The Hate U Give

By: Angie Thomas

Narrated by: Bahni Turpin

8 starred reviews · Goodreads Choice Awards Best of the Best · William C. Morris Award Winner · National Book Award Longlist · Printz Honor Book · Coretta Scott King Honor Book · #1 New York Times Bestseller!

""Absolutely riveting!"" —Jason Reynolds

""Stunning."" —John Green

""This story is necessary. This story is important."" —Kirkus (starred review)

""Heartbreakingly topical."" —Publishers Weekly (starred review)

""A marvel of verisimilitude."" —Booklist (starred review)

""A powerful, in-your-face novel."" —Horn Book (starred review)

Sixteen-year-old Starr Carter moves between two worlds: the poor neighborhood where she lives and the fancy suburban prep school she attends. 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. Khalil was unarmed.

Soon afterward, his death is a national headline. Some are calling him a thug, maybe even a drug dealer and a gangbanger. Protesters are taking to the streets in Khalil’s name. Some cops and the local drug lord try to intimidate Starr and her family. What everyone wants to know is: what really went down that night? And the only person alive who can answer that is Starr.

But what Starr does—or does not—say could upend her community. It could also endanger her life.

And don't miss On the Come Up, Angie Thomas's powerful follow-up to The Hate U Give.

Want more of Garden Heights? Catch Maverick and Seven’s story in Concrete Rose, ngie Thomas's powerful prequel to The Hate U Give.

One complaint

This book was very good. I loved the narrator. My only complaint is this: She made the white girls' voices sound VERY valley high. Like... from the movie Clueless. I don't think anyone actually talks like that. It was very exaggerated. For a book on race, it think that was insanely stereotypical and a bit offensive.

This book ripped me open & sewed me back together

I don't normally leave the book covers so large on this blog. But this blook was so good, all I want anyone to do is see this cover and buy this book. Angie Thomas has done an incredible job capturing life in this book. I can't even.... Stop what you're doing. Go to the store. Go to Amazon, go to Barnes and Noble, go to Audible.com go anywhere and buy this book. Most of my readers know it's a rare day when I'm pushing a book so much that I give you links to buy it.

This is a brilliant, gut-wrenching, heart-bursting novel. Angie Thomas will be remembered for having written a classic of our times. This book is about the need to speak out against injustice in our lives, communities, the world. I feel like this book has opened my eyes, shattered my heart, and yet still warmed me inside. Fiction can be transformational, and THE HATE U GIVE is the best example of it, for me, to date. I couldn't put this down and ugly cried through at least 40 minutes of it.

Like many books, I chose to listen to this one on Audible. The narrator Bahni Turpin had very specific praise when I was reading up on the book before buying it. So much that I had to listen to this book instead of buying a hard copy. I wouldn't have changed that for a moment. Each character was so specific to them, I could tell them apart based on her voice alone. She is a gifted story actress and I will be buying more of her work.

So to summarize.... Just buy this book and let it swallow you into its dark abyss. Let it rip out your heart and sew you back together again. Let it paralyze you and make you ugly cry. Let it open your eyes and heart. Let this book into your lives where it belongs.

must read

This book is a very powerful, well told story. The narrator was perfect for the book. I could never pretend to understand the life and circumstances the characters in the story live, but I now have a greater awareness. It is an interesting, well told story that is entertaining, thought provoking and well written.

Unbelievable Narration!!!

Had to listen to this one, especially after seeing that the whole staff at Audible were saying they are all obsessed with the story. Angie Thomas forced us to open our eyes, and witness just how differently people are treated in our society, depending upon the color of their skin. It was really difficult for me to hear the part in which Star's dad is harassed by the police, for no reason, and even thrown to the ground right in front of his family and community. Despite the book being YA, it is a story that will grab adults, and make everybody look within themselves to create change. Expect the story to pull at your heart strings, and never let go! You will cry... be angry… feel frustrated and helpless for Star and her community. However, thank goodness, the author does lighten things up at times, by bringing humor into the story. With regard to the narration, I really love this performer! I probably have at least seven audiobooks that she has been a part of, and with each of them, she was amazing!!! She somehow manages to bring every single character to life, with distinct voices and personalities. Don't miss buying this.😊👍🏼

Somewhat of a parable, nonetheless a great novel

Would you consider the audio edition of The Hate U Give to be better than the print version?

Probably, because Bahni Turpin is incredible. I heard her first in "Yellow Crocus," by Laila Ibrahim, where she sounded like an adult woman, but here, she sounds like an authentic 16-year-old girl.

What other book might you compare The Hate U Give to and why?

It often reminded me of "Gehen, ging, gegangen," by Jenny Erpenbeck (which I recommend to anyone who speaks German and cares about the refugee crisis; apologies to non-German speakers, but I can't think of any English-language novels that are meant more as lesson than story, and still are good).

The books are similar in that they seem written to teach the reader/listener about critically relevant topics, and also that both are still marvelous novels. Even though some plot points felt calculated, Starr's voice was natural, and on the whole it was an eloquent, funny, poignant examination of current race relations in the US.

Have you listened to any of Bahni Turpin’s other performances before? How does this one compare?

See above. She's wonderful.

If you were to make a film of this book, what would the tag line be?

Break the cycle.

Any additional comments?

A non-exhaustive list of people who need this book right now:
-White people
-Black activists in need of some affirmation
-those of us struggling with difficult friendships and major life changes
-those of us looking for new perspectives (i.e., everybody reading "Hillbilly Elegy" in an effort to understand poor White people should also read this)
-people looking for Great American Novels and/or novels that describe a decade or generation

Now stop reading this review and listen to this book.