and Crosses still feels shockingly relevant now, but with new context, this story still feels extremely fresh, while also leaving room for different conclusions to be drawn based on the current climate in 2020. This is worth the read at any time as Angie Thomas is an excellent writer, but right now is perhaps the best time to read it. Well worth it!

Loved and Loved

The story is current and characters relatable. Music and fashion is weaved throughout making me land in the middle of the family living room although I am a white girl sitting in Cape Town. Stop feeding Hate I want to scream, but I live in a society where so much hate is pumped into the system it is boiling over.
Thank you for writing this and for the magnificent performance!

Entertaining, powerful but a bit YA

I got this book without knowing too much about it and tbh probably wouldn't have listened to it if I knew it was in the young adult category of fiction (me being a middle-aged man) But having said that even though it does feel very YA at times with a lot of focus on teenage concerns (early relationships, teen entertainment) and some of the dialogue feels a little clunky, I still got caught up in the story, characters and it's dealing with the ills of society. It does develop somewhat predictably but that's sort of in keeping with the feel of the book.
One thing which makes it as entertaining as it is, is the narration by Bahni Turpin, which is excellent and one of the best performances I've heard on an audiobook.
Overall I recommend it with maybe some reservations if you're an old codger like me (glad I listened to it overall though) and I think younger readers would gain a lot from its powerful message.

a great book wonderfully read

a great book with a message, wonderfully read in a way that brings the characters and story to life

Incredible performance!

The book is absolutely fantastic, as I’m sure most people know by now, but I truly cannot say enough about Bahni Turpin‘s interpretation! She truly brought this novel and all it’s complex characters to life in an authentic and moving way. This is one audiobook that shouldn’t be passed over!

Well written glance into life in black America

As a white, middle aged male, I know nothing of the world Angie Thomas writes about and so I 'enjoyed' the story more for the world that opened up to me rather than the core story line. It brilliantly highlights inequality and the inherent racism that exists in the US - knowing that it exists and is growing elsewhere. Similar to Orangeboy (London setting). Both have weaker endings, but it's the journey with the characters that is so much more important.

brilliant

well written and well read we need more audio narrators like Bahni Turpin to bring audio books to life

brilliant

I have not seen the movie, but if it's as amazing as this audio book then I will take the time out to watch it.

Bahni Turpin's narration is oscar worthy.

Amazing - an essential story

Amazing - an essential story that everyone should hear, brilliantly written and narrated. All the main characters are beautifully and empathetically portrayed. One of the very best books I've ever listened to!

Heartbreaking devastating, joyous.

This book brings you into the world of Garden Heights and breaks down the reality of growing up in that world while trying to find your place in the greater world. It deals with control and hopelessness, of losses and triumphs, of what it means to be a young, black woman in a world where so many people judge you by how you look not by who you are.
I can never know the experience of someone like Star, but I can listen and learn and try to understand. Everyone should be required to read books like this to humanise the "thugs" they see on the news.

Excellent

Great book, very thought provoking and honest , I cannot wait for my granddaughters to be old enough to read this book

Amazing

Such a good book, it got added to my favourites list expeditiously. Would've been nice to have more than one narrator, sound effects etc.