Angie Thomas’ first novel, The Hate U Give, has left an indelible mark on both the literary world and the entire nation. Centering on Starr Carter, a Black 16-year-old whose friend is killed by a white police officer, the book debuted at No. 1 on the New York Times bestseller list, garnered numerous awards, and spawned a 2018 film starring Amandla Stenberg.
The novel arrived on the scene in 2017, as America was in the midst of a racial reckoning just four years after George Zimmerman’s acquittal for the murder of Trayvon Martin sparked the Black Lives Matter movement. Starr’s relatable trajectory from uncertain teen to determined activist gave young people a way to process code-switching, the injustices of the justice system, and microaggressions—weighty topics that Americans still confront today. “I’ve always seen writing as a form of activism,” Thomas told Publishers Weekly. “I wanted to make something that is so political seem personal.”
The novel has another distinction—it frequently tops banned book lists. The Hate U Give may be under attack, but Thomas’ devoted readers have taken her messages to heart—and are speaking truth to power. In the wake of George Floyd’s murder in 2020, young demonstrators in Jackson, Mississippi, showed up with protest signs modeled after the cover of the book. Not only has Thomas written a book beloved by countless teens, she’s inspiring the next generation of activists.
Mahnaz Dar is a young readers’ editor.
