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The Hate U Give Summary & Study Guide

The Hate U Give Summary & Study Guide Description

Starr Carter is socializing at a party in her neighborhood, Garden Heights, when she runs into Khalil Harris, an old friend from childhood she has not seen in a while. As they catch up, a gun fight breaks out and they flee the party. They drive off in Khalil's car and are pulled over by a police officer named Brian Cruise. Cruise orders Khalil out of the car and searches him, then walks back toward his cruiser. As he does so, Khalil turns to look into the window to ask Starr if she is okay, and Cruise shoots him in the back three times, killing him.

Even before the shooting, Starr's life is complicated. She lives in the urban, predominantly black neighborhood of Garden Heights with her parents and two brothers, Seven and Sekani, but attends a majority white private school called Williamson in nearby affluent Riverton Hills. Her uncle Carlos, a policeman, also lives in Riverton Hills. She has a white boyfriend that she is afraid to tell her father about. After the shooting, she finds her white friends do not understand what she is going through, Uncle Carlos defends Officer Cruise, while her father Maverick is certain that the shooting was racially-motivated. Meanwhile Maverick feuds with a local gangster named King. Maverick used to be a member of his gang, but they have since fallen out.

Starr goes to the police station to give her report of the shooting, and the police try to make Khalil's death seem justified, implying he was involved with gangs and drugs. At Khalil's funeral, King tries to claim he was part of his gang. Starr meets Ms. Ofrah, a community activist and attorney who offers to represent her. She continues to have friction with one particular friend at school named Hailey, who makes a blatantly racist remark, and then tries to laugh it off.

Maverick offers protection to a neighborhood boy and member of King's gang named DeVante, increasing King's ire. Officer Cruise's father conducts a television interview, lying about the events of the shooting, and claiming that Cruise felt his life was in danger. Starr tells her own version to the district attorney conducting an investigation into the shooting, and then does a television interview of her own. In the interview she mentions King. The Carters' house is shot up in a drive-by shortly thereafter, prompting the family to wonder if it was the police or King's gang who is responsible. Starr tells her story once more, to the grand jury who will choose whether or not to indict Officer Cruise.

Hailey makes another insensitive remark at school, and Starr punches her, for which she is suspended. Seven calls Starr while she is at her boyfriend's house and tells her that DeVante is missing. The three find DeVante, badly beaten, at King's house and get him safely out and into their car. On the radio, the grand jury's decision is announced. Officer Cruise will not be indicted. Violent demonstrations immediately break out in Garden Heights, businesses are destroyed and looted, cop cars are burned, and the police lob tear gas into the crowd. The kids find Ms. Ofrah, who gives Starr her megaphone. Starr uses it to admonish the police for not caring about what happened to Khalil. Everyone is choking on tear gas when they are picked up in a car by a friend of Maverick's, who take them to the safety of the corner store Maverick owns. It is not safe for long, however, as someone opens the door and tosses a burning bottle inside.

Maverick and a neighbor rescue the kids as the store burns. Across the street, King and his gang point and laugh. When the police arrive on the scene, the neighbors come together to declare King the perpetrator of the fire, despite a proscription in the community against “snitching” [425]. King is arrested for arson. Hailey reaches out to Starr with an insincere apology, and Starr decides she does not need people like this in her life. Maverick vows to rebuild the store, and Starr vows to never forget Khalil and to continue to speak up in the face of injustice.

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Professors share 5 myths students believe about college, how to write a character analysis essay, anxiety among students: what do teachers think about it, dorm overbooking and transitional housing: problems colleges are trying to solve, the hate you give summary.

If “The Hate You Give” isn’t already on your to-read list, maybe it’s time to change that. This novel is worth giving a chance and will definitely leave a lasting impression on you, so here is a brief summary of the book to make yourself familiar.

The Hate You Give Book Summary

“The Hate U Give” by Angie Thomas is a compelling and thought-provoking novel that circles around themes of racial injustice, identity, and activism. It follows the life of Starr Carter, a sixteen-year-old African American girl who witnesses the fatal shooting of her childhood friend, Khalil, by a police officer. The story is inspired by the Black Lives Matter movement and provides a raw and honest look at the systemic racism faced by African Americans in the United States. Through Starr’s eyes, readers experience the complexities of living in two worlds—the impoverished neighborhood of Garden Heights and the affluent, predominantly white private school she attends.

The Hate You Give Summary of the Plot

Starr Carter, the main character, lives in Garden Heights but attends Williamson Prep, a prestigious private school. She navigates the different expectations and cultural norms of these two worlds, often feeling like she has to suppress this part of her identity to fit in at Williamson.

Starr’s life takes a drastic turn when she witnesses her friend Khalil being shot by a police officer during a traffic stop. Khalil’s death becomes a national headline, and Starr finds herself in the midst of a media frenzy. Starr grapples with her fear of speaking out, knowing that her testimony could bring justice for Khalil but also fearing the repercussions for her family. The community of Garden Heights reacts with outrage, leading to protests and heightened tensions with the police.

In this chapter of her life, Starr decides to testify before the grand jury, despite the risks. Her decision symbolizes her transformation from a silent observer to an active participant in the fight for justice. The grand jury ultimately decides not to indict the officer, sparking further protests and violence in Garden Heights. Amidst the chaos, Starr and her family face direct threats from both the police and local gangs. Starr’s activism inspires others in her community to stand up, and she realizes the importance of her voice.

The novel concludes with Starr finding a sense of empowerment and purpose. She pledges to continue fighting against injustice, honoring Khalil’s memory and the broader cause of racial equality with this ending.

Main Themes in the Book

If you don’t have the time to read through all of “The Hate You Give” full book summary, here is a short list of topics discussed in the book’s chapters.

• Racial injustice and police brutality. The novel focuses on the pervasive issue of police violence against African Americans and illustrates the deep-rooted biases that exist within law enforcement.
• Identity and code-switching. Starr’s struggle to balance her identity between her neighborhood and her school reflects the broader experience of many minorities who are trying to work out multiple cultural spheres.
• Activism and empowerment. Starr’s journey from silence to activism proves the power of individual voices in starting social change. It shows that standing up for justice often requires personal sacrifice and bravery.
• Community and family. The novel portrays the strength and resilience of the African American community in the face of adversity. Starr’s family, despite their flaws, provide a support system that anchors her throughout her journey.

Memorable Quotes from The Hate You Give

• “Sometimes you can do everything right and things will still go wrong. The key is to never stop doing right.”
• “What’s the point of having a voice if you’re gonna be silent in those moments you shouldn’t be?”
• “I can’t change where I come from or what I’ve been through, so why should I be ashamed of what makes me, me?”

Books Similar to The Hate You Give

Do you want to continue reading similar novels after finishing The Hate You Give?

“Dear Martin” by Nic Stone . Another young adult novel addressing police brutality and systemic racism through the story of a young African American male going through life and injustice.

“All American Boys” by Jason Reynolds and Brendan Kiely . A dual narrative exploring the repercussions of police violence from the perspectives of both the victim and a bystander.

“Anger Is a Gift” by Mark Oshiro . Focuses on a young boy’s response to the excessive force used by police in his school and community, discussing themes of resistance and solidarity.

So, the summary of “The Hate U Give” shows it to be a powerful novel that tells a gripping story and serves as a call to action, encouraging readers to confront and challenge racial injustices in their own lives and communities.

What is the basic summary of The Hate U Give?

“The Hate U Give” by Angie Thomas follows Starr Carter, a sixteen-year-old African American girl who witnesses her friend Khalil’s fatal shooting by a police officer. The incident thrusts Starr into the national spotlight and compels her to deal with racism, activism, and her own identity, ultimately leading her to speak out against injustice.

What is the main message of The Hate U Give book?

The main message of “The Hate U Give” is a powerful condemnation of systemic racism and police brutality. It emphasizes the importance of using one’s voice to fight for justice and equality. Through Starr’s journey, the novel advocates for activism and highlights the need for societal change to address racial injustices.

Why was The Hate U Give book banned?

“The Hate U Give” has been banned in some schools and libraries due to its explicit language, depiction of drug use, and portrayal of police violence. Critics argue that these elements are inappropriate for young readers. However, supporters contend that the book’s realistic depiction of social issues is important for fostering understanding and dialogue about racial injustice.

Is The Hate U Give based on a true story?

“The Hate U Give” is not based on a single true story, but it is inspired by real-life events, particularly those surrounding the Black Lives Matter movement. The novel reflects the realities of police violence and systemic racism faced by African Americans, drawing from multiple incidents to create a compelling and authentic narrative.

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Home — Essay Samples — Literature — The Hate U Give — “The Hate U Give”: Analysis of the Theme of Activism

"The Hate U Give": Analysis of The Theme of Activism

• Categories: Black Lives Matter Racial Discrimination The Hate U Give

About this sample

Words: 1035 |

Updated: 9 November, 2023

Words: 1035 | Pages: 2 | 6 min read

Table of contents

Prompt examples for "the hate u give" essay, "the hate u give" essay example.

• Exploring Activism: Discuss and analyze the theme of activism in "The Hate U Give," considering how the characters engage in activism and the impact it has on their lives and the broader community.
• Social Justice and Empowerment: Examine the novel's portrayal of social justice issues and how activism empowers the characters to speak out against injustice and inequality.
• Individual vs. Collective Activism: Explore the different forms of activism, from individual acts of courage to collective movements, and analyze their significance in the novel.
• Activism and Identity: Discuss how activism is intertwined with the characters' identities, including Starr's identity as a Black teenager, and explore the complexities of activism in relation to one's sense of self.
• Impact and Legacy: Analyze the impact of activism in "The Hate U Give" on the characters, their community, and the reader, and consider the lasting legacy it leaves within the narrative.

Introduction

"the hate u give": analysis of activism, racial injustice, police brutality, black lives matter, works cited.

• Thomas, A. (2017). The Hate U Give. Balzer + Bray.
• Crenshaw, K. W. (1991). Mapping the margins: Intersectionality, identity politics, and violence against women of color. Stanford Law Review, 43(6), 1241-1299. https://doi.org/10.2307/1229039
• Alexander, M. (2010). The new Jim Crow: Mass incarceration in the age of colorblindness. The New Press.
• Davis, A. Y. (2016). Freedom is a constant struggle: Ferguson, Palestine, and the foundations of a movement. Haymarket Books.
• Brown, M. (2016). Policing black bodies: How black lives are surveilled and how to work for change. African American Review, 49(1), 99-103. https://doi.org/10.1353/afa.2016.0005
• Tatum, B. D. (2017). Why are all the black kids sitting together in the cafeteria? And other conversations about race. Basic Books.
• Floyd, D. (2020). A promiscuous grace: The politics of shame in The Hate U Give. In The Truth About Denial: Bias and Self-Deception in Science, Politics, and Religion (pp. 229-250). Oxford University Press.
• Harris, F. C., & Brown, K. (2019). Through the eyes of Starr Carter: The importance of character identification and critical literacy in The Hate U Give. Journal of Language and Literacy Education, 15(2), 51-68.
• Thoman, E. B., Smith, J. L., Brown, E. R., Chase, J., & Lee, J. (2018). Beyond the ‘mean girl’: Influences of gender and social status in early adolescent girls’ experiences of peer aggression. Journal of Youth and Adolescence, 47(4), 762-777. https://doi.org/10.1007/s10964-017-0785-7
• Kandasamy, P., & Takayama, K. (2020). The politics of witness: Intersectional witnessing practices and digital storytelling in the #BlackLivesMatter movement. New Media & Society, 22(6), 1051-1069. https://doi.org/10.1177/1461444820921754

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Themes and Analysis

The hate u give, by angie thomas.

The book, ‘The Hate U Give’ isn’t just a book that some people are forced to read in English class, but instead a book that can teach you valuable lessons applicable to our lives. The lessons can be found in the themes.

Article written by Ugo Juliet

Former Lecturer. Author of multiple books. Degree from University Of Nigeria, Nsukka.

The themes of a story are the deeper meanings and truth that the book reveals. Sometimes they are easily found like this book, but other times, you have read it many times before you can find it. ‘ The Hate U Give ’ by Angie Thomas is a story for a young adult novel . It is about the life of 16-year-old Starr Carter, a young girl who witnesses the death of Khalil Harris, her childhood best friend. An unarmed Khalil was shot and killed by a white police officer, showing irresponsibility and police brutality present in many African-American communities. 

Most school teachers are teaching the novel ‘ The Hate U Give ’ this school year because the themes and events that take place in the novel connect to the society we live in today. There are so many themes that can be found in the book like police brutality, identity, and double consciousness. Here are some of them.

‘ The Hate U Give ’ Themes

Police brutality.

The leader of the drug gang in Garden Heights, King, constantly warns Starr not to speak up about this incident in order for his business to remain secretive. In the book, you see Garden Heights, the fictional neighborhood, isn’t the best place to be but they don’t usually call the cops. Many people believe that the novel would be a catalyst for deeper questioning and engaging class discussions. 

It is also believed that students will inevitably generate concern for relevant issues like police brutality that the book revolves around. Khalil’s death put Starr in a dilemma with the tough decision of either speaking up against police brutality or keeping quiet to ensure that King doesn’t come after her and her family. King takes advantage of the protest and riots to set Mavericks (Starr’s father) ‘s store on fire with both Starr and Seven (Maverick’s son) inside.

In the novel, Starr was confused, mad, and felt very lonely because she couldn’t understand her struggle. She tried rebelling and wanted to defend not only her beliefs but others’ beliefs as well. King was arrested at the end of the book after being snitched on by neighbors, and the Carter family moved into a new house in a safer neighborhood. Also, Starr makes a promise to continue fighting against injustice and to never stay silent again.

Identity and Double-Consciousness

In an 1897 article in the Atlantic, W.E.B. Du Bois, a sociologist noted that he felt a “two-ness” came from seeing himself through the eyes of others. In ‘ The Hate U Give ’, the author increases Starr’s dilemma by having her dramatically move between two worlds – the neighborhood where she lives, African American Garden Heights, and the school environment, white Williamson Prep.

With her friends from Garden Heights, Starr uses slang, liberally uses ghetto languages, and topics like “stank-eye, gangbanging.” With her friends from school, she is careful to always use proper English and watches her tone so no one can dismiss her as an “angry black girl.” She learned early on, when she tried to have a slumber party with both sets of friends that the two worlds do not mesh, and she finds it exhausting to keep up two separate personas. 

Starr, trying to be acceptable to both worlds, causes an identity crisis that prevents her from being her real self and truly connecting with others. She wishes she could be like Will, the main character in the 90s sitcom The Fresh Prince of Bel-Air, whom she believes acted true to himself despite attending a fancy school. Starr and her white boyfriend, Chris, share a fondness for the sitcom and can recite entire episodes to each other. Still, Starr does not feel safe enough with Chris to reveal her trauma over the deaths of Natasha and Khalil. When Chris confronts her at prom about being the witness to Khalil’s death, it is a watershed moment for Starr. 

The Pervasiveness of Racism

Khalil is a victim of thug life both in life and death. A lack of economic opportunity in their town led to his drug dealing. After his death, racial profiling led to his being blamed for his own murder. As Khalil’s friend and the witness to his shooting, Starr has to navigate the overt racism of One-Fifteen and the people who justify and guard him. And as an African American pupil in a predominately white school, Starr has to cope with each day’s microaggressions from human beings like Hailey, who refuse to renowned their white privilege.

One-Fifteen symbolizes the regular chance of police brutality in opposition to African Americans. Although he’s slightly gifted as a character, he looms over the complete narrative. One-Fifteen pulls the young adults over due to a damaged taillight. However, he’s unnecessarily competitive in the direction of Khalil, assuming Khalil is as much as not real due to the fact he’s African American.

In a TV interview, One-Fifteen’s father characterizes his son as “afraid for his life” for the duration of his come across with the young adults, whilst in fact, Starr and Khalil posed no threat to him. One-Fifteen’s father additionally paints his son as a type of white savior, nobly risking himself “to make a distinction withinside the lives” of the citizens of Garden Heights. Starr calls this mindset out as no exceptional from how slave masters notion they were “saving African Americans from their ‘wild African ways.” Because of a justice gadget stacked in opposition to African Americans, One-Fifteen suffers no effects for killing an unarmed teen.

Hailey casually throws cruel comments toward Starr and Maya, and she refuses to acknowledge that she has done anything wrong, even when directly challenged. Instead, she makes her feel guilty and turns their argument around, and in the process, making herself a victim instead of a perpetrator. Thomas shows how this is a kind of gaslighting that makes Hailey’s victims question themselves so she can retain the moral high ground and maintain the status quo. 

The Defeating Cycle of Poverty

The truth of Khalil’s character is at the forefront of Starr’s mind and thus becomes one of the focal points of Thomas’s narrative. Thomas investigates the crushing cycle of poverty through Khalil’s life and death, the way it limits choices for African Americans, and how their crimes provide justification for white people to continue to dismiss and oppress them.

Starr and Khalil have known each other since they were kids her babysitter, Ms. Rosalie, is Khalil’s grandmother. Although they have drifted apart since Starr started attending Williamson Prep, she trusts him enough to get in his car without a second thought when shots ring out at a party in Garden Heights. She is sure that One-Fifteen murdered him, as he did nothing wrong.

However, Starr finds herself conflicted and wondering how much she can defend someone who dealt drugs and may have been a gang member. In fact, she denies knowing him when her friends at Williamson prep dismiss him as a thug. When she hears One-Fifteen’s father lying about Khalil and painting him as a threat to his son’s life, Starr realizes she must speak for Khalil and let people know the true story, that Khalil is as much a victim of institutionalized racism as he is of One-Fifteen’s gun.

Khalil earned some money at Maverick’s store, but his grandmother’s cancer treatments became unmanageable. She wonders if this makes her a thug, too, providing justification for white people to kill her as well. Starr knows she is lucky to have two parents who are loving and gainfully employed and who have successfully escaped the depressing cycle of poverty. She knows that most people in Garden Heights are not so lucky, and it is up to her and those like her to help out in any way possible.

Analysis of Key Moments in ‘ The Hate U Give ’

There are various major events that happened in the novel. Here are some of the most notable ones.

• The teens at a party at Greater heights where gunshots were heard.
• The shooting of Khalil at the traffic stop by One-Fifteen.
• After the shooting of her friend, Khalil, by the police; Starr gained the firmness f mind within herself to testify before a grand jury to seek justice for his death.
• Starr made a decision not to keep silent anymore and agreed to testify before the grand jury. 
• Starr gives a statement to the police about what happened, after One-Fifteen shoots Khalil.
• Starr testifies in front of the grand jury, and this finally brings to light the full truth of what happened the night of Khalil death. After this testimony, Starr decides that she will do all she can do to seek justice for Khalil.
• The grand jury did not indict One-Fifteen. 
• Starr and her friends hide at her family store, but King burns the store by tossing a Molotov cocktail into the store and burns it down. The neighbors reported to the police that it was King who started the fire, which led to his arrest.

Style, Tone, and Figurative Language in ‘ The Hate U Give ’

The author used the first-person viewpoint throughout the story. Angie used the sarcastic, witty, and upbeat social commentary of the protagonist to give the novel an optimistic tone in the face of tragedy. Yet, there is an atmosphere of indignation in the book, which is directed at the oppressive systems in society. The characters in ‘ The Hate U Give’ have to fight against the system each and every day.

The major clash in the story is between Starr and herself as she struggles to speak up and fight for her friend, Khalil. Another major conflict is the one between the book’s African-American characters and the racism and brutality they face in their lives.

There is foreshadowing in the book when Starr shows concern over what to do if a police car stops her. This was a foreshadowing of Khalil’s later shooting. The intrinsic bad feeling that Starr and Lisa got about the police investigation into the case of Officer One-Fifteen is another foreshadowing of the jury’s decision not to prosecute the police officer.

Analysis of the Symbols

Khalil’s hairbrush.

Khalil’s hairbrush is similar to Khalil. This is because of the significance attached to a black teenager in such a neighborhood. The hairbrush looks dangerous to a cop who racially profiles, even though it is not. Therefore, the hairbrush represents the racist assumptions that white people make about African Americans.

An activist, Ms. Ofrah, informs Starr and her parents that officer Cruise mistook Khalil’s hairbrush for a gun because “the handle was thick enough, black enough, for him to assume it was a gun.” Maverick points out that Khalil was black too, suggesting that One-Fifteen only “saw” a gun because he expected one to be there. One-Fifteen, like other white police officers who monitor the black neighborhoods, makes the racist assumption that an African American teen who tries to resist them must be a criminal.

One-Fifteen

One-fifteen is the badge number of the cop who killed Khalil. In the novel, it is a symbol of unrestrained police brutality towards African Americans. Starr kept referring to the officer as “One-Fifteen,” instead of his real name because of two main things. First, Starr said she learned to get the badge number of any cop she interacted with because she was told about the police from her juvenile age.

Starr and other children in the African American neighborhood are taught early how to avoid confrontation with the police. This is because they are much more likely to be harassed by police because of racial profiling. So they are taught to always cooperate and never make any sudden movements in order to stay safe. The second thing is that by not referring to One-Fifteen by his given name, Starr is refusing to make him human or sympathize with him. She puts the focus squarely where it should be: on his victim, Khalil Harris.

How many times did Khalil get shot?

The police officer that killed Khalil shot him three times. He felt he was grabbing a gun and shoots Khalil immediately, killing him. The only reason Starr agrees to go to an interview with police about the shooting is because of the encouragement by her detective Uncle.

What does Khalil’s hairbrush represent?

Khalil’s Hairbrush is one of the symbols in the book. The hairbrush represents two things. The first thing is the blinding power of a racist system. The second thing is the senselessness of racism. One-Fifteen alleges that he shot Khalil because he mistook his hairbrush for a gun.

Why did One-fifteen pull Khalil over?

According to the police officer, One-Fifteen, Khalil was pulled over because of a broken taillight. He asks them where they are coming from, to which Khalil responds with “nunya.” One-Fifteen demands that Khalil gets out of the car, pins his arm behind his back, and proceeds to search him.

What does One-Fifteen symbolize in ‘ The Hate U Give ’ ?

One-Fifteen, the badge number of the cop who murders Khalil, is another symbol in ‘ The Hate U Give ’ . It symbolizes unfettered police brutality against African Americans. One-Fifteen becomes a symbol for the larger issue of institutional racism because white parents never have to give their white children this safety talk.

What is a symbol in ‘ The Hate U Give ?’

There are two main symbols in the book. They are Khalil hairbrush and One-Fifteen, the police officer. One of the protest chants was that ‘A hairbrush is not a gun!’, in protest of the shooting of Khalil under the guise of him having a gun and the anger felt by the African-American community.

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About Ugo Juliet

Juliet Ugo is an experienced content writer and a literature expert with a passion for the written word with over a decade of experience. She is particularly interested in analyzing books, and her insightful interpretations of various genres have made her a well-known authority in the field.

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The Hate U Give

Angie thomas.

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Racism and Police Brutality

The Hate U Give follows sixteen-year-old Starr Carter after she witnesses the killing of Khalil Harris , her unarmed black friend, by a white police officer. Though this specific moment of police brutality spurs the action of the novel, author Angie Thomas also presents excessive force as part of a larger tapestry of racism and the criminalization of black communities in America as a whole.

Police brutality is such a reality in Starr’s world that…

Dueling Identities and Double Consciousness

Starr feels pulled between two worlds throughout The Hate U Give —namely, that of the poor, primarily black Garden Heights and the affluent, primarily white Williamson Prep. Thomas explores the tension felt by characters of color who must navigate the boundary between who they are and how the outside world portrays them. In doing so, she evokes scholar W. E. B. Du Bois’ famous notion of “double consciousness,” the sensation of “two-ness” experienced by black…

The Power of Language

From the lyrics of hip-hop to the teachings of the Black Panthers, language in The Hate U Give is a tool for education, justice, and speaking truth to power. Starr is initially hesitant to speak out about what she witnessed, fearing retaliation against her family and worrying that she is not worthy of speaking up for Khalil . Throughout the novel, however, she comes to understand her voice as the most powerful tool she possesses…

Community and Loyalty

Throughout The Hate U Give , competing loyalties test both individual characters and the communities to which they belong. Communities in the novel reveal a basic human desire for connection as well as the importance of ultimately dissolving boundaries in the fight for racial justice.

The King Lords and Garden Disciples are the most rigid examples of community in the novel. Each gang can be identified by specific colors, controls specific territories in the neighborhood…

The Cycle of Poverty and Crime

The Hate U Give depicts gangs, drugs, and violence as largely the result of lack of opportunity. The deck is stacked against many residents of Garden Heights, who may turn to gangs and drug dealing as their only means of supporting their loved ones and protecting themselves. This, in turn, traps the community in a vicious cycle of poverty and crime.

The cycle of crime is especially evident in Maverick , whose father was one…

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The Hate U Give

61 pages • 2 hours read

A modern alternative to SparkNotes and CliffsNotes, SuperSummary offers high-quality Study Guides with detailed chapter summaries and analysis of major themes, characters, and more.

Chapter Summaries & Analyses

Chapters 1-5

Chapters 6-10

Chapters 11-15

Chapters 16-19

Chapters 20-21

Chapters 22-26

Character Analysis

Symbols & Motifs

Important Quotes

Essay Topics

Further Reading & Resources

Discussion Questions

Tupac’s THUG LIFE explanation is a major theme of the book. How do you see THUG LIFE playing out in the real world today, possibly even in your community? Can you relate any recent events to the idea of THUG LIFE?

THUG LIFE refers to the self-perpetuating cycle of hatred but does not necessarily offer a solution. How does author Angie Thomas address this? Does she offer a solution or is the answer more complicated? How do you think you can fight against this cycle?

How does this book provide a voice and a perspective that is often overlooked?

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The Hate U Give (2018 film)

By george tillman jr..

• The Hate U Give (2018 film) Summary

Starr Carter lives in the predominantly black suburb of Garden Heights. She also attends an affluent, predominantly white private school, where she dates a popular white student named Chris and plays for the basketball team. One weekend, Starr attends a local house party and runs into a childhood friend named Khalil, who ends up offering her a ride home, which she accepts.

On the way home, Khalil is pulled over by a white police officer for a random vehicle check. He is asked to get out of the car, which he does, but when he opens the driver-side door again to check on Starr, the police officer shoots and kills him, thinking a hairbrush in his hand is a weapon.

The media takes on Khalil's story. Khalil is portrayed as a drug-dealing gang member, while the police officer who shot him is portrayed as a good, decorated cop who had a genuine fear for his life. At first, Starr chooses not to speak up, and she doesn't even tell her school friends, Hailey and Maya—or her boyfriend Chris—that she was with Khalil on the night of his death.

Soon Starr starts to buckle under the pressure of keeping her connection to the story a secret, especially as she feels the fragmentation of her identity: the Starr from Garden Heights, and the Starr from Williamson Prep. When she meets an activist named April Ofrah, Starr decides that she wants to speak up, and gives an anonymous interview on television. The only problem is, Khalil's boss, a ruthless drug lord named King , recognizes her and begins to threaten her and her family for speaking up.

After the grand jury decides not to indict the police officer who killed Khalil, peaceful protests break out in Garden Heights. Starr speaks at the protests, exercising her rights and trying to celebrate the memory of her friend, the fact that his life "mattered." When the police launch tear gas into the crowds, trying to disperse them, violent riots begin.

After the riots, Starr and her half-brother Seven go to the grocery store owned by their father, Maverick, who used to be in King's gang and was only allowed to leave after agreeing to take the fall for a crime King committed. At Maverick's grocery, King throws a firebomb into the store, and Maverick, Starr, and Seven barely escape. Maverick confronts King about the bomb, and his young son, Sekani, holds up a gun, threatening to shoot King, just as the cops are arriving. Starr holds up her hands and stands in front of Sekani, blocking him. King is arrested when members of the community speak up against him.

Starr promises to continue on in her advocacy against injustice, and dedicates her efforts to Khalil and his memory.

The Hate U Give (2018 film) Questions and Answers

The Question and Answer section for The Hate U Give (2018 film) is a great resource to ask questions, find answers, and discuss the novel.

Chapters 25-26

King Lord and his members laugh because they are responsible for the arson.... they have burned down Maverick's store.

How does the movie deal with racism/issues related to race?

This is a recurring theme throughout the movie, and appears from the start, when Maverick makes his young children recite the Ten-Point Program from the Black Panther Party. When Khalil is wrongfully shot to death by a white officer, the film...

what are some of the techniques used within the film?

Sorry, I have not seen the film version of the book.

Study Guide for The Hate U Give (2018 film)

The Hate U Give (2018 film) study guide contains a biography of George Tillman Jr., literature essays, quiz questions, major themes, characters, and a full summary and analysis.

• About The Hate U Give (2018 film)
• Character List
• Director's Influence

Wikipedia Entries for The Hate U Give (2018 film)

• Introduction